Well, Action Jackson, now you're armed with a complete view of where you want to be in 2008 and the kind of work you'll never touch again. It's time to take aim so you can get ready to fire. This week: identify your targets and develop a plan of attack for obstacles. In business speak, this is what's called your business plan's market analysis.

A market analysis is more specific than doing more tinkering with your goals statement. The point is to know your customers, and yes, even though you're a writer or editor, you have customers. Know who they are, what their characteristics are, whether they are likely to come to you for services or to offer you a job. This week, you're going to identify markets, carefully evaluate them and then figure out your best ways to break in. This includes figuring out obstacles and limitations.

A good way to do this is to develop a profile of each market so you can understand exactly what it needs, make some projections, such as how much freelance writing material they buy, and determine specifics like how much they pay.

If you're a freelance writer, you might say, "I want to cover more travel and home improvement topics this year." Then you can make a list of the top 10 magazines you want to write for, such as:

1. Old House Journal
2. National Geographic Traveler
3. This Old House Magazine
4. Outside
5. Etc, ...

Then you can start your profile for each magazine. Here is an example of a freelance market that you can follow, but customize the list for the job or assignment you want to take.

Market Name: Traveler Monthly

Reputation: Reluctant to work with new writers

Editors: John Doe (managing editor), Jane Doe (assistant editor), Jay Done (front of the book editor)

Pay rate: $0.50/word

Circulation: 200,000

Frequency: Monthly

Demographic information: Affluent readers, 60% male, own second homes

This analysis will reveal the basics you have to know about a new market and tell you something about how to structure your plan of attack. In this example, the readers own second homes. You can assume articles having to do with mountain getaways or coastal escapes might fare well, so start researching Cape Cod.

Now think about potential obstacles to breaking into this market and how you'll address them. For instance, the pay rate for this magazine may be too low for you to reach your financial goals. Does it make more sense to write only front-of-the-book features, which you can produce quickly and focus on higher-paying assignments in other magazines? If you heard that the market is reluctant to work with new writers, how do you become a known name? Start asking your contacts if they know editors there who they can introduce you to.

You may discover in your research that some obstacles may be too difficult to overcome (like if it's entirely staff written), in which case you can scratch it off your list. That's what market analysis is about: to identify prime markets to move into and stop wasting your time on what's not within reach.

Once you're done with your list of targets, print it out and tape it next to your workspace. It helps if you can always see your goals so you never forget where you're heading.

Next week, I'll show you how to set up an execution plan.

If you haven't already, make sure to review the other elements in the NewsJobs.Net Business Action Plan:

1. Get Ready! A Six-Week Business Action Plan. Identifying your values statement

2. Business Action Plan Week 2: Goals Statement

3. Business Action Plan Week 3: Year in Review