Creating an ideal client profile and getting clear on your target audience is important at any stage of business. In this post learn how to identify and create an ideal client profile for your business. As well as how to best use that tailored profile moving forward with your marketing.

Identifying the ideal client profile

Before we dive in, it’s important to remember that your profile is not the same as your niche. Your niche is much broader. It’s what you want to be known for in your industry.

When someone navigates to your website it should be clearly stated what you do and who you are doing it for. This, in other words, is your niche. Your specialty and where you place your focus when it comes to your clientele. 

While not always necessary, it may be helpful to identify your niche prior to working on your ideal client. To do so, consider asking yourself the following questions:

• Who are your dream clients? 
• Who do you want to serve in your business?
• What differences are you hoping to make in their lives?
• Who have been your favorite clients?
• Do you see a theme or pattern with your favorite projects?

Benefits of defining an ideal client profile

Defining your ideal client is beneficial as it serves as the foundation for your marketing strategy and communication. By defining the “who” of your ideal client profile you can better craft how clients will perceive your brand’s message. 

The more specific you are in defining this profile, the better. Remember that your ideal client can and will evolve as your business does. So don’t worry too much about getting things perfect from the beginning, just focus on getting it done. 

How to create an ideal client profile

The easiest way to create an ideal client profile is to first focus on your existing clients and the services you currently provide. Having defined your niche using the guidance above, narrow that down to one person.

Marie Forleo once referenced in her B-School program that “if you’re talking to everybody, you’re talking to nobody.” Think about this question… Is it easier to write an email directed to one person or four hundred different people? The former, right?

When addressing one person, it becomes more intimate. It builds an immediate rapport with your targeted audience.

People are people and thus they differ. Consider the differences between someone living in a penthouse in New York City vs someone living on a ranch in the middle of Texas. And while an Old Navy shopper might value a frugal lifestyle and what it is to be thrifty. A couture shopper might value one-of-a-kind clothing and quality design. 

Each of these avatars has different approaches to life, neither one right nor wrong. But the clarity we get from understanding these differences in values is priceless. Because when it comes time to build a marketing strategy directed at each of them the tone will differ greatly. 

A few questions to ask to begin creating your ideal client profile.

Where to begin in creating your profile? Consider these questions with an open mind. And in doing so create the most specific client profile possible. 

• What is their gender?
• Are they married? 
• Do they have children? What are their children’s ages? 
• Where do they live?
• What’s their annual income? 
• What do they do for a living? 
• What’s their work-life like?

Some additional questions will help you dive even deeper into their world:

• What do they do on the weekends? 
• What are their family or personal goals? 
• What are their professional goals? 
• What’s most important in their lives?
• What are their top core values? 
• What books can you find her reading? 
• What do they like to eat? 
• Where do they shop? 
• What brands do they love?

These questions not only uncover the intricate details of who they are and how they feel, but they can also reflect on what they value in life. 

Go deeper by with an ideal customer profile workbook to help you identify your dream target audience.

Use the workbook below to clearly identify your dream target audience and ideal client profile to bring clarity to your offerings, brand, tone of voice, marketing, and more!

Uncovering these intricate details of your ideal client profile now means you can utilize them to get clear on your messaging as you begin marketing your business.

When creating that message remember to address your ideal client avatar directly. The more you address them directly, the more welcome they will feel. Ultimately, more opportunities will find you because of that fact. Eventually, this establishes trust, which warrants repeat business and better referrals. 

Moving forward

Remember that the best marketing is done with an ideal client profile in mind. Master the ability to have a conversation with this avatar as if the two are old friends. Keep it conversational because that’s truly where the magic happens. Once the brand message speaks to this avatar at that level of closeness, you’re golden.