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What do you call this market segment?

by Justinfm
5 replies
The main market segment I focus on is very small businesses. Generally these are 1-2 person operations. Almost all are service based businesses. You have a mix of home based businesses and professionals who have an office with a receptionist.

Examples:
>Lawyers
>Dentists
>Chiropractors
>Interior Designers
>Landscapers
>Accountants
>Carpet Cleaners

To me these people all fit into a group of small service based businesses. They all have local markets, so local SEO works especially well.

My question is this, what do I call them. I would like to coin a term or use one that they would be able to relate to. I don't want to use home based business because many aren't home based and even the ones that technically don't have an office, sometimes don't consider themselves as having a home based business.

I would appreciate an feedback on terms or phrases that could encapsulate this group to help me galvanize them into a community.
#call #market #market segment #segment
  • Profile picture of the author ghyphena
    Maybe "Service Providers" or "Service Professionals"?

    Here's a list of ideas for you to ponder and mix&match:

    The word "vocation" comes to mind, although it's probably not very accurate.

    "Practitioner", also, may apply to some but definitely not to others.

    "Independent" is always good

    "Specialist" is, IMHO, a bit cheesy, but who knows...

    Rather than a "company" or a "business", I imagine most of these professionals see themselves as owning a "firm" (or, for some of them, a "practice" - but I think "firm" is the better term here).

    Sorry I can't do better than that - hopefully it's a starting point...

    Gil-Ad
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  • Profile picture of the author Justinfm
    Thanks for the ideas. I like the idea of using independent in the title and I like firm, although I don't know if someone might link that to Lawyers and that's not always a happy association.

    I was also thinking of using the word Solo, kind of like the Solopreneur term that someone coined.

    I could also use a different concept like the Warriors or Guerrilla Marketing. Maybe sniper marketing, to represent someone alone, effective, and focused.
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  • Profile picture of the author RelicWeb
    Professional Services or Professional Service Firms is what I'd group them as.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mr. Enthusiastic
    There's already a good term available from Robert Kiyosaki: "S type small business" - for solo or freelancer who builds a business in order to have a job for themselves, as opposed to building a business system that can run without them (which Kiyosaki calls B type businesses). And another good term from Michael Gerber: Technician-focused businesses; people who are excellent at some particular type of specialty, and hang out a shingle, but there's no way to franchise the business since it depends on the founder.

    Kiyosaki's term comes from his book Cashflow Quadrants. I disagree with much of his material, but I really do like his quadrant concept. Gerber's term comes from this E Myth series.

    If you read these books, or even just skim their reviews on Amazon, you'll find plenty of respectful language that lets your intended clients say, "Hey, that describes me!"

    Chris
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    • Profile picture of the author Justinfm
      Originally Posted by Mr. Enthusiastic View Post

      Kiyosaki's term comes from his book Cashflow Quadrants. I disagree with much of his material, but I really do like his quadrant concept. Gerber's term comes from this E Myth series.

      If you read these books, or even just skim their reviews on Amazon, you'll find plenty of respectful language that lets your intended clients say, "Hey, that describes me!"
      I appreciate the input. I've read the E-Myth Revisited a couple of times. I'll do some review reading for ideas. I like that suggestion a lot.
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      How does that work? With Cloning of course. Watch the free videos at the url above.

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