Internet Marketing Expert Series: How To Find The Right Local Target Audience

If you are doing local targeting, especially for those of you in Asia, you will need to tap into other means of finding traffic other than the regular methods. What does seem to work well includes PPC search engines such as Google Adwords which has regional and even coutry specific targeting.

However, the local marketer also needs to search for other sources to get traffic. Here are some ideas:-

(1) Check the local newspapers. Some countries have major newspapers that go out to the large majority of the population. However, other countries have a fragmented media, which means that you might increase your ad spending and testing in order to decide which is the best place to advertise. Go get your marketing rates from your local ad agency or direct from your newspapers (usually more expensive).

(2) Check local websites. Top websites from Alexa.com can be used as a guide. You should be able to determine what their local reach is by doing research within the Alexa top 100 within each available country. Often, there are other indications of traffic, such as the size of a community forum. Check this out at www.Big-Boards.com, or go to www.Google.com and check for forums in your local community. Use searches with keywords such as phpbb or vbulletin, which are popular forums.

(3) Assess local readership. You will do well browsing magazine racks. You’ll be able to tell what the local community is interested in reading. You might not be able to determine how much sells, but you most definitely magazines that have been in stands for some time are making money.

(4) Physical locations with high traffic. There probably are locations where you can get a whole load of traffic – physical locations. Think about peak periods, peak times and where people will be and what they are interested in. If they fit into your target market, great. If they don’t, think of other locations.

(5) Partners. A lot of people miss this because it’s too tedious. Some internet marketers don’t believe in meeting people or negotiating. In business, you need to up your negotiation IQ if you want to get further with your business, and seeking partners can help you have a good united front as well as a visible brand.