Week 4 Part B: Defining your Target Market

   

    Business Name: Little Sweethearts Daycare         

            Defining your target audience in marketing and branding is essential in growing your business demographics and psychographics way.

Understanding social media marketing is a great start for me. I know it can be overwhelming and complicated at first, but I know social media nowadays is a great help in growing my business, reach people, and achieve my business goals.

My business ideal target market is generally working parents or even one-income families that have very active daily routines.  First, Parents who are working or living closed to my business location are a great target audience for me because some parents don't want a long commute long way away from their normal travel each day.

Second, millennial parents or modern parents. We can't denied the fact that majority of childbearing population is a part of millennial generation and these people are extremely active in digital life. Refining my searching  to these specific group of people  can possible do great  things for my business.

Next, I can add my business in local directories like Yelp, that shows locals businesses along with clients' reviews. Furthermore, I can join  and become active in any local parents group in Facebook, by doing so, might give me a sense of what matters to parents locally. 

Lastly, I understand that my target audience or  parents nowadays are seeking out for child  centers who provide quality care. Little Sweethearts Daycare " The Heart of Perfect Caring" will make sure we'll provide the best curriculum and make them stay our partners in their child's development and growth. 

Week 4 Part A: Defining Target Markets

 With the help of social media, we can now easily target the costumers the we want for our business. Businesses typically use demographic information to define their target audience such as; gender, age location, profession, hobbies, educational level, interest, job title, employer, etc. Narrowing your focus to specific audience helps you develop an effective marketing strategy. 

 

There was once I searched for a particular item online and tons of advertising of the same product appeared on my Facebook feed every time I open my Facebook page. I understand now that Facebook Ads allows marketers to target users, according to their interest.

 

I ended up choosing “Set two: Subway & Hungry Bear Deli”, these two businesses both are serving the best subs, deli sandwiches, and salads except, Subway is a restaurant franchisor.  Subway has more than 41 thousand of restaurants in over 100 countries, while the hungry Bear Deli is a local California based sandwich shop.

 

Both have great concept on the marketing branding, aesthetic, and design. I could say they’re professionally done. I see lots of pictures, sometimes I may think it’s a little crowded but it fits for the type of business that they are offering. They’re posting photos because they want people to be hungrier and buy their products. Logos are in the right spot on every page.  One thing I like with the Subway is you can adjust the contrast of their page if it’s too bright or dark for you. I love that they also have country of search your preference. Typography, alignments, and, fonts are perfect and legible.

 

I also noticed that they a little difference in targeting their costumers, although advertising in social media is almost the same. Customers targeted are families, anybody who love sandwiches, salads, of any age. But Subway targets families and specially children. They are now serving healthy meal for kids which for me as parent, feeding my kids with the right nutrition is very important. They are also transparent on all the information with accurate nutrition and dietary information so consumers will have enough choices that fits in their lifestyle. 

Furthermore, Subway used “Myway rewards“that helps people “Earn while you eat” It’s another marketing for them because in order to get the rewards you have to sign-up and get daily offers from them. While “Hungry Bear Deli” encouraged consumers to share their fun photos while hanging out and eating their great food. Both are easy to use in a small screen device too.

Identifying a target audience provides a clear focus of whom your business will serve and why those consumers need your goods and services.

 

Week 3 Part B: Developing a Brand

Developing your brand name is essential in business industry. It signifies what you stand for in the market. It depicts your products or services. It conveys your business ethics, values, and goals. It plays an important role in business and the choices that consumers make.

 

I don’t have my own business yet, but I was able to make a business plan on one of the businesses that interest me in the future. I fell in love with children. They’re just so adorable. Being a part of the early childhood stage of every child is absolutely heartwarming. With the increasing number of families who have become dependent on two incomes, which has created the necessity of the child care industry. This means that there are more children that are in need of a safe, enriching, and trusted place to go.  

 

Little Sweetheart Daycare, “the Heart of Perfect Caring” offers its clients’ children a safe and secure care environment, love, comfort, and close personal attention. The goals of the center are to make it a safe, educational, and fun experience for the child, and to help parents feel good about the care of their children. Little Sweetheart Daycare offers a lower staff to child ratio which is appealing to most parents.

 

I created an initial logo design for this business. I chose happy children as the face of the logo which I believe it’s appropriate for type of business. I used fun colors, that exactly fit for children but I might still change the color scheme in the future as I see I used a little darker background of the words and pictures. I will probably make it lighter and make it look simple but appealing. I also love simple fonts and most importantly legible. I will stick to Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica because they are easy for the reader’s eyes.

Developing your brand is like learning how to tell your story effectively and on how to connect with your incoming consumers no matter what product  or service you are offering. A well C.R.A.P.H.T.E.D design is also one  step to a successful and powerful branding.

 

Week 3: Part2B

Blogs I Commented On:

https://csit155-sp21ebanks.blogspot.com

https://csit155-sp21-harukay.blogspot.com

https://csit155-sp21-jrcook.blogspot.com

Week 3 Part A: Aesthetic, Design, and Branding

• MCBD Parts and Services' site in my own opinion is not professionally done. Although the concept is there,  but it became veiled by the designs. Navigation is on the perfect spot but I can hardly read it. Home Page is too busy and cluttered, too many pictures are posted. The first time I opened the page, I know that there's something wrong because I started having headache upon looking on the colors and the animated words on the banners which are almost exactly the same words displayed on the heading. There's no contrast on the background and fonts colors resulted to words aren't readable. Too much warm colors, maybe a combination of cool colors might be pleasing to the eyes. Putting only few photos on the Homepage and just put the rest in a Gallery that visitors can easily access them if the want to view or call you for further info.

• Jami Lin is also very information heavy to the extent that the site is not welcoming to the visitors anymore. Heading Banner is too crowded with pictures and words. Very colorful, some informations are  not left-aligned. Font sizes are hierarchy arranged but it spreads apart all aver the place. Maybe if they will change their font colors to darker with a little bit of shadow effects and used a lighter shade of background  like 80% shade, that would help the words become readable or the other way, they can keep the white font but they have to use a darker background. Deleting the  borders or lines also makes it clean. Navigation is so tiny I never noticed it a first,  maybe bold or  increase the font size would help but they need to decrease the ads' font and other information on the banner.

• Toyota website looks perfectly done. It's clean and well-organized. Even though it looks information heavy but its well group according to the information you need from the type of vehicle or looking the dealer closest to your location etc. Logo is on the right spot. Social Media platforms are easy to find.The choice of picture on the HomePage is very nice and very heartwarming. Choice of  font and style are great, it's very legible. Their used of aesthetics, design, and branding is very encouraging and fulfilling its like if I'm really looking or planning to buy a car I will consider start making a dialogue for them to help pick the right vehicle for me.

• Apple website is also done professionally for me. It's very neat and easy to read. Navigation is easy to find and also categorized to the type of product you will need. All information posted are legible. Same with Toyota, Apple's choice of aesthetic, design, and branding are also great. Checking on their website also had  help me before. When  the last time I upgraded my iPhone.

Week 2 Part B: Business Research

Some of the related businesses might be interesting to work for this semester.

Village Montessori School’s social media platform is not that updated. I guess they still communicate through email or contact them by phone directly.

Tri-city children’s dentistry just moved to their new location two years ago. I see that they are using different social media platforms now. They are posting updates regularly and communicate through social media as well.

PostalAnnex+ is a franchised and an independently owned business. They’re also using different social media platforms for marketing. They also entertained customer’s reviews whether it is positive or negative feedback.

Semper FI Florist has social media accounts but not linked to their URL site. I have to search them from Facebook and Instagram. Even though their Website is informative enough to provide customer services, specific flower arrangements and prices are posted. Phone number are accessible for customers’ questions. Still having an updated and linked social media helps people find their business.

I like Bella Baby Photography’s social media platforms. It’s well managed and they have lots of followers. I used their service before when I had my new born in the hospital. They’re also available in different states.

After analyzing all these five businesses individually. I realized how valuable social media for everyone’s business. People habitually log-on to social media and become exposed to different companies online. It boosts your visibility among potential customers. Some businesses like Bella Photography have more followers maybe because they listened to their customers and interact with them. Probably, if you don’t have enough knowledge of social media for your business, it’s really helpful to hire or ask some help so you won’t be missing out. 

Social Media marketers nowadays believe that social media positively influences their revenue and sales. Strong social media presence could increase conversation rates and if you’re inactive in social media you could lose potential customers. Just simple, if people don’t know about your business, they can’t be your customer.

         

Week 2 Part A: Communication Between Business and Consumer

 Social Media has given consumers around the world the most powerful voiced they’ve ever had. 

It replaced business cards. Nowadays, companies can no longer afford to ignore their customers specific needs or complains when complains can easily be posted in public. Social media also allows businesses to build more meaningful relationships and get to know consumers better. It forced companies to think about how they can be transparent and responsive. 

I don’t often share reviews of a certain product or business, but if I would do, I have to make sure it will be a constructive reviews to help businesses improve their products and to help other customers get a clear idea of the product before purchasing it.

If it was my business or for my future business, I know how important customer reviews are in marketing and branding,  whether it is negative or positive. I will handle reviews appropriately to help build trust and loyalty. This way, people know someone is actually listening. I would use notifications so I know whenever a review is submitted, I understand that sometimes costumers get frustrated when they take time to write something and it’s ignored.

 I will apologize for my mistakes, clarify product information and I will always give time to thank customers for taking time leaving a feedback. I may sometimes address a situation privately, but I will still publish a response that I am contacting the costumer by email or phone the way people can see that I take the problems seriously.

Product reviews on social media is very important to businesses. It can help us understand our products because no matter how you knew your products, customers still noticed things we never had and I’ll take it as ideas for improvements.