[nabentre] Introduction

[Brad Dunsé]

Robert,
Pleased to meet you and congrats on making 
lemonade out of those lemons you encountered in 
life. You have done a wise thing getting into the 
blind/low vision stores such as MaxiAids and ILA.

Since you asked? Here are my thoughts.

You are dealing with a very niche group that:

A. Are low vision, not totally blind.
B. Are still using stationary along with, or 
instead of, electronic communications.

So my thought pattern goes as this


Who fits this group? Perhaps the places you've 
already marketed to yes. I think you can continue 
finding similar stores such as Blind Mice Mall, 
NFB's store, and other blind related web sites 
and publications such as Braille Monitor, ACB's 
magazine,to see about advertising not only in 
their product line but perhaps work out some 
method of getting an ad spot out front on the 
main page or such where appropriate. You could do 
this by swapping web ads on each of your sites.

Who I think might more fit your buying group are 
the elderly. A large group of the blind is due to 
macular degeneration and diabetes, and they are 
also the group more likely to use stationary as 
oppose to, or in conjunction with,  electronic 
means such as email, texting, Skype and other 
communications. So you might target:

• Assisted living facilities
• Senior centers
• Senior publications
• Community Outreach organizations
• Low vision facilities/centers
• Diabetic publications
• Dialysis facilities
• And any other place you can think of that might 
deal with that group of people.

You could try to get some sort of free spot in 
AARP's magazine, diabetic publications,  or other 
similar publications? Brainstorm how and where you can get free publicity?
Maybe you could offer:

• An Interview of how you came to wanting to help their clients
 your customers
•A magazine article profiling your company as an informational piece
• A news release if you have a news splash for an event you are holding
• Start a blog yourself or guest blog on other’s site
• Offer an informational spot such as  a quick 
tip on independent living, scam awareness, or 
other helpful living or social tips
• Offer a discount to people giving you the content for the above
• Offer to physically come in and talk about 
certain related independent living issues 
(obviously a local thing unless other arrangements could be made)
• Offer or sponsor a memoir writing class (they 
do these in assisted living and elderly housing to counter Alzheimer’s Disease)
• Provide free samples to the above

If you do not write yourself, you can have 
written material  such as articles, blogs, new 
releases, interviews, etc. ghost written for you 
by someone such as myself or another person.

With some brainstorming, internet research, and 
maybe contacting sources in your local area to 
ask them for input as well; you could probably find a host of ideas.

Seems to me there would be many senior centers 
and other points of interest across the country 
since we are entering in an aging baby boomer 
era. It is just finding an efficient and 
effective way to let either them, or their 
relatives and caretakers, know you are around.

I think targeting both the print market and 
electronic market would be wise as you'll find customers in both.

I do think however, that there will be less a 
need  in the future as more and more people 
become reliant on electronic devices. My parents 
who are in their mid-70's have no iDevices 
and  are scared of a computer; a DVD player is 
the extent of their technological adventure. My 
mother-in-law however at 63-years of age, has an 
iPad and iPod, computer  and such. So we live in 
a unique transitional time I think.

Hope that is of some help to get the marketing muse going.


Brad Dunsé

"If you really want to do something, you'll find a way...
If you don't, you'll find an excuse." --Unknown