IDEAL CLIENT AVATAR—ICA
Before we dig into learning about who our ideal client is, let’s first talk about why this is important. When you understand who your ideal client is inside and out, you’ll not only be able to create helpful content that resonates with them, you’ll also reach the right people who want to work with you that you enjoy working with.
Download a free worksheet on Clarifying Your Ideal Client.
Many new entrepreneurs get caught up in looking at the wrong numbers. They focus on the number of followers and likes on social media, thinking that if they don’t reach a certain amount, they’re irrelevant, and people won’t buy from them, or they need to have a certain number of followers before they start selling.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
First of all, businesses existed before social media did. This means people were making money with zero ‘likes’, and their followers were real people IRL. Companies stay in business by having loyal customers and raving fans, not by the number of ‘likes’ on a post.
Thus, building relationships is WHAT YOU SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON. Focus on the number of people you serve to the best of your ability, not the number of likes and followers on social media. You don’t own those followers. If all of your social media accounts blew up today, would you still be able to reach your audience?
TOPICS COVERED IN THIS ARTICLE:
- What is an Ideal Client?
- The importance of understanding your Ideal Client.
- What it will cost you if you do not know who your Ideal Client is.
- How to define your Ideal Client Avatar.
- Creating customized content for your audience.
WHAT IS AN IDEAL CLIENT?
Your ideal client is the representation of your audience, dream client, or customer in the form of a person.
This is a person who needs the product or service you’re selling because it solves their problem.
THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING YOUR DEAL CLIENT
If you don’t know who your ideal client is, you won’t know who you’re talking to, or what problem you’re solving when creating content, which leads to creating random content and people will never really understand what you do or what you offer, and no one will buy from you.
While random content may get you a lot of likes and followers, it’s getting noticed by the wrong people instead of giving value and educating the right people on the problem you can solve for them—you’re actually running on a hamster wheel that’ll move your business forward.
When you understand who your ideal client is, you can use that as your true north for ALL marketing efforts. Understanding your ideal client gives you clarity around how you can help your audience, allowing you to create value-added content, lead magnets, products, and build an SEO keyword list so those ideal clients can easily find you.
Knowing Your Audience Needs + Wants = Clarity
Clarity makes everything easier. You’ll be more creative, focused, and disciplined because you’ll know exactly what products, content, and emails to create, that add value for your audience.
Create content as if you were writing to, or talking to, one person—your ideal client.
Speaking to one person (your ideal client), instead of to a whole group, allows you to focus, fully step into who YOU are, and find your OWN unique voice. You’ll feel comfortable expressing yourself authentically and you’ll naturally show your true personality. People will either resonate with you or be repelled by you, and this is exactly what you want!
When you’re creating content for a broad audience, you tend to dim your light because you’re considering everyone. It’s like talking to your best friend one-to-one versus talking to a group of people. You automatically take your masks off and let your guard down with your best friend, whereas you’ll tone down a bit for the group.
When you find your ideal client, you get to be authentically yourself and create content that helps them in a meaningful way. You’ll show up as your best self, and your clients will show up as their best selves.
You’ll experience an expanded energetic flow between you and your audience. There will be a deeper connection, a greater understanding of expectations, and mutual respect.
You get to solve the right problems for the right people.
WHAT IT WILL COST YOU IF YOU NOT KNOW WHO YOUR IDEAL CLIENT IS
- It will cost you time.
- It will cost you money.
- It will cause heartache and self-doubt.
- You’ll run in circles making tons of content that never converts.
- You’ll create courses or products your audience won’t’ buy.
- You’ll write blog articles that no one will read.
- You’ll start to question whether you’re even meant to be an entrepreneur.
HOW TO DEFINE YOUR IDEAL CLIENT AVATAR
You’ll need to get really specific here and envision one person you’d absolutely love working with. Yes, one person. Don’t worry about leaving people out. Don’t think that by only talking to one person, you’ll reach no one. In fact, the results are quite the opposite. It’s easier to create content with one person in mind. It gets challenging when you think of your audience as a group because there are so many variables—each individual is experiencing something different in life.
When you have one person in mind while creating products and content, you’ll have clarity in how you can help them the most. There are thousands of people out there who will have some or all of the same traits as your ideal client and will resonate with your content. When you speak to one, you speak to many. And ultimately, you’re speaking to those who resonate with your message, vision, mission, product, and service. It’s a win-win. You’re helping to solve problems and fulfill needs, through sharing your knowledge, skills, and talents through your content, products, and services.
You’re aligning your knowledge with people who need it the most.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO GET CLEAR ON YOUR IDEAL CLIENT:
- Who is she/he/them? Name. Age
- Where does she live?
- Is she married/single/living alone/living with others?
- Does she have kids? If so, how old are they and what are their names?
- What is her occupation?
- What are her struggles or problems? What’s the story behind this pain point?
- What are her greatest desires?
- What are her values?
- What are her core beliefs?
- Where does she find her information?
- What companies is she attracted to and why?
- What does her dream life look like?
- Why hasn’t she stepped into living her dream life yet? What’s holding her back?
- What’s at stake if she doesn’t step into her full potential?
CREATING CUSTOMIZED CONTENT FOR YOUR IDEAL CLIENT
Review your answers to the questions above and write the story of your ideal client. You can even go as far as to find a photo online that best represents your ideal client avatar. Keep that story and picture on your desk so you can refer back to it often.
Take a few minutes right now to make a list of content ideas that can help solve their problems and are in alignment with your ideal client’s needs and wants.
Before you write a blog article, make a video, take a photo, or post on social media, ask yourself how you can create content that’s specific and valuable to your ideal client.
Don’t skip this exercise! It’s the most important thing you can do to set yourself up for success as an entrepreneur.
If you’ve hit a roadblock and have no idea how to get clear on who your ideal client is, CONTACT me or book a free consult! I’m happy to help!