Identify Your Ideal Client and Create Your Client Avatar

When we are starting out in our business, we tend to want to serve as large of an audience as possible. In many cases, when we try to do this, we end up with a watered down solution that doesn't really help anyone. But, what's the alternative? Do we narrow down our audience and potentially alienate customers (and revenue)? Believe it or not, the less is more adage really does work, especially in the online world.  The more specifically you speak to someone's situation, the more likely they will be to connect with you and ultimately buy from you.  

If you're a chef and you want to appeal to families, perhaps you create a yummy recipe for mac and cheese. Well, unless your Rachel Ray or Rachel Ray recommends you, chances are very few people will see or notice your mac and cheese recipe. But, if your vegan and you are speaking directly to vegan moms with young children and you post your delicious recipe in a forum of other busy, vegan moms of young children, well, now your getting somewhere.  

For many of us, it's hard to narrow things down.  I'm guilty of this myself.  So, I put together a list of things to think about to assist you as you narrow and define your audience.  

1. What is your business and what industry do you currently serve?
2. Do you have a particular subset of your business that you prefer or a type of client that you like to work with?  If so, who and what?
3. What types of clients have you had the most success with recently? Why?
4. Outside of your business, what are you passionate about? Health, fitness, the arts, sports, business, marketing, nature
5. What are your hobbies and pastimes? Fishing, golfing, bowling, reading, travel, cooking
6. What are you interested in learning about professionally and/or personally?
7. What are some things you’re pretty good at?
8. What types of podcasts do you listen to?  Or books do you read or listen to?
9. How would you describe your personality?  Shy, chatty, introverted, extroverted, competitive, active, relaxed, assertive, etc. 
10. What type of people do you get along with most?
11. What types of people do you prefer not to hang out with?
12. What are some of your personal values?
13. What brands or companies resonate with you or do you admire?
14. Thinking about the answers to the above questions, what ideas emerge? 
15. Does a niche or industry come to mind? 
16. Is there a cross-section between a personal interest or hobby and prospect industry that you can focus on?
17. Reviewing past client successes, is this an area that you enjoy and is this a potential niche?

So, what did you come up with?  Were you able to identify a niche or subset of your client group that you might be able to speak to?  If so, I'd love to hear about it.  Drop into the Infopreneur Success Facebook Group and tell us about it.