Blog Faroohz

As a marketer who's explored various career paths, I've learned that understanding your audience is paramount. While industry-specific knowledge is crucial, the core principle remains: who are you serving, and what value are you providing?

To help aspiring marketers navigate this complex landscape, I've distilled my experience into a practical guide.

Foundation: Essential Marketing Knowledge

Before diving into audience-specific strategies, establish a solid foundation:

• Industry Knowledge:
• Research industry trends, competitor activities, and market scale.
• Utilize resources like industry reports and AI tools.
• Product Knowledge:
• Gain comprehensive understanding of your product/service through "shadow work" across departments.
• Conduct SWOT analysis, define USPs, and identify target audiences, goals, and KPIs.
• Financial Acumen:
• Develop a basic understanding of financial metrics and revenue generation.
• While advanced financial skills may develop over time, basic comprehension is essential.
• Channel Mastery:
• Understand the purpose and audience of various marketing channels, adapting strategies for B2B and B2C contexts.
• Focus on brand awareness, lead generation, revenue generation, and event marketing (which will be a separate topic).

Marketing by Audience: Key Strategies

1. B2C Marketing (Business-to-Consumer):

• This is the "everyday marketing" realm, where you engage directly with consumers.
• Content Strategy:
• Develop a comprehensive content strategy encompassing teaser campaigns, product information, promotional content (CTAs), and relatable, trending content.
• Audience Segmentation:
• Define your audience based on demographics (age, income, location, gender).
• Channel Selection:
• Utilize a diverse range of channels, including social media, influencer marketing, billboards, radio, TV, affiliate marketing, and sponsorships.
• The right channel selection is a key marketing skill.

2. B2B Marketing (Business-to-Business):

• This field demands a strategic blend of marketing and branding, with a focus on building strong corporate relationships.
• Digital Identity:
• Establish a robust digital presence, focusing on website optimization and brand image.
• Utilize informative content, such as press releases and social media updates.
• Physical Engagement:
• Prioritize physical marketing activities, such as trade shows, conferences, exhibitions, and corporate events.
• Marketing and branding are highly intertwined.

3. B2G Marketing (Business-to-Government):

• This sector emphasizes communication and protocol, requiring adherence to strict guidelines and bidding processes.
• Communication Focus:
• Prioritize clear and concise communication, aligning with government objectives and societal goals.
• This sector requires strict rule following.

4. G2G (Government-to-Government):

• This realm encompasses diplomacy and embassy work, requiring specialized academic backgrounds and extensive knowledge of international relations.
• They are the “Marketing is disguise” since their message is much more higher and caters to nations and the world.

Key Takeaways:

• Audience understanding is fundamental to effective marketing.
• Each audience segment requires tailored strategies and channel selection.
• Continuous learning and adaptation are essential for marketing success.

This guide provides a foundational understanding of audience-specific marketing strategies. As you progress, you'll continue to refine your skills and expand your knowledge.

It's important to remember that this is a simplified outline. Each channel and listed point can be expanded significantly.

In today's digital landscape, buzzwords and trendy concepts reign supreme. We meticulously select language, hoping to resonate with a wider audience, and strategically deploy tone and messaging to amplify our impact. This is the essence of typography in branding and tone of voice in marketing. And just like psychology, marketing has become a topic everyone claims expertise in.

As a seasoned content marketer, I've observed a troubling trend: the rise of "archetypes" as a tool for validation rather than a framework for understanding. In a world craving authenticity, we're ironically drowning in manufactured personas.

Humans are inherently storytellers, and archetypes, originally rooted in literature, provided a structure for plot development and character building. This concept has been adopted by branding and marketing, but the line between genuine persona and superficial label is blurring. The very term "archetype," once a tool for nuanced understanding, is now wielded as a badge of expertise, often masking a lack of genuine knowledge.

I find it difficult to keep up with the ever-proliferating "archetypes" being thrown around, often by those seeking to inflate their credibility. Industries have their own established archetypes: corporate animals like whales and foxes, the classic female triad of warrior, mother, and maiden, and the masculine counterparts. Even storytelling relies on archetypes like the villain and the hero. (note I am listing what on top of my head but there are at least seven or nine)

However, the current trend involves individuals creating their own "archetypes" based on personal opinions, presented as irrefutable facts. This misuse of the concept undermines its original purpose.

Before claiming expertise in archetypes, one must understand their foundation. It's crucial to research both the psychological underpinnings and the established marketing frameworks for developing brand archetypes. True archetypes are built upon:

• Background: The context that shapes the character.
• Character: The core traits and motivations.
• Progression: The journey of transformation.
• Goal: The driving force behind their actions to meet a desired outcome.

These four pillars form the foundation of any authentic archetype, whether in literature, branding, or marketing. In marketing, there are the 4 Ps, and in branding, as pillars and visualisation and I am pretty cure phycologist have their own pillars to work based on.

Let's move beyond the superficial application of archetypes and return to a deeper understanding of their true purpose. Authenticity, not manufactured labels, is what truly resonates.