Mentioned in the video module:
1. Jessica Swift’s amazing rain boots.
2. Target market biography worksheet: download here.
3. Example of a plan of getting to know your target market: download here.
This is a module from, Six Weeks to a Creative Business, which is currently open for enrollment here. Enrollment closes on January 30th. If you enroll in ARTrepreneur, you automatically get access to this course for FREE.
wow , super specific ! Im on it , April 🙂
Yay! Let me know how it goes!
This is great! I’ve already gone through your document and planned out my plan of attack through the end of the month to get to know my target market! Two questions for you – once you know who your target market (or target person) is – how do you know what sorts of products/services to create? How will you know what sorts of things they want from you in terms of free content and what they’d be willing to pay for if you have an online business (no physical products)? Thanks for the great info, as always!!
Answer to Question 1: Ask them about their problems related to your services and products. Start broad and get more and more specific. {Examples: What keeps you from cooking your own meals? What do you like least about cooking for yourself?} Try to get them to tell you in their own words what the perfect solution would be–that’ll give you product and service ideas. I did this with a group of ladies from my target market and that’s how I ended up producing RoadMap.
Answer to Question 2: That’s not as easy a question to answer. I try to research along the way to see what people need and want when I’m thinking up a new product or service idea. If I tailor my products and services to meet their needs and wants, then some people are willing to pay. There will always be some who only come to your site for the free content. When thinking of products and services, talk to your customers when possible. I always get better results when I’ve put together something that people are constantly asking me for.
Thanks so much for your answers! I’m always on the lookout for “clues” as to what people might want in terms of products and services, but haven’t yet just asked anyone. I have just been looking at their site behavior and trying to infer what they’re looking for based on that. I’ll have to get out of my comfort zone and start making conversations with people to see what it is they’re actually looking for! Thanks again for the awesome insight!
You’re so welcome! Definitely start asking…people will tell you!
Great advice April. I know so many people struggle with this. It’s really hard!
My trouble is, I’m an artist, I live on a Greek island. I feel inclined to do tutorials and talk about the art courses I’m taking and perhaps a bit about my lifestyle in Crete.
But then I realize that if I’m posting tutorial type posts,then I’m targeting people who want to learn how to paint, rather than someone who wants to buy art. Mmm, I guess I just wonder what to write about.
Lucky for me, I’m a member of Artrepreneur, so I will definitely be following along with your new Creative course 😉
Thanks April 🙂
Hey Alison! What do you think your customers want to know about you and your art? That’s where I would start. Usually, customers want to know what inspired you to become an artist, how you learned your techniques {art school versus self-taught}, what inspires your art, how long it takes you to make a piece, etc.
We’ll definitely be covering this stuff in the courses for ARTrepreneur.
Hi April,
Thanks for all the great advice, and motivation to dive in!
One of my defaults when thinking about who my target customer is, is to think of who i want them to be. I feel like I come at it backwards this way, and may be making up someone who doesn’t or won’t ever exist. Does it work this way, or should I work harder at seeing who is actually spending money in my shop, and finding more about who they are?
I got you. You need a bit of both! You want to know who your ideal customer is and then figure out where these people are and how to get your stuff in front of them. Plus, you want to get to know the people who are already customers and already spend their money with you. There’s probably some overlap.