Image by Getty Images via @daylife If you have never written a description of your ideal customer, now is the time. Every business has a message. Knowing who you are trying to reach with your message is critical for business success. Are they male or female? Married or single? What age bracket? Education? Income? What are their interests? Hobbies? Do they have children? What ages are their children? How much do they spend each month for your products or services?
Often business owners think everyone is a potential customer. Even if you own something as basic as a grocery store, there will still be some demographic profiles that are better consumers than others. Senior citizens tend to eat out a great deal more than young
families with small children. These considerations can make the difference between success and failure when determining where to position a new outlet, or what kind of marketing material you intend to use.
Identifying your consumer appears on the surface to be common sense, but many businesses miss it. Information needs to be objectively gathered and reviewed in a mixed setting where potential consumers get to voice their issues.
Gathering this information is critical for your business strategy. The better profile you can draw for your ideal customer, the more pointed your message can be to reach them. Armed with the knowledge of your ideal customer, you can:
- Decide if a given business model will be successful in a given area.
- Develop a targeted marketing program to reach your ideal customer.
- Create a focused social media strategy.
There are four major categories you need to identify for your ideal customer.
- Geographic
- Demographic
- Psychographic
- Behavioral
The most common error made by business owners is the assumption that they are their ideal customer. They then develop marketing and outreach campaigns that target people like themselves. But entrepreneurs are a small exclusive segment of society and are seldom form a significant portion of a shop or service provider's customer base.
The best way to identify your ideal customer is to survey your existing customers and rank by volume of business. If you are opening a startup business, then seek existing data from similar businesses. One of the key advantages of a franchise is that the franchisor has significant information on customer demographics. Franchisor assistance in location selection, design and targeted marketing programs are a key reason franchises have a 400% better success rate than non-franchised startups. In the absence of a franchise, a reliable marketing or small business consultant can provide you with a questionnaire to help you identify your ideal customer.
Armed with the knowledge of your ideal customer, you can now choose an ideal location. A trendy coffee shop may want to be located near a college. A quiet business bar may want to be located near a downtown business district. A fast food restaurant should seek neighborhoods with young growing families. A good real estate broker familiar with local demographics can assist you in site selection.
The bottom line is identification of ideal customer is one task the small business owner should not endeavor to do alone. Objective data is critical and an objective opinion is essential.
Often business owners think everyone is a potential customer. Even if you own something as basic as a grocery store, there will still be some demographic profiles that are better consumers than others. Senior citizens tend to eat out a great deal more than young
families with small children. These considerations can make the difference between success and failure when determining where to position a new outlet, or what kind of marketing material you intend to use.
Identifying your consumer appears on the surface to be common sense, but many businesses miss it. Information needs to be objectively gathered and reviewed in a mixed setting where potential consumers get to voice their issues.
Gathering this information is critical for your business strategy. The better profile you can draw for your ideal customer, the more pointed your message can be to reach them. Armed with the knowledge of your ideal customer, you can:
- Decide if a given business model will be successful in a given area.
- Develop a targeted marketing program to reach your ideal customer.
- Create a focused social media strategy.
There are four major categories you need to identify for your ideal customer.
- Geographic
- Demographic
- Psychographic
- Behavioral
The most common error made by business owners is the assumption that they are their ideal customer. They then develop marketing and outreach campaigns that target people like themselves. But entrepreneurs are a small exclusive segment of society and are seldom form a significant portion of a shop or service provider's customer base.
The best way to identify your ideal customer is to survey your existing customers and rank by volume of business. If you are opening a startup business, then seek existing data from similar businesses. One of the key advantages of a franchise is that the franchisor has significant information on customer demographics. Franchisor assistance in location selection, design and targeted marketing programs are a key reason franchises have a 400% better success rate than non-franchised startups. In the absence of a franchise, a reliable marketing or small business consultant can provide you with a questionnaire to help you identify your ideal customer.
Armed with the knowledge of your ideal customer, you can now choose an ideal location. A trendy coffee shop may want to be located near a college. A quiet business bar may want to be located near a downtown business district. A fast food restaurant should seek neighborhoods with young growing families. A good real estate broker familiar with local demographics can assist you in site selection.
