Step-by-step plan: describe your ideal target audience in 3 steps!

As a business owner, it can be difficult to attract the right clients. You take on a job here and there, but then realise you may not be doing the work that gives you the most energy, a shame! Time for a different approach: defining your ideal target audience.  

By defining your ideal target audience, you get a clear view of the potential buyers of your offer. By gathering as much information and insight as possible, you can respond better to the needs and interests of that audience. 

What is a target audience?

Before you start specifying your target audience, we will first explain what a target audience actually means. A target audience is a defined group of people or organisations that a product, service, campaign or organisation is aimed at.

Benefits of using a target audience

Using a target audience has many benefits for you as a business owner. You can offer more targeted information and content, which makes your marketing more successful. With your communication, you can address a specific audience, allowing you to attract the right clients. In addition, focusing on certain products or services gives you an air of expertise.

Step 1: what is your ideal situation?

First, it is useful to map out what your ideal situation is. Which tasks would you prefer to do exclusively, if you could? So this step is about clarifying your ideal working situation as a business owner. 

Example: I would prefer to only bake wedding cakes for clients or I would prefer to encourage more young people to take part in my first aid courses.

Step 2: what are the characteristics of your target audience?

Now that you know what a target audience is, it is time to list the characteristics of your ideal group of clients. Your target audience might consist of women aged 35-45 who are focused on living more consciously. However, there are plenty of other characteristics that make your audience even more specific. 

Example: my ideal target audience consists of women aged 35-45 who want to live more consciously. They want to live more consciously by eating healthier food and being more physically active. When she buys a magazine, it is Happiness of Foodies, and occasionally LINDA. She also regularly tries out healthier recipes and likes to share them with friends. The working day can sometimes feel a bit hectic, but she pays more attention to taking her break, during which she enjoys her healthier bakes and catches up with colleagues. 

She also likes to learn from others and is open to trying new things, such as taking a yoga class or a workshop, and she is even considering taking a new course for her work in healthcare. 

This is of course an extensive description, but it does provide a better picture of your ideal client. This allows you to respond better to moments where your target audience can come into contact with you. In this scenario, for example, this could be done by leaving business cards at the local yoga club. There are, of course, all sorts of other characteristics you can come up with when specifying your ideal target audience. 

Step 3: create a persona

Now that you have formulated your target audience more specifically, you can create a persona. A persona is a characterisation of a certain type of user, in this case your ideal client. Link the characteristics of your ideal client to a fictional person. Choose an image of a person who could be your ideal client, give this person a name and link the characteristics you noted down in step 2. Now you have both an image and a good description, which you can use to create more targeted content and other communication for your target audience.

We are happy to help

Need targeted marketing for your audience? We understand that mapping out and reaching your target audience can be a challenge. We are happy to help with compelling adverts, copy, social media content and more. Quickly schedule a no-obligation introduction call . We would love to get to know you.