Category: Marketing

3 Ways to Grow Your Email List

3 Ways to Grow your Email List During Social Distancing

by Christina Giordano

Today I’m going to talk about how to grow your email list quickly and easily. These tactics are especially effective in today’s world of social distancing. 

It’s important that you have a few things in place before you start growing your email list. 

First, you have to have your email provider all set up! Obviously, you can’t build a list if you don’t have a list set up. Sure, you can keep a written list of email addresses you collect, but how is that going to save you time down the line. Have your email provider (like MailChimp or Active Campaign or Constant Contact) automated so that you can instantly capture names and email addresses. Then, you’ll want to create an automated email that gets sent out to those new subscribers. This means that once someone gets added to your list, either manually by you or through subscribing on your site, they immediately get a welcome message.

Second, you have to have a few freebie offerings in mind. This goes back to the opt-ins I was talking about in a previous session/live. The offer you provide can be a free PDF, an introductory call, a brief trial of your service, an audio lesson, a guided meditation, an educational webinar, or perhaps a video tutorial. It is essentially anything that you think will be valuable and relevant to your ideal customer. It’s a piece of important content that can be exchanged for contact information. The easiest way to put a freebie together is to consider repurposing content you already have. You and I both know how long it takes to create an incredible piece of content. Once we hit publish and put it out into the world, it just stays in that one location. But what if instead of never looking at that piece of content again, you leverage it to work harder for you by packaging it up into different shapes and sizes. For example, you can transcribe audio, or craft an email from blogs, or create quotes and graphics from old content.

Third and lastly, you have to be ready to show up in how you use email marketing AND understand that it’s purely a business tactic. This means that your vibe needs to be where you want it when you’re sending your emails. Believe it or not, readers can tell when your content is just ho-hum instead of exciting and inspired. This also means that you can’t take email marketing personally. People will unsubscribe from you, and when you’re just starting out with a small list, it can upset you to see someone leave your list. But don’t sweat it! Unsubscribes actually help you weed out the ideal customers from the ones who aren’t. Unsubscribes save you energy, get rid of dead weight, save you money, and generally improve the quality of your list. So with that, here are 3 ways you can grow your email list. Keep in mind, there are tons of ways you can build your list. These are just 3 of them for you to consider today, as they’re particularly useful in today’s post-COVID-19 world. 

Number #1: Consider social networking. The new way of networking is social these days. So, how can you optimize direct messages (or DMs) to grow your list? I’ll give you an example of how this works. Say you post an infographic about 3 struggles that your ideal customer experiences as it relates to your industry. And you just happen to have some resources to help them within your freebie. You can tell your followers to comment with what they struggle with and then you can slide into their DM asking if you can send over your free resource that should help them!

Number #2: This next tip is a really fun one particularly for newbie entrepreneurs. Join a few Facebook groups or other social groups where your ideal customer is hanging out. Spend a little time in each group providing value and answering questions. Once you offer value, you’ll start to identify people who could utilize your freebie. Ask them if you could DM them or provide the link (if it’s allowed in that group) in the comments so they can sign up to receive it.

Number #3: Leverage SEO. Use a service like Google Ads to research relevant and high-quality keywords within their Google Keyword Planner. This service is free, and you only need to sign up for Google Ads. You won’t be paying for anything though. Start churning out some keyword-rich content so that you can be placed higher in search engine results, and so that more online visitors can find you. Your content should also link back to your freebie so that you can actively build your list through optimized content. 

There you go! 3 things to consider before you grow your email list, and once you do, 3 ways to do it today. 

Need more help? Check out my 1:1, group and self-study offerings: https://christinagiordano.com/offerings/

Marketing Lessons from the Biggest Names in Beauty - FrangranceX

Marketing Lessons From The Biggest Names in Beauty

by Christina Giordano

No matter the industry you are in, marketing your business correctly is crucial to not only increasing sales but also connecting with the right audience. Finding your target market can improve your long-term growth, as you build up a loyal customer base that will buy from you again and again. And no one knows how to garner an enviable cult following quite like the beauty industry.

