Getting clear on who your ideal client is is one of the important foundational pieces you have to have when creating your business. Knowing who this person is will set your business up for success and make your life so much easier!
1. What Exactly is an Ideal Client?
It’s basically your dream client. It’s someone with the characteristics you want in a client. It’s unrealistic to expect that every client you work with will have every characteristic on your “ideal client” list, but they should have enough that makes you feel like the two of you click.
2. How to Create Your Ideal Client Profile
You’ll want to get inside your ideal client’s head. This will take some guesswork sometimes, but as you work with more clients you’ll learn what you’re looking for.
3. Here’s a sampling of questions to ask yourself to figure out your ideal client profile:
Think about your ideal customer:
• What is their age?
• What is their relationship status?
• Do they have children? If so, how many? What are their ages?
• What schools has your ideal customer gone to?
• What is their profession?
• If you are in the aesthetics, hair, or beauty industry, what color is their hair? What type of skin do they have?
• Do they own a business? If so, what is the annual revenue of the company? How many employees do they have? What kind of business is this?
Personal details:
• What is their current salary?
• What are their political views?
• What are their religious views?
• What are their personal interests or hobbies?
Typical day in the life:
• What are their favorite brands?
• What are their favorite websites?
• What is their source for breaking news?
• What is their source for industry news?
• Which social platforms do they use (FB, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn)?
• Do they have personal goals? What are they?
• Do they have business goals? What are they?
• What are their goals for their family?
What is the worst thing that could possibly happen to them if their problem is not eventually
solved?
• How would this make your customer feel?
• What would their friends think?
• What could happen to their career?
• What could happen financially?
• What is your customer secretly afraid of?
What is the best thing that could possibly happen if their problem is solved?
• What would they be willing to pay almost anything for?
• How can your membership match up to your customer’s real needs and desires?
• How can you solve their problems?
• What is it you are trying to provide your customers?
Now that you’ve answered all of those questions, create a short story about your customer. Be
sure to include:
• Details about their life
• Their professional background
• The impact their problem is having on them and their family
• Their frustrations
• Their needs
BONUS QUESTIONS
- Where or what was the last vacation and why did this person love it so much?
- What type of neighborhood does this person live in?
- Where does this person buy groceries, and why?
- Where does this person buy clothing/shoes and why?
- What are some of her/his favorite clothing brands?
- What kind of car does this person drive – and why?
- Is this person active with his/her church, belongs to a country club, etc. country club, church, charity events?
- What brand or product has so changed this person’s life that he/she now could not live without it, and why?
- Where does this person get information? Newspapers, blogs, books – online or print
- Does this person watch television? What are his/her favorite shows?
- Who does this person admire the most?