The bottom line is identification of ideal customer is one task the small business owner should not endeavor to do alone. Objective data is critical and an objective opinion is essential.
Honestly Google Analytics really helps me to improve conversion. I used to have bounce rate about 70% on my website, but the trick was the English speaking customers were showing 35% bounce rate which is perfect. So I hired a translator and translate in languages where I used to have high bounce rate. This improve conversion to 3:1 which is probably the best in the industry.
ReplyDeleteBy determining your customer you use your budget more effectively than targeting everyone. This way you maximise your marketing investment
ReplyDeleteThanks for this info. It helps me to look over the way I do things in the running of my own business, especially when determining my advertising budget- just as an example. This makes me re-evaluate the way I am targeting. Thanks
ReplyDeleteYour ideal customer is one that is easy to deal with and pays on time! I remember in an old business of mine sacking a number of clients because they were not worth the hassle of dealing with them!
ReplyDeleteIt is like running in a wealth of societies' existence. We were in crowded market and should be still keeping our qualification hold by the customers themselves. But every negotiation is keeping itself in on-going in market. Great, Brother.
ReplyDeleteI am indeed agreeing to this very informative and helpful post. Customers are the great people behind any and every business, without them one business will not function and will be deteriorated. Thus, in any business we must first and always consider our customers, the ideal one. And to give credit, this post is very true and credible in saying that customers are the primary thing to consider in putting and running a single business.
ReplyDeleteYou are right that business owners must determine its ideal customers in order to cater good products and services that will satisfy its them. It is one way of making a business more profitable. Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteThis is so informative post its really so much usefull to me,
ReplyDeleteI am really thankful to you guys for sharing this information with us….will be looking forward to more of those!
Customer's demand must be satisfied first because they are the main key for a business to progress. Without them the business will be into nothing. So it's better to determine first the demands of the customers in order for a business to stay running.
ReplyDeleteYeah i strongly agree that customers are always right. A lot of successful and big companies prioritize 2 important rules.
ReplyDeleteRule#1: The customer is always right.
Rule#2: If the customer is wrong go back to Rule#1.
Knowing your customer is the key to success. Insight has become such a large marketing tool now to drill down to the individual
ReplyDeleteThe customers make a business keep on operating and preserve its existence in the industry.Better yet makes the business not just operational but working progressively. It is important that upon putting up a business, you already has a target customers. It is by knowing them, their needs, what they are capable of in term patronizing a good and services and what approach is compatible for them.
ReplyDeleteAgree to this entry. It’s really true. Customer is always important. It is important for a businessman to first consider their customers that what they want and their needs. Because business runs when a customer got satisfy, without satisfying the customer business will not gained progress.
ReplyDeleteThanks foe such information.
This is a very insightful blog post, thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt is very easy in our industry (we install Gutter Guard and Leaf Guard products in CT) to assume that every homeowner is our customer, and therefore try and market to absolutely everyone in the CT, RI & MA area. You really bring home the point about drilling down who your potential customers really are, as in who is most likely to buy your products and/or services. It is easy to get carried away and try to do blanket style marketing, but after reading this we will definitely hone in on what neighborhoods buy from us the most and target more of our marketing directly towards them.
Finding customers really needs grate backing. This is one vital section in generating business. So glad to read some advices in this post. Be back for more readings.
ReplyDeletethis post is very supportive. it gives you all the detail that how you can find your ideal customer
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteReally hug tips that are, I think, often overlooked. I do think that business owners tend to 'project' their own interests/demographic information onto their prospective clients.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteIn this article i got some useful information that how i can my ideal customer.There are some interesting points are mentions there,which help me in future.Thanks for sharing this information with me.
Thanks Again!
Well,Every enterprise proprietor should understand that every individual is not going to be your customer. If you recognize what kind of persons will most probable be your clients, you market to that assembly the most productive way.
ReplyDeleteA good informative post, Every business has to analyses and knowing about their Ideal customer's would help them to stand in long run with success following them all through their path ... Thank you for providing such a nice information that would help all business men and the new starters in business like me ...