Racking in just under $90 billion in the United States in 2018, the cosmetics industry has become a major player in the economy and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. So how can the average marketer gain some of the passionate followers and organic press the beauty industry seems to be overloaded with? It turns out, there are a variety of strategic moves that the top companies have made to better market themselves to consumers. And they can be applied to a variety of industries.

From taking advantage of user content to embracing imperfections, below are marketing tips from the beauty industry that have led to major recognition and sales courtesy of FragranceX. Check it out below and let us know what you’ve been able to implement into your business!

Please include attribution to https://www.fragrancex.com with this graphic.

Marketing Tips From the Beauty Industry

3 Types of Value You Can Provide Right Now

3 Types of Value You Can Provide for Lead Generation & Customer Acquisition

by Christina Giordano

Today I’m talking about the one key element of your marketing: value. 

Your business success is directly related to the value you provide to your audience, so think about these questions: What value do your customers get as they consume your content? What will make them trust you? And then want to work with you? And then want to refer you? And then want to keep coming back for more? 

There’s a general consensus for how value works: The more value you provide, the more people you touch, the more money you make. 

I’m going to provide info on 3 types of value you can try right now – lead magnets, content offerings with upsells, and brand awareness campaigns. 

Lead Magnets

The first type of value I want to share is a lead magnet (also called an opt-in). A lead magnet is a valuable, relevant freebie that you offer your website visitors in exchange for their contact information. I’m sure you’ve seen these before, and I’m guessing that you subscribed to a lot of lists because of this type of opportunity. 

The offer you provide can be a free PDF, an introductory call, a brief trial of your service, an audio lesson, a guided meditation, an educational webinar, or perhaps a video tutorial. 

It is essentially anything that you think will be valuable and relevant to your ideal customer. It’s a piece of important content that can be exchanged for contact information.

Here are some ideas: if you’re an acupuncturist, maybe you can share a neat infographic with 4-5 at-home acupressure techniques to relieve stress or specific pain points. If you have a blog, you’re most likely sought out for lifestyle advice so maybe you can create a resource guide for specific local products and services. If you bake cakes and other sweets, maybe you can share a top-secret recipe that is strictly for subscribers. If you’re in real estate, perhaps you can make a checklist of proven methods to selling your home in 30 days. 

Is there a way you can integrate a lead magnet right now? 

Content Offerings with Upsell

The second type of value I want to share is a free content offering with the opportunity to upsell. This means that you provide a free offering, and either during the offering or at the end of the offering, there is a call to action for the prospect to work with you in some way. If your income has been impacted by this pandemic, then this can be a great way of supplementing it. 

So what does this look like? A webinar is an easy way to implement this. You can also create a series of free videos, or use IGTV or Facebook Live to share information and make an offer. If you’re a hairstylist, perhaps you could share a few messy bun tutorials for our “stay-at-home” sassy ladies who want to add a little oomph to their sweats style. If you’re selling beauty products, perhaps in the shopping cart experience, you can offer up-sells as people check out. If you’re a fitness professional and have a digital program, maybe you can offer a mini version of it (or maybe even a sneak peak at a module) so that people can see the value of working with you AND feel inspired to purchase the full version. 

Is there a way you can create an offering with an up-sell attached to it?

Brand Awareness Campaigns

The third type of value I want to share is a brand awareness campaign, particularly for the purposes of audience growth. This is essentially a campaign that lasts a day or a few days, or even 10 days or a month. During the campaign, your prospects are receiving regular content from you, and the content isn’t just blog content or image content, it’s a specific campaign with a specific timeline and overall goal. 

