If there are any general similarities or common ground between the two target markets you can accomplish this goal with a single blog using target market-specific keywords and category names.
I have a client who is in the home improvement industry, installing replacement roofs, siding, windows, doors, etc. People who need a new roof for example, more often search with keywords and phrases focused on their specific need rather than something general like home improvement contractor.
We use recently completed projects as the fodder for content-based marketing. Blog posts include the town and/or neighborhood, county and state where the work was performed for geo-targeted keywords. We then include a generous sprinkling of "roof," "new roof," etc. along with product-specific words like the type and brand of shingles installed.
We also include a description of the initial problem the homeowner was experiencing that caused them to contact us initially, such as "leaking" or "leaky roof." We do the same thing with all of his other product areas and get a great deal of traffic.
One last trick is to use many of these same keywords as blog categories. I have seen great success with this tactic.
If what I've described makes sense to you and you'd like to learn more, please click "Call Frank" below so we can discuss further.
To your success, Frank

I've been on both sides of the table in this conversation a number of times and have come to the conclusion that the only factor that matters is sales generation.

Page ranking, etc. is all meaningless if their efforts don't result in increased sales - significantly in excess of their fees and your advertising investment.

Don't forget that driving traffic is only half of the equation. Conversion is the other - and perhaps the more important / difficult - part of the equation.

Don't pay someone just to drive traffic without a strategy to convert visitors into customers. Otherwise you're wasting your time and your money.

Ask them for specific sales results they have been able to generate for other clients. Compare the sales increases to the costs of their fees and advertising expenses. Ask for and call references of current / past clients they have generated results for.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "an ecommerce site to compare it to another one" but, in addition to traffic stats, be sure to look at conversion percentages and sales numbers.

To your success, Frank

I know of a marketing executive at an online university. I will ask him your question and let you know what I find out.

Cheers, Frank

You can do this! "Act boldly and unseen forces will come to your aid."

I have held a number of C level positions in the past, each of which was for the first time. I made a lot of mistakes but learned very quickly. I'll never forget attending my first corporate board meeting as the CEO of the company and Chairman of the Board. Whew! That was hairy!

It is often said that we learn best by our mistakes and that's how I became an expert! :-)

To your success, Frank

Pre-orders are always great for testing demand, eliciting end-user feedback and even generating a little revenue! You just have to be sure that you can fulfill whatever product or service the customer is paying for, beta or otherwise. Relative to b2b vs. b2c, I can't really speak to that based on the info you've provided.

To you success, Frank

My recommendation would be to outsource for as long as possible and focus your time and energy elsewhere. Build the simplest, least expensive solution possible and test whether there is sufficient marketplace demand for the concept before investing one dime more than necessary.

Cheers, Frank

In my Customer Factory Marketing Model I have a technique I call creating your Prime Client Profile. Your most profitable target markets will be those who: 1) Have a need most directly in alignment with your solution; 2) You can most readily communicate with; 3) Most clearly see and/or are looking for your unique offering; 3) Are the most ready, willing and able to pay; 4) Are actively looking for a new or alternative cure for their pain.

I hope these general guiding principals are of some help. Without more information regarding your business or offering I can't be much more specific. Good luck!

Frank