ReplyDeleteMore work at the starting would fruit us in future with out doubtfully...
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ReplyDeleteI usually don’t ordinarily post on many Blogs, nevertheless I just has to say thank you… keep up the amazing work.Ok unfortunately its time to get to school.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips, knowing your customer is really the only way to be successful in business. If you don't know your customer, your competitors will.
ReplyDeletefinding a ideal customer is not a easy task it a art which can be learn by time
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ReplyDeletehaving a clear idea of your target customer is so simple but is something that we see so many businesses overlook. Get your targeting right and half the battle is won!
ReplyDeleteclear target market is so important for so many aspects of your business- marketing, stock control, pricing, site design, brand name.... the list is endless!
ReplyDeleteBusiness must need a total focus to gain more customers but how about customers satisfactions and comments about the product? Would it make sense? Consumers Review gives more informations, ideas and tips in some commons subjects/topics. Hope it will help you a lot before buying!
ReplyDeletethanks for informative post! yes, understand about customer habits will help us a lot in doing business. that why we always need a research b4 starting new business.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your point that too many business owners use themselves as the ideal customer model instead of using actual customers. Great information.
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ReplyDeleteIt is but important for whatever business it may be to determine its ideal customer. Exactly, these tips held are helping tools in gaining a competitive pre-eminence. Good post. This is really very helpful.
ReplyDeleteSelecting the customer or client right for your business is more important than many think - most people say just get anyone who walks through the door with their wallet - but if you are in a service industry the wrong customer can demand tons of time from you causing you to loose profit and time spent on your better clients
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ReplyDeleteI do really appreciate your idea and the way you present your input. This is really true, identifying possible customers exactly helps you towards your business success. Your ideal customer will also the way your business grow.
ReplyDeleteFinding the correct customer and building a strong friendly relationship with them would always help in finding our flaws and maintain a profitable business.
ReplyDeleteLocation, Location, Location. That is the most important thing for a business especially for bars and nightclubs. I really love your tips and ideas for who your customers really are.
ReplyDeleteI had a bounce rate of about 60% on my website, but the trick was the English speaking customers were showing 45% bounce rate which is perfect. So I hired a translator and translate in languages where I used to have high bounce rate. This improve conversion to 3:1.
ReplyDeletethank you for posting this. I’ve book marked your blog and will definitely be checking back.
ReplyDeleteI agree this entry. This is real. It is essential and very vital for whatever business to determine its ideal customers in order to predict what are the adjustments will take place in case and what are their plans. These tips are tools in gaining good response.Thank you for sharing this post to all of us.
ReplyDeleteI can say that you have a passion for owning a business, great post.
ReplyDeleteit is easy to get carried away and try to do blanket style marketing, but after reading this we will definitely hone in on what neighborhoods buy from us the most and target more of our marketing directly towards them.
ReplyDeleteAlways a joy to read your articles and always learn something new
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ReplyDeleteThanks you have a great idea on sourcing and pre-qualifying customers.
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It is so true that you need to really identify who your target customers are, without doing this you will spend an awful lot of money trying to promote yourself to the masses, rather than drilling down and being ultra focused. If all of your efforts are concentrated on just your specific market, you will spend less time and money marketing to them, and in reality allow yourself more time to market more often to them, leading to more sales for your business.
ReplyDeleteBusiness analysis is incredibly important throughout a businesses longevity. It's a great idea to revisit your BA and look into details, such as competitors, customer wants/needs, etc to learn how to formulate better options to provide for your clients.
ReplyDeleteFinding customer, sometimes can be very hard. You have to give special treat to make sure they will b your customer.
ReplyDeleteYou need to know what are your strengths, your weaknesses, your beliefs and your dreams before you can effectively size up your customers and explode your business. The better you know yourself, the easier to find your dream clientele. In fact, the better you can communicate what you want, the faster and easier it will come to you. Thanks for the idea and helpful strategies.
ReplyDeleteYour ideal customers are more profitable and less time consuming than the rest. Fire those customers who do not deliver optimum time/profit combination.
ReplyDeleteWe spend a lot of time identifying our ideal customers. By doing this, we have increased revenues and decreased expenses.
