Marketing Strategy

9 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Target Audience

Written by Jay Shapiro for Gaebler Ventures

Ever heard the old adage 'What you don't know won't hurt you.'? When it comes to business, that makes no sense at all. What you don't know can and will very likely hurt you and your company. Know your target audience like you know your way home.

If you're in business you'll know there are many ways you can generate leads and the method/s you decide to use will depend on the kind of business you are running and what products or services you provide.

But, perhaps the single most important area to focus on is your end user and his/her behaviors. With this you can never have too much knowledge. The more informed you are about your targets the more likely it is that you will generate leads and, taking it that vital step further, convert the leads into done deals.

Finding out key facts about your desired clients' demographics and analyzing them is crucial. Ask yourself the following 9 questions about your target:

• Into which age bracket does your intended customer base fit? In general age brackets are classified as follows:
  • 18-25
  • 26-33
  • 34-41
  • 42-49
  • 50-upwards
• What level of income does your audience have?
• Into which educational band does the group fit
• Are your favored clients male or female?
• Where does your intended audience live? Is the area a wealthy one or less so?
• Does your ideal client own his/her home or rent a property? If they rent, is it private rental?
• Do they take regular vacations, if so, where do they travel to, and how do they get there?
• Are they married couples or single people?
• Do they have any children? If so, what size family are you looking at? Consider the ages of the children.

To be honest, a list like the one above could end up being as long as your arm, and if you have a list like that then hats off to you. Once again: You can never have too much information about the audience you wish to attract. The more acquainted you are with them the more equipped you'll be to pitch and sell effectively to them.

Even the most inconsequential of facts or ideas can be implemented when you are on a lead generating quest.

For instance, with a more senior catchment group you might find people respond favorably to traditional approaches: use formal letters as opposed to loud or funky in- your-face sales pitches. People with young children mightn't be receptive to your approaches at certain times during the day - consider the carpool schedule, meal and bedtimes - those aren't the greatest moments to try to pitch to busy moms and dads.

When you know all that you possibly can about your intended audience you can then combine that acquired knowledge with relevant information about your services or product. It might seem obvious but hot dogs don't sell well to the vegetarian sector. Really look long and hard at the information you have gathered.

You put together a list of details about your prospects; why not do the same in respect of your product. That way you'll create the ideal package that will be ready to put to use when you decide to utilize your lead generation strategies.

Jay Shapiro is a freelance writer based in the UK. Jay has a particular interest in the emotive aspects of the entrepreneur's character. "Alongside the nuts and bolts of business, the character of the person is often the ingredient responsible for success."

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