So what would this look like for you? If you’re a tai chi instructor, maybe you do “14 Days of Tai Chi” and share a quick movement every day. Or, maybe you’re a health and wellness coach, so you could create a “10 Days of Healthy Living Eating Plan” and each day you share a recipe that utilizes unique ingredients based on whatever your prospect needs. Or maybe you’re a bodyworker or healer, and for a series of days you share stretch sequences, or relaxation methods, or guided meditations. 

Do you see how you can be super creative with this? Perhaps you have some time now to focus on this type of campaign? Is there a way you can create a campaign to grow your community and with you leading the way? 

Here’s what you need to remember though: we are in strange times. We have all been impacted by this pandemic, and unfortunately, there’s a bit of a collective mindset of lack right now. 

How can you alter your messaging right now?

Here’s the thing – you can sell right now, but you have to do it in a way that is relevant to what’s happening in the world. How can you alter your messaging to reflect more compassion and support, and how can that messaging truly make your customers feel like your product or program or service is incredibly valuable right now, even in a pandemic, perhaps especially in a pandemic. 

So, think of the opportunities you can put out into the world right now. It’s a perfect time to really unleash your creativity. What do your people need right now? How can you be seen as a leader right now? 

At the end of the day, think about this: If your prospect never buys from you, how can you provide such tremendous value that they’ll learn something new, or feel inspired to be a better person, or be empowered to become who they really want to become?

Need more help? Check out my 1:1, group and self-study offerings: https://christinagiordano.com/offerings/

Social Media Marketing – Algorithm Hacks

by Christina Giordano

Today I’m going to be sharing some quick social media marketing algorithm hacks that I know are super timely and valuable to all of you business owners out there, especially considering the state of our economy and the effects of this pandemic. I’m going to talk about hacking the Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube algorithms. 

But first, before I start with any of these tips, there’s one thing I want you to remember when it comes to all of these forms of marketing…

It’s All About Value 

Your success as a business owner is directly proportionate to the value you provide to the marketplace, so what value can you give your audience? What will make them trust you? And then want to work with you? And then want to refer you? There’s a journey in the relationship building process of sales. First you build trust and credibility, then you build a working bond, and then you build advocacy. This is where the magic happens – when their network becomes your network and you build your business based on the strongest type of marketing – referrals. 

So what is your genius? What knowledge can you share? Think of the value that you can provide as we discuss marketing on these channels. 

Social Media Algorithm Hacks

Instagram

When it comes to marketing through Instagram, I want you to consider these 4 algorithm hacks.

  1. Be consistent. Post at minimum 1 time per week and maintain that.
  2. Integrate videos into your content. Videos bring 38% more engagement than images. 
  3. Start a conversation. End all of your posts with a question. 
  4. Geotag when possible. Geotagged posts average a 79% higher engagement rate than those without.

LinkedIn

When it comes to marketing through LinkedIn, I want you to optimize the title of your profile. The title section of your LinkedIn profile is the only searchable section of your profile. Meaning, if someone is looking for a Marketing Consultant, and type in Marketing Consultant, I will show up in search results. This is where you need to be more clear about what it is that you do.

Facebook

When it comes to marketing through Facebook, this is where things can get tricky. Facebook updated its algorithm in 2018 to become more community-oriented, meaning you will likely only see posts in your feeds from your immediate family and friends. So, for business pages like yours and mine, it’s wildly difficult for us to organically increase our business page followings and generate any type of visibility. However, there is some hope in something called Facebook groups. Not only can you show your expertise and your commitment to your community, but in the 2018 algorithm, groups gained more priority in visibility over business pages. 

Twitter

When it comes to marketing through Twitter, keep this mind: the number 1 category of verified accounts on Twitter is the media. It’s an opportunity to have real conversations with influencers, journalists, producers, editors and writers. You don’t need a publicist. 

YouTube

When it comes to marketing through YouTube, all you need to remember is it’s owned by Google. Need I say more? Therefore, it’s all about optimization. Keywords are key, so make sure you are using them within the first 10 seconds of your videos, within the first 100 words of your description, and in your titles. 

