Who Are You After?

This may seem like a silly question but I believe it is important. Do you know your customer base? Are you really going after the customer who is going to be interested in your company? So many business owners are throwing darts hoping just to hit a customer from time to time. This creates confusion, frustration, and a huge waste of time. So in all honesty, who are you after?

Edward Lowe states "If you don’t know who your customers are, how will you be able to assess whether you are meeting their needs? Since success depends on your being able to meet customers’ needs and desires, you must know who your customers are, what they want, where they live and what they can afford." Discovering your market is not only necessary, but profitable. Your audience should not only be marketable as well as one your can capture. If it's not, then you seriously need to see if your company will be one that can survive, especially during the down times. This simple and honest analysis will save you the heartache of investing in a business that cannot succeed.

Identifying your customer then allows you to research whether your product or service is necessary at this time. What are you going to supply to this said buyer and will they benefit from it? For example, it's great that you make a fantastic burger, but why shouldn't your consumer go to Burger King? If you can't pinpoint this, then why should your buyer? My burger is made with 100% organic beef and never frozen. My customer is looking for a fresh taste and a healthy alternative. This is your who and why in two complete sentences. Now, you know who to go after.

Being completely aware of your consumer from the beginning gives you a wealth of knowledge. It sets up how you market your products or services and keeps you targeting that dynamic, keeping your message specific for that audience. In turn, saving yourself time, money, and unfulfilling career aspirations. Knowing who you are after, it's a good thing.