Demographics For the Masses

Information is the lifeblood of the economy. That's especially true for businesses, because the ability to identify current customers and locate new customers makes the difference between boom and bust. So how do successful companies do it? Through targeted market research, which usually means arcane computer systems, large staffs, and six-figure budgets.

That situation is ripe for change, according to the CEO of Catosphere, Wendy Cobrda. "Many companies use the U.S. Census Bureau data, because of its low cost, but last year's data often isn't good enough for today's marketplace". And what if you need a finer-grained solution than the 10,000 foot view that the Census demographics offer? That's where Catosphere's epononymous web application enters the picture. Catosphere leverages databases covering U.S. Census data (updated with between-Census models and methods), vehicle traffic, shopping centers, market potential, consumer expenditure, and several others. Then the company carves out a subset of that data that applies to a user-specified geographical region. What results is a geodemographical study that captures the statistical "vital signs" of the target region. Surprisingly, the process of choosing a target region and obtaining the survey runs less than five minutes from start to finish. Once the customer chooses the target area and the type of study, Catosphere dynamically generates the study in either PDF or Excel format.

Although refreshingly usable (the "1-2-3" type instruction lists show up more than once), Catosphere also provides substantial flexibility. Reports can selected from ten categories, including aerial photographs. Target regions can be selected via Dbase databases, predefined geographic units, address intersections, a Mapquest-style map selector, or latitude and longitude. Reports may also be automatically branded with a business logo. In that way, Catosphere can help you convince the next level of management that you're on the ball.

The company provides two avenues to obtain geodemographic reports ? a la carte reports or subscriptions. Subscriptions range from one to three years, and across two detail levels, Basic and Premium. Per-report prices fall in the sub-$100 range; subscriptions range from $995 (Basic) to $2500 (Premium), but allow for an unlimited reports within the chosen target region. Subscriptions provide the most value to companies that need to keep abreast of volatile markets or require a great deal of detail on their target region.

In the age of micromarketing, businesses need tools to ensure that their marketing campaigns strike gold. Catosphere provides an intriguing tool that may help small to medium-sized businesses do exactly that.

Catosphere, LLC
http://www.catosphere.com
Wendy Cobrda, CEO

In The News:


Long-term plan aids marketing of Michael Phelps
The Associated Press - 9 hours ago
Olympian Michael Phelps' record-setting performance in Beijing has led to multimillion-dollar endorsement deals, but his road to marketing gold was paved ...

AdAge.com (subscription)

Are the Army's New Marketing Tactics a Little too Kid-Friendly?
AdAge.com (subscription) - 8 hours ago
The Army Experience Center is the centerpiece of a program to test and evaluate new marketing strategies and is not a recruiting tool, according to an Army ...

Two UI profs take aim at negative marketing
LocalNews8.com, ID - 8 hours ago
AP - September 7, 2008 3:14 PM ET MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) - A pair of University of Idaho business professors are taking aim at marketing that tries to sell ...

Sport Technology's marketing helps its Flowboard turn a profit
Los Angeles Times, CA - 2 hours ago
Now, looking to profit from the action sports craze, the Long Beach entrepreneur is marketing a product he sees as a crossover for boarders of all kinds. ...

Welcome to Edinburgh festivals plc … the marketing man's dream
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 5 hours ago
The UK's leading marketing, branding and advertising agencies have been invited to pitch for a lucrative £200000-a-year contract. ...

Small IT firms outsource marketing
Economic Times, India - 9 hours ago
BANGALORE: Indian technology firms, which have cracked the software codes, are now ready to learn a few marketing mantras and may actually be practising ...

The Context for Choice: Health Implications of Targeted Food and ...
RedOrbit, TX - 19 hours ago
By Grier, Sonya A Kumanyika, Shiriki K Targeted marketing of high-calorie foods and beverages to ethnic minority populations, relative to more healthful ...

Top Korean Bank Taps Teradata for Customer Relationship Management
MarketWatch - 9 hours ago
Teradata Relationship Manager combines marketing analytics to explore customer behavior and interests -- with a range of capabilities to engage customers ...

3 News NZ

Expat marketing campaign canned
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand - 11 hours ago
An evaluation of the expat marketing programme, obtained under the Official Information Act, found the campaign launch in May 2006 received more media ...
Labour gives up on attracting Kiwis home Scoop.co.nz (press release)
all 13 news articles

Small IT firms outsource marketing
Siliconindia.com, India - 4 minutes ago
Bangalore: Small and medium IT firms (SMBs) are opting to outsource their key marketing functions like making pitch documents, lead generation and power ...
marketing - Google News

Top 9 Strategies To Attract More Clients Now

1. Advertise in trade journals, ezines, and web sites that... Read More

Top 10 Ways to Create and Manage Opportunity

Most of us are used to the concepts of risk... Read More

10 Important Marketing Tips

Each of the following Ten Marketing Tips is based on... Read More

Discover the Winning Marketing Strategy Secrets of Donald Trump Apprentice Wanna-bes

The highly entertaining Donald Trump's search for an apprentice turned... Read More

Has the Free Report Had Its Day?

For years now we have been inundated with offers of... Read More

Mailing Lists ? Keeping it Simple

The right direct mailing list targets people who want your... Read More

20 Tricks to Help Get That Envelope Opened

When your envelopes aren't opened, you can't make money! Beforeyou... Read More

The 5 Minute Marketing Plan

If I were to ask you right now, what marketing... Read More

Burnout

Today I want to share a question from a reader... Read More

How to Turn Your Marketing Into a Money-Making Machine - Preparing for Marketing That Yields Results

The usual complaint from companies is that Marketing simply does... Read More

How to Promote your business website using free online resources.

There are many ways to promote your website for free... Read More

The REAL Key To Successfully Marketing Any Product!

The REAL key to successful marketing of any product is... Read More

Becoming The Obvious Choice In A Sea Of Competition

Differentiation, niche marketing, and positioning. These and other related business... Read More

Trade Show Marketing ? Getting Prepared for the Big Event

With the increase in number of tradeshows being held across... Read More

8 Instant Ways to Create Consistently Successful Marketing Campaigns

It's almost a given that when I speak to a... Read More

Eight Advantages of Fundraising Letters Over Other Methods

1. Personal Fundraising letters are about as personal as you... Read More

Who Is Your Market and Where Are They?

An important part of planning your business is to know... Read More

The Marketing Recipe: Money, Marketing and Me ? 3 Keys For Success

You have a great product or service? Now, how should... Read More

Five Steps to Partnering with Companies to Build Your Client Base

Wouldn't you love a simple formula for easily growing your... Read More

Network Marketing Is Definitely A Relationship Business

Heavily branded websites like amazon.com are household names and carry... Read More

Design, Design, Design

You need only one card, but make it noticeable. Make... Read More

Writing Business Newsletters: Avoid the ?Me, Me, Me? Mistake

Effective customer newsletters find the right mix of promotional and... Read More

Freebie Seekers? Turn Them Into Clients and Referrers - or Turn them Far, Far Away

Many service business owners these days are "giving away" their... Read More

The Beginners Mail Order Opportunity Guide

The "Mail Order" business is not a business of itself,... Read More

The Secrets of?

A lot of advertising and mailings promise to reveal the... Read More