ReplyDeleteya It is really worth doing it ...
ReplyDeleteYes, it is important that in every business, the ideal customers should be determined first. This is one of the strategy for the success of a business. A businessman should not easily trust their customers like of whom they don't know for the safety of their business.
ReplyDeleteWhile every person should be welcomed as a potential customer it is very true that one should hone in on a target group. Just because you put your focus on that doesnt meant youwill automatically exclude customers outside of that group. Its just where the main focus should be. In that regard it is important at the start of a store or business to ask your customers for their opinion and suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI am completely agreeing to this entry. This is very true. It is very important to consider customers in a particular business. Success of a particular business lies on how the target customers responds. Thank you for this post. All businessmen and women will be glad of this post. Nice one!
ReplyDeleteFor one business to really obtain a successful remark, it must consider the welfare of the customers. They are the one making the business grow. This post is nice. This made businessmen and women out there realized that business will not grow without considering the primary people behind, the customers.
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ReplyDeleteThis is so true. Too often companies are trying to target everyone in the world, and whilst this might seem like a good idea from the perspective of having a lot of potential customers, it is just not practical and effective. You need to be saying the right things, at the right time, and to the right people.
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of a tough one for us since our Stuart Fishing Charter business appeals to a wide variety of customers not just from Florida but all over the United States. We just try to be the go to company in Stuart when people are looking on the internet for Stuart Sailfishing, but it would still be nice if we could narrow down our specific customers and market more directly to them.
ReplyDeleteCustomer is one of the most important factor that every business owner should consider. It is indeed important to determine the ideal customers of a certain business so that you can reach out to them. By determining your ideal customers a business could give the best products and services that could make the business more profitable. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteExactly! This was a nice post. I agree with what injury attorney and cirurgia plástica have said. Indeed, in a singe business, customers are the primary people to consider. This is for the business to grow rapidly. Thanks for the post anyways. Goodluck.
ReplyDeleteWhat all businesses are for? for consumers/customers of course! I think it is already given that whenever people have plans to venture in business, they should first consider the target market and I agree to the main point of this article/blog that advices from experts are very important to be able to reach the target market. Achieving goals is fast when you have these kinds of people around such as business consultants, advisers, and the likes.
ReplyDeleteI do really appreciate the idea of the author as well to my fellow bloggers. This is really a good marketing idea that any business minded person should know. I am hoping for more tips from you. Thanks and more powers.
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ReplyDeleteI provide daily intelligence reports from a well-connected network of global sources at the highest levels.But in my work i need some guidelines to find an ideal customer.I like your post.Thanks for it.
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ReplyDeleteGreat article. I do believe that in finding real customer one must need to focus on nurturing the relationship with the customers you can satisfy and make happy. Those ideal customers will then spread the word to like minded individuals and you will attract more of them. Thanks for this very informative post.
ReplyDeletePutting up a business is quite complicated. And it's true that you have to consider lot of factors so your business will meet its peak. I agree that costumer is one main factor that a business should always claim. Consider their needs and their demands as well. Your thoughts in this article has a great points! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat article..It really helps a lot when you know your customer., Especially if your new in the business, Its quite a while to learn but its a lot more easier when you put your whole heart in it.thanks anyway.
ReplyDeleteKnowing the right customer for your business is one important key to the success of your business. I guess finding your ideal customer should be done during the conceptualization of your business so that you are aware of your target market and how to cater their needs better than your competitors. This post can be very helpful especially to the starters in business. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteVery motivational article..i think this is the best place for those who are doing their business and need to grow their business.Thanks for sharing this article with us.
ReplyDeleteA enterprise will only become thriving if it can issue out its accurate goal assembly, buyer, or customer. It is really factual that clients are the one's who make every enterprise becomes competitive.
ReplyDeleteWow, some of the great ways mentioned as how to for and find customers for your products and services you are providing along with finding ways in increasing your profits and ROI....
ReplyDeleteI'm a businessman and i could really say that finding the ideal customer is never an easy task. It takes a lot of research and hard work.
ReplyDeleteHi! i am in furniture business and i can say that these are the best rules of business. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDelete