How well do you know your blog readers? If you’re going to create content that interests, entertains, inspires, and engages your readers, you need a clear understanding of who they are. While you’re getting started with your blog, take some time to identify your reader profile so you can deliver the kind of content they love.
Your Target Reader Profile
In order to get to know your reader, you need to create a target reader profile. This defines your audience as a single individual. This person isn’t the only individual who will read your blog, but the one who is most the ideal reader.
For example, as a business coach, my target reader profile are business owners who are looking for more ways to increase their revenue. So, I am creating articles (like this one) that help business owners learn different tips and tricks about business whether that is marketing, networking, finances, sales, and ways to improve workflow!
You will never be able to please everyone. You’ll have a wide variety of readers, but you need to appeal to the individuals who will most enjoy and benefit from your content. Keep it focused on them for best results.
Your Reader’s Demographic
The first question to answer is: Who is your reader? Identify their demographics. Demographic information includes things such as gender, age, education level, geographic location, profession, income level, and so on.
Pro Tip: The more concise you can get, the better you will be at targeting your ideal group. Eventually, you can have multiple ideal groups (and write multiple types of articles that will cater to each one). But at the beginning, stick to one!
If you’re writing for an audience in their 30’s, you’ll write differently than you would for an audience in the 50’s. The same goes for gender, location, and other demographics. Think about the topic you’re writing about and who it appeals most to. Do some research online, on social media pages, and in groups in your topic to see who is most engaged.
Your Reader’s Interests and Preferences
Next, learn about your ideal reader’s tastes and preferences, and what they are looking for to learn! What websites do they visit? What social media groups do they belong to? What blogs do they read?
Try to identify their hobbies and interests. For example, if your readers happen to like wine, you can engage them with content utilizing wine, and tie it in with your actual content.
Your Audience’s Desires and Aspirations
This information is harder to grasp but extremely important. You need an understanding of your audience’s desires, aspirations, frustrations, values, and challenges.
Perhaps many of your readers are mothers, and also in business finance, and you need to write an article about spreadsheets. Since they are mothers, one of their aspirations is to help their children constantly grow and improve. Use that information, make references, connect with them on a deeper level! This will help them read and relate to your content, and therefore spend more time on your website! (Which happens to help SEO rating!)
Focus on Data, Not Assumptions
If you sit down and brainstorm, you can make a fairly detailed reader profile. However, it’s much better to use objective data from the market. Use your research online and your past experience with customers to create a profile that really clicks. Once you start blogging, keep gathering feedback and data, and refine your reader profile. Over time, you’ll understand your readers inside and out and be able to write content that speaks directly to them.
Final thoughts
Blogging is incredibly beneficial for overall marketing! But make sure you are writing about information that your clients can actually relate to! That will drastically improve the quality of your marketing and overall reach! Which, when done correctly, will increase your overall sales!