|
Design Your Marketing For Women: The Impact of Women As Consumers |
|
|
|
|
Design Your Marketing For Women: The Impact of Women As Consumers
The days when only makeup, perfume, and cleaning products were the main products marketed to women are over - and this has been true for sometime now. It is true now more than ever before. A reputable marketing research firm has found that online spending by women is dramatically increasing. It seems that women are using the Internet more to research products and compare prices before making a purchase as well.
DivaDesign World ( http://www.divadesignworld.com ) pays close attention to marketing trends, and uses the information to better serve her clients. They give the following information to help you design your marketing to appeal to women.
· Women spend an average of 3 - 3 1/2 hours online each day.
· 65% of women in a 2004 survey said that they rely on the Internet as a prime source for news, information, and entertainment.
· Women often use media other than the Internet to discover new websites, such as newspapers and magazines.
· 47% of women in the 2004 survey stated that they used the Internet in their homes to find work or career related issues.
· Women are more likely to visit a news or information sites than they are to visit family, shopping, or entertainment sites.
· 43 % of the women in the 2004 survey make regular purchases online. 10% had never purchased anything online.
From the findings of the marketing research firms 2004 survey, you can see that marketing to women is becoming increasingly more important. First, however, you must know how to design your marketing in a way that appeals to women in general. You begin by knowing what is important to most women.
Convenience and time are major factors for women. They are very busy, and they have many different roles to fill in their day to day lives. For most women, there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to do all that needs to be done. If they can find a way to get more done in less time, they will usually do so. As an example, women are more likely than men to use online bill paying when the option is given to them.
When a woman considers leaving work, and running three errands to pay bills or do shopping that must be done, but she has the option of paying those same bills and making those same purchases over the Internet, in most cases she will choose the Internet. Don't make the mistake of thinking she will choose this method because she is lazy, or because she doesn't feel like running the errands. She will most likely choose this option because it will enable her to cook dinner, bathe the kids, help with homework, and get the house straightened up all while she is paying her bills and doing her shopping. Multi-tasking is a woman's domain.
While women are more likely to pay their bills online, they aren't as quick as men are to make purchases over the Internet. Women are naturally less trusting than men, and building a woman's trust takes more time and thought. Women want to know everything that they can know about the product and the company before they even consider making a purchase. They want all the details - company information, product details, support information, warranty information, and more.
Visual appeal goes along way towards making a sale to a woman. This does not necessarily mean that you should build a website with colors and objects that you think draws a woman’s attention - although color does play a role. It means that you need to view your site from a woman's point of view. If you are trying to sell cars to women, a picture of a half naked woman draped over the hood won't do. A picture of a woman - dressed in appropriate attire - working on the assembly line where the car is made would do better. A picture of a professional woman driving the car is also a good idea.
Women like to do business with other women. This is largely due to the fact that women know that other women understand their needs better. It is also because women speak the same language, just as men speak the same language - and men and women speak different languages. Women want to be recognized and respected for their intelligence. They've worked hard to get where they are, and they know they deserve the respect and recognition.
Over half of the population of the world is female. Learning to market to this half of the world is important for the success of your business. Women are very complex, and selling to them isn't easy - but they make more than half the purchases that are made in the world, and this includes the purchases that are made over the Internet. If you need more information or help in your efforts to design your marketing for women, contact DivaDesign World at http://www.divadesignworld.com
About the Author: Monique Danielle owns Portland Marketing Agency, DivaDesignWorld.com, a full service firm that offers web development, graphic design, consulting, and a wide variety of creative services. She is also the founder of divadirectories.com,a free online resource designed to promote the growth and development of women owned businesses throughout Oregon, Washington, and the Northwest.
|