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As an entrepreneur, you know marketing is a significant part of your brand’s success. No matter how great your products or services are, if you’re not able to spread the word about them to your target audience in a way they’ll comprehend, essentially, you have nothing. Be that as it may, you’re also a father and though you may have started this business with the hopes of enhancing the lives of children, you also understand the sometimes negative impact that marketing and advertising can have on children.
So, how does one proceed with marketing? Your products or services are geared towards children, but marketing to them can prove to be a pretty tricky business. You know that there is a large demographic out there for you to reach, but morally, you can’t fathom using the often aggressive or misleading tactics used by other brands to entice children to want what you have to offer. Fortunately, not all brands employ unethical practices when trying to capture the attention of children. Below are some methods you might consider using within your business:
Enlist the Help of Professionals
Marketing is a huge undertaking for most entrepreneurs, particularly for those who are trying to reach a specialized demographic such as children. When trying to employ ethical marketing practices with your brand it may be best to work with a professional online marketing agency, such as Power Digital, who has ethics and morals that align with your own. A marketing company that stands behind morals like loyalty, honesty, and trust will seemingly be on the same page with you when it comes to getting your message out to children in the most ethical way possible.
Be Open and Honest (No Gimmicks, No Tricks)
Children are very impressionable and that is not something you should try to take advantage of. Whether you’re creating a commercial ad, shooting a YouTube demo video, designing your website, or developing packaging ideas for your products, what you’re presenting to your target audience should be free of tricks and gimmicks. Transparency is key here. Using celebrities or cartoon characters admired by younger children to persuade them to nag their parents into making a purchase, for instance, is a method used by the fast food industries. Instead, focus on the benefits of your products or services and why you believe they are ideal for children.
Appeal to the Bosses
Though it has been proven that children are quickly gaining purchasing power it is the parents who are the ultimate boss. Diversify your marketing efforts to not only focus your attention on the interests of the children but the interests and concerns of the parents as well. As a father and an entrepreneur, tying the two together should be fairly easy. You know what your concerns would be as a parent viewing an advertisement geared towards your child. Is it safe? What are the benefits? Is it something that will be a positive addition to my child’s life? These are questions you can look to answer when developing various marketing tactics for children and their parents.
Get Your Kids Involved
What better way to show how great your products or services can be to children than to have children advocate for you? This is certainly a very ethical way to market to kids and will be a huge hit. If it’s a gaming app, for example, have your kids play it and write reviews about what makes it interesting to them. If its toys create videos of your children enjoying the toys with friends or with the family. Your children will have a blast expressing themselves and sharing their stories with kids just like them. And most of all, it’s’ something that parents can really appreciate too.
Whether you’re selling online games, toys, clothes, or mobile devices to children, there are ways you can reach your target audience without being deceptive or overly aggressive. Remember, working with a reputable marketing agency who shares the same values and morals as you can make things easier. Also, using your position of entrepreneur and father to your advantage can help you to create content that is likable to children and acceptable to parents. Staying true to this advice will help your brand to go above and beyond your wildest expectations.
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This is a featured post by site supporter Anne Davis
Photo: Getty Images