SEO Pros: How To Find Your Target Audience With SEO
Did you know that millennials now watch more online video than traditional TV?
If you’re a company that’s selling to this demographic, it’s vital you know information just like that. But, to know which important statistics apply to your company, you first need to know your audience.
Every company has a target audience. If you don’t know yours yet, don’t worry! There’s still time to figure it out and it’s not as hard as it might sound.
Check out our guide with everything you need to know about finding your target audience to learn more.
What Is a Target Audience?
Before you learn how to define yours, let’s find out what a target audience is.
A simple target audience definition would be the people that are going to buy your products. They’re the consumers that your products or services are meant for and the people you want to be interested in your brand. But why do you need to know who these people are?
The first reason is for traditional and digital marketing. By knowing who you’re trying to engage and reel in, you can focus your marketing and make it much more effective. A targeted ad is more cost-effective, will return a higher ROI, and makes sure the world knows exactly who your business is.
It can also help you grow your brand in the right direction. For example, if you know your target market you can keep an eye on the trends they’re following. You can then use these trends to inspire your next products, making sure they’re going to appeal to the right audience.
You can also target customer service by using methods of communicating that your audience prefers. For example, millennials will probably be more keen to chat over social media than older generations!
These are just some of the reasons why you need to know your target audience, but there are plenty more you can look into! Once you know why your brand needs to identify it’s consumer base, it’s time to find out who they are. Identify your target audience properly with these tips.
Look at Your Customer Base
Your current customers can tell you a lot about your target audience! These are the people who are interested in your products and services, so make sure to use them in your research.
Look at the data of your customers, including their age, gender, and where they’re from. If you can, compile a mailing list of your current customers and send them an email asking for their help. Explain that you’re trying to learn more about who is shopping from you and ask them to answer some general, non-invasive questions.
These could include:
- Did you shop with us for you or someone else?
- What are your favorite brands?
- What hobbies do you have?
- What’s on your wish-list at the moment?
Never ask anything too personal and don’t be too pushy when asking customers to fill it out.
Analyze the Competition
Your competition can tell you a lot about your target audience. Make a list of some of your top competitors who seem to be doing well in the industry. Then, take a deep dive into their marketing and try and dig out as much useful information as you can!
Take a look first at where they’re marketing. Are they focused on social media platforms or have they been pumping a lot of money into TV ads? Then, do some research on which markets prefer which platforms and you can get a better idea of who they’re trying to target.
Remember, it’s vital you don’t do exactly what your competitors do. Instead, use them for inspiration as you develop your own niche.
Look at the Benefits of Your Products
A great way to identify your target audience is to look at your own products and services. Identify the problem that each of them solves and the benefits they bring to the users’ life. Are there interests you can instantly identify, such as eco-friendly products appealing to eco-conscious shoppers?
Once you know more about your own products, you can start to create a picture of what the people shopping for them may look like. It’s a simple task but very effective!
Look at Industry Research Studies
If you have a clear industry that your brand falls under, there’s probably already been research carried out. Some of this you might be able to find online and it may help you build a clear customer profile. But, be warned; some of these studies might cost you a fair bit of money to view them!
Find out more about market research studies in this handy article.
Be Specific About Your Demographic
When building a customer profile for your target audience, make sure you get specific. Outline exactly who it is that might be shopping with you. Take into account some of the following:
- Income level
- Occupation
- Marital/family status
- Values and attitudes
- Interests and hobbies
- Lifestyle
From the information you’ve found from your research, try to build a real person. Create a complete profile of someone that could walk into your shop and then gear your brand towards enticing, engaging, and eventually selling to them.
Hire a Digital Marketing Agency
If you don’t have the time, resources, or know-how to carry out all of this research on your target audience, don’t panic! Doing all of this yourself definitely isn’t your only option.
Instead, turn to a digital marketing agency like BrandDad Digital. We help businesses just like yours to market to the right audience, giving your brand the best chance to thrive. To find out more and how we can help identify your target audience, get in touch today.