If You Need Help…

There you go, I just gave you the best algorithm hacks for Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. If you need help with any of these strategies, or if you’re just feeling inspired and want to chat marketing, you know how to find me.

Need more help? Check out my 1:1, group and self-study offerings: https://christinagiordano.com/offerings/ 

Marketing for 2020

Marketing for 2020: How will you Succeed this year?

by Christina Giordano

How will your business thrive over the next decade? What marketing initiatives do you want to try? What do you want to achieve and learn? How do you want to evolve and grow? 

Now is the time to set your business up to really experience the success you have been working for. This means: getting clear about how you will position your offerings, thinking about your monthly content and email marketing initiatives, and putting relevant dates, deadlines, and tasks into your calendars. 

Here are a few key phrases to keep in mind as you review 2019 and prepare your marketing for 2020. 

The more lives you touch, the more money you make.

Your business success is directly related to the value you provide to your audience. What are the ways in which you can offer more “give” than “get” opportunities for your target market this year? How can you be of service? 

Start before you feel ready.

You may have new programs, journeys, or offerings that you’re trying to “perfect” before you launch them to your audience. But, don’t delay! What you have right now is enough to get going. Start gathering some testers that can help you tie up loose ends, generate case studies and testimonials, and recommend you to others. 

The key to success is consistency.

How would you behave if you were the best in the world at what you do? Now is the time to consider the good habits you want to integrate into your life and the not-so-good ones that you want to leave behind. Like it or not, being consistent is essential to creating any significant change in your life. 

Make 2020 the year of you. 

Need more help? Check out my 1:1, group and self-study offerings: https://christinagiordano.com/offerings/

CGC: 5 Reasons You Need a Content Calendar

5 Reasons You Need a Content Calendar (& Bonus: How to Create One)

by Christina Giordano

According to a study by the Content Marketing Institute, 70% of B2B marketers planned to produce more content this year than the previous year. With an increase like that, it’s more important now than ever to have a corresponding content calendar that allows you to plan and prepare accordingly. However, content calendars can track more than just your upcoming blogs. If used correctly, businesses can track every form of inbound marketing, from content queues to social media posts. Below are five reasons you need to start making content calendars, along with a series of brief instructions for how to do so.

  1. The main reason for a content calendar is to remember key dates. These dates can include holidays, events, launches, campaigns, blog releases, and more. Planning ahead for these key dates and being aware of them ensures that you don’t end up scrambling for content for those dates.
  2. Another, somewhat obvious, benefit to content calendars is their ability to keep your schedule organized. It’s a clear benefit, but you would be surprised as to how many brands fail to use them! Staying organized not only helps you remember important dates, but it keeps you updated on what you are publishing, when and where.
  3. While consistency in social media marketing is key to a digital marketing strategy, staying consistent internally is a large piece of this. Content calendars allow businesses to foster collaboration with their marketing teams and potential partners. It’s the single source of information for what’s being published and when.
  4. Rather than making last minute arrangements and coordinating campaigns on the fly, you are saving time, money and resources. With content calendars, you can plan ahead, assign duties and copy in advance, provide ample time for research, and never miss a deadline.
  5. Careful planning also leads to clearer results. As you generate and share content on a regular basis, you will regularly be able to see and monitor results. It will be easier for you to judge which content performs the best. You will notice patterns, and therefore, you will be able to consistently generate more successful content and give your audience what they want.

Bonus: How to Create a Content Calendar

Creating a content calendar is very easy. For my clients, I tell them to start with a simple calendar graphic, such as a template found in Microsoft Word. Then, think about your audience. What are some of their “frequently asked questions?” What do they search for and ask about constantly? Create blog titles around this, for either a weekly, bi-monthly or monthly publishing schedule. Then, search for upcoming daily and monthly holidays that are relevant to you and your business. If you are a massage therapist, Massage Therapy Awareness Week would be relevant to you, and so would regular holidays like Thanksgiving or the Summer Solstice. Incorporate these major events onto your calendar, and include launches, functions, campaigns, blog publish dates, or anything that marks a key date for you. Create social media posts around these events. Alter their character count, length, and imagery for the platform you are working with. And voila! You have a content calendar.

