Just the other day I asked a friend, “So, who is the target market for this product?” They excitedly replied, “Everyone!”  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked that question and received that same reply. The reality is that no product is for EVERYONE (no not even toilet paper, or there wouldn’t be different brands). So let’s go deeper and find out who your target market really is (it’s a lot easier than you’d think).

Branding your product or service starts and ends with your target market. Many businesses only ask “Who” their market is, but you have a secret weapon because in just a few minutes of brainstorming, you can go the extra mile and gain the advantage. You can really tap into who they are, what they want and how they want it. I encourage you to take a moment today and really think about your target market, by asking yourself these questions (best guesses are ok):

1. Who are they? Age, sex, income, marital status, political affiliation/tendency, religious or not, etc.

2. What do they do? Deciphering the types of activities (i.e. golf, church, nightlife) they like to participate in can help you get a better idea of their true mindset.

3. Where do they go? Knowing what kinds of places they frequent could help you brainstorm a unique way to reach them that your competitors haven’t thought about.

4. How do they usually come across new products or services? If you know how they find out about new things you may be able to reach them in a way you didn’t think about before.

5. What problems do they face? If you know some of the “problems” they grapple with you can be their knight-in-shining armor, offering up just the right solutions!

And, if you really want to delve into their psyche further you could even ask them to tell you how they feel through surveys or contests—but that of course would depend on whether your target market likes surveys or contests.

Good luck on figuring out your target market. After you’ve figured out some answers to these questions start brainstorming how you can use this treasure trove of information to reach your market in new, meaningful ways. If you need some help let us know.

P.S. If you get stumped when you’re answering these questions, search online. Check out informational websites in your industry and/or start typing in some key phrases about your type of product or service. The internet is a wealth of information.