If you’re a boss lady entrepreneur, you’ve probably heard something like:
- “You need find your ideal client.”
- “Who’s your target audience?”
- “You’ve got to niche down.”
Your business is your baby and you’re down to learn anything that you need to know so you can market your business the right way so you can not just make a living, but live your best dream life. So that’s why you’ve been curious about this whole “ideal client” situation and why everyone seems to care so much about it. I mean can’t I just market to EVERYONE?
So first of all, it’s a hard NO to marketing to everyone. If you’ve ever caught yourself saying anything like “My ideal client is everyone,” I need you to take an eraser, a delete button, a flamethrower, or WHATEVER so you can remove that thought from your brain forever.
Nobody’s ideal client is “everyone.”
The Beauty of the Ideal Client
Your ideal client is that chick with the exact type of problem that you were put on this earth to solve. They’re easier to work with because you simply enjoy working with them. It’s like an interior decorator who just loves natural lighting walks into a house with floor to ceiling windows in every wall of the house. Jackpot!
The best part about an ideal client is because they’re so perfect for you, you’re able to provide the absolute most top quality service for them. If you’re a wedding planner who loves to let her imagination go wild, your ideal client might be the bride who wants a wedding theme that just explodes with creativity. If you’re a hairstylist who loves to teach, your ideal client is probably someone who is eager to ask questions and let you gush about how to properly take care of her hair.
Your ideal client fits your business like a puzzle piece. She allows you to solve her exact problem with the greatest of ease and finesse. And the best part is, because you provided such stellar service, your ideal client is more likely to go and tell her friends all about you. Can you say “word of mouth marketing?”
Why is identifying your ideal client so important?
Even if you think about huge businesses like Wal-mart which seems to have everything for everyone all in one place, it’s not quite as simple as it seems. Wal-mart seems to have a little bit of everything at an affordable price.
But let’s say Mother’s Day is coming up and I’m looking for a gorgeous necklace as a gift for my mom. For the occasion and my mom’s particular tastes, Wal-mart is probably not the best place to find a high end necklace. In this case, forget affordability! Forget having a little of everything. I’m looking for high quality and style! And I want to speak to sales associates who are knowledgeable in the subject so they can answer my questions before I commit to a purchase. A necklace specifically from a jewelry store is probably my best option.
This is why figuring out your ideal client is so important for your business. It’s the difference between selling vague promises into the wind and blending into the background, and grabbing the attention and trust of a very specific audience who has been DYING to find someone who speaks their exact language.
So how do you identify your ideal client?
The first thing you should do is take a good, hard look at yourself and your business. Ask yourself these questions:
- What skills are you most passionate about?
- In the past, who are your happiest clients? Why were they so thrilled with your service?
- Which clients did you absolutely LOVE working with? What about them made them such a joy to work with?
- What demographic does your service connect the best with?
- What frustrations are your clients dealing with that you feel the most equipped to solve for them?
Once you’ve thought long and hard about the answers to those questions, you’ve identified your ideal client.
Okay, I’ve figured out my ideal client… Now what?
Now let’s say you’ve taken some time to analyze your business and now you’ve finally figured who your ideal client is. Congrats! But does your brand attract your ideal client?
It’s so critical to identify your ideal client, but the next step is figuring out how to communicate to them. You know you can connect with them on a deeper level than the alternatives out there. But your ideal client doesn’t know you exist yet! You guys might be a perfect match, but in a crowded industry and so many other competitors, it can be hard to get your voice heard.
If you’re wondering if your branding and website are speaking the right language to your ideal client, you’re in the right place. Get a free Brand Clarity Assessment with me and I’ll take a deep dive into your brand and tell you exactly where your online presence is attracting (and repelling) your ideal client.