Need more help? Check out my 1:1, group and self-study offerings: https://christinagiordano.com/offerings/

All about the CTA

The CTA: Don’t Miss Another Sale

by Christina Giordano

Here we’re going to talk about a timeless marketing tactic that can really change how you convert leads to sales. It’s called the Call to Action, or CTA.

The Marketing Tool You Need

Every piece of marketing that you put out there needs to have at least one CTA. Most of us make the mistake of assuming that our customers know what we want them to do next. We forget to put a call to action in every piece of marketing that we create. (I’ve been guilt of this many, many times!)

Including a CTA is referred to as direct action marketing. You want your prospective customers to see your message and take direct action, which usually results in clicking on a link, joining the conversation, or contacting you, in response to your marketing message. 

Here are some sample CTAs:

  • Click to read more
  • Reply to this email
  • Leave a comment
  • Click here
  • Buy now
  • Register now
  • Order now

These are the kind of action steps that we want people to take. If your goal is to make sales, you must tell your prospects exactly what to do to take action.

However, don’t jam up the marketing message with a bunch of CTAs. You only need one! The general rule of thumb is to have one clear call to action per marketing piece. For example, one flyer should have one call to action. One email should have one call to action. Keep each marketing piece focused and streamlined in order for people to know exactly what to do and take the desired action. 

So, let’s make sure you’re using clear CTAs with this CTA self-check exercise. 

Step 1: Review all of your marketing materials, from your website to your blog to your email marketing to your social media. Does every piece of marketing out there have one clear, direct CTA? 

Step 2: If not, make a plan to update each marketing piece. Moving forward, make sure you always include one CTA for all marketing and promotional pieces you create. 

Step 3: When reviewing any marketing or sales material moving forward, ask yourself, “Is is it crystal clear that there is one action someone should take?” If not, rework that marketing piece so that there is one clear CTA.

Need more help? Check out my 1:1, group and self-study offerings: https://christinagiordano.com/offerings/

CGC - Empowered Marketing Workshop Series

New Workshop Series Starting Soon!

by Christina Giordano

Many business owners out there never put “marketing” and “easy” in the same sentence.

After all, it can be complicated! How many times have you researched the latest marketing tactics only to feel confused, frustrated, overwhelmed and unsupported? How often do you find yourself spending time throwing marketing ideas at the wall to see what (if anything) sticks?

Good news: I can teach you how to market your business.

I can help you put an end to:

  • Hounding clients who aren’t in alignment with you or who don’t want to pay you what you’re worth,
  • Banking on discounts and deals,
  • Duct-taping your marketing strategy together, and
  • Expecting free marketing webinars and downloads to change your circumstances (there’s a reason they’re free).

How can I help you? I relish in developing plans and protocols. I enjoy being knowledgeable about all things marketing. I thrive on organization, and I love simplification. I use these skills to help my clients make marketing easy. And yes, I just used “marketing” and “easy” in the same sentence.

If you want to learn how to use smart, honest online marketing to reach more people, align with the right customers, and convert more visitors into buyers, this workshop series is for you.

Introducing: The Empowered Marketing Program Workshop Series

Through this series, you will finally be able to market your own business with confidence. You will gain the tools, skills, and insight to become a master of your own marketing. You will feel empowered to put your marketing in your own hands, ultimately fueling your profits, your purpose and your passion.  

Workshop Schedule:

Taking place every 2nd Wednesday from 12:00pm to 2:00pm for 7 months

Workshop Location:

Tribe – 1819 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL 60657

Is this Workshop Series for You?

This series is for conscious, soulful, big-hearted entrepreneurs that want to either launch a business or