and Where the Heck Are They Hiding?
So who exactly IS this Ideal Client you’ve heard so much about? You’ve started your business. You’ve got your big ideas, your notebooks full of plans, and maybe even your first product ready to go. But now here’s the crunch – no one warned that you that this would feel like online dating.
Let’s be honest, shouting “I sell planners!” or “I make beautiful jewellery!” into the internet void is a bit like yelling “I make a mean lasagne!” at a crowded airport. You might get a few weird looks and one enthusiastic reply from someone who just really loves pasta (and you never hear from them again). But you deserve better than that. You deserve to find your people.
Step 1: Who is your Ideal Client?
Forget demographics for a second. Let’s go deeper. Who do you actually want to work with? Who gets you excited to create, to share, to sell? How old is she? What is her name? Where does she live? What does she use for transport? Is she married, and does she have children? And to every one of those answers, you need to ask ‘Why?’. Why does she have children? Why does she work there? etc.
Close your eyes and imagine your dream customer. What do they value? What are they struggling with? What would make their day easier, more beautiful, or more successful? Maybe she’s a midlife woman building a creative side hustle in the evenings. Maybe she’s burnt out from corporate life and finally following her dream. Maybe she’s a mum of teenagers, and just wants something to make her feel special again.
Now ask yourself: what do they need that you have to solution to? What specific problem does she have that you can solve?
Step 2: Where are they hanging out?
If she’s a Pinterest scroller looking for inspiration, be there. If she’s doom-scrolling Instagram while the kettle boils, show up in that feed with something real and useful. Facebook groups, online forums, Substack, Etsy, heck, even LinkedIn if she’s the professional type, go where she already trusts the space. She has no idea you even exist, so you have to find her! And don’t just post and ghost. Stick around and listen. Learn how she speaks. Watch what she saves, shares, and who she replies to. That’s gold right there.
Step 3: How do we engage without being … weird?
Oh, and a little cheekiness doesn’t hurt. Be yourself. Your people are out there looking for exactly your brand of weird, kind, creative magic.
In summary (because we’re all a bit tired and love a recap):
Figure out who you actually want to serve. Identify her in detail. Then, find where she already is, and talk to her like a real human.
Simple, but not easy.
Doable? Absolutely.
You’ve got this.
So tell me, who do you think your Ideal Client might be? Describe her in detail. Or have you already found her? There are over 8 billion people in the world. I just know you’ll find your Ideal Clients.
