How do you find out who your target market is?
There are several ways to find them, but they all require some research.
The Internet has become the primary source of information for consumers today. This means that the way you communicate with your customers is changing.
In order to reach your target audience effectively, you need to know where they are.
What Is A Target Market?
A target market is a group of people or businesses that share similar characteristics and needs.
It’s an ideal customer base.
The more you understand your target market, the better prepared you will be to create marketing messages that will resonate with them.
You may have heard the term “target market” used in relation to direct mail campaigns.
However, it applies equally well to online advertising.
If you want to sell something to someone, you must first identify their needs and wants. If you don’t know what those needs and wants are, how can you possibly sell them anything?
In other words, if you don’t know who your target audiences are, you’ll never know what they’re looking for. You won’t even know what questions to ask them.
So, let’s take a look at different methods for finding your target audience.
1. Researching Your Competitors
One of the best places to start when trying to determine your target customer is by researching your competitors.
This will help you learn about the types of customers they attract, the kind of content they post on social media sites, and any trends they might be following.
This is especially useful if you already own a business.
You can compare the kinds of things your competition posts on social media sites with the things you post yourself.
It is important to learn how to do the competitive analysis so you can have an advantage over your competitors.
2. Using Analytics Tools
Analytics tools like Google Analytics allow you to see which pages get the most traffic from search engines, social networks, email newsletters, blogs, etc.
They also provide insight into which keywords drive traffic to your site. These insights are invaluable when determining your target audience.
3. Surveying Potential Customers
Another effective method for determining your target market is through surveys.
Surveys provide a quick and easy way to gain insights into the interests and behaviours of potential customers.
They can also be helpful in identifying new opportunities for growth.
For example, if you notice that many of your customers like to read articles related to travel, then perhaps you should consider writing one.
Of course, there are drawbacks to using surveys.
One of the biggest problems is that not everyone responds to them.
Another problem is that you may end up spending too much time answering survey questions.
That said, surveys are still a great tool for gaining insights into your target market as long as you know the ways to get them to fill out your survey.
4. Analysing Customer Data
The final method for finding your target market involves analysing data from previous purchases.
For example, if you run a retail store, you could analyse customer purchase history to find out what items people tend to buy together.
This information can then be used to develop new product lines or promotions.
Once you’ve identified your target market, it’s important to remember that they aren’t static.
Your target market changes as their needs change.
So, you need to keep an eye on them and adapt your marketing efforts accordingly.
5. Create A Customer Persona
Creating personas is a great way to drill down into the specific segments that make up your target audience.
This is especially helpful if you have a product that appeals to a wide swath of consumers.
Personas give you a clear picture of each segment’s characteristics.
They include demographic information such as age, gender, income level, education level, and location.
They also include behavioural traits such as how often they use certain products and services, what type of devices they prefer, and what websites they visit.
6. Continuously Revise
As you gather more data and interact with customers, you will get an increasingly accurate understanding of your target audiences.
Based on this information, you must constantly optimise and hone personas to achieve the best results.
How to Create Personas with The Right Demographics
We’ve already established that creating personas can be another great way to understand audiences.
Market research paired with client interviews can give you better insights into what your clients read, think and value.
This offers an important understanding of which sources your audience uses and trusts. When building these out, consider using the following demographics and identifiers:
- Age
- Gender
- Location
- Hobbies
- Income
- Education level
- Profession
- Marital status
- Who they trust
- What they read/watch
Additionally, look into the following:
- Your current customer base
- Who your competitors are targeting
These six methods for finding your target market online are just some of the ways you can identify your ideal buyers.
By taking advantage of all available resources, you can build a solid foundation for reaching your goals.
Remember that your target market isn’t static.
It evolves over time based on your actions. So, stay vigilant in order to make sure you’re always meeting your clients’ expectations.
