When it comes to shaping a marketing strategy, there’s one question we ask first: Who are we talking to?
It’s the difference between throwing spaghetti at the wall… and serving a curated five-course meal to the exact people who are hungry for it.
And yet, this is the part many businesses want to skip over. It’s tempting to jump straight into the fun stuff – logos, ads, reels, content. But without a clear understanding of your audience, every piece of marketing becomes a shot in the dark.
Let’s break down how to actually figure out who your audience is, and why it’s the first step that truly matters.
So… How Do I Find the Right Audience for My Business?
Start by thinking about your business from a human perspective, not just a sales one.
Who are your current customers?
What kind of people love working with you?
Who do you genuinely enjoy helping?
From there, look at the patterns. Are they in a similar stage of life? Do they share common values or interests? The “right” audience isn’t just someone who could buy from you, it’s someone who will connect with what you offer and how you offer it.
And don’t be afraid to narrow it down. Your message gets clearer (and more effective) when it’s meant for someone, not everyone.
How Do I Figure Out Who My Audience Is?
Here’s a simple, three-step approach we use at Create:
- Listen to your people.
What are your best clients saying? What do they ask before buying? What do they love about your product or service? These real words and emotions are gold. - Look at the data.
Check your insights. Who’s engaging with your posts, opening your emails, visiting your website? Tools like Google Analytics and Meta Business Suite can reveal surprising details. - Create an audience profile.
This doesn’t have to be fancy. Name them. Give them a job, a hobby, a few worries, and a couple of dreams. Think about what they value. This is your guide for every marketing decision.
How Do I Determine My Target Customers for a Business?
Here’s the truth: your “target customer” is not always the loudest voice, or even the person who’s already buying. It’s the person who gets the most value from what you do, and tells others about it.
To identify them, consider:
Who gets the best results with your product or service?
Who refers others to you?
Who do you want more of?
Sometimes this means shifting your marketing to attract a new version of your audience, one that’s better aligned with your brand goals. That’s okay. Evolution is part of building a brand with intention.
How Do I Decide My Target Audience?
Start with clarity, not perfection.
You don’t need to have every demographic detail nailed down. Instead, focus on getting really specific about why your ideal audience needs you.
What problem are they trying to solve?
What would success look like for them?
How do they want to feel during the process?
When you understand this, your content becomes more intuitive. Your brand voice becomes more natural. Your strategy becomes less of a guessing game, and more of a conversation with someone who’s already listening.
Final Thoughts from the Create Team
Knowing your audience isn’t just step one – it’s the anchor. It’s what helps you show up with purpose, make better creative decisions, and build long-term trust with your people.
At Create, this is where we always start. Because once you know who you’re talking to, the rest of your marketing suddenly makes a lot more sense.
Ready to put this into action?
Download our free Know Your Audience worksheet to walk through the process step by step, and start building your confidence today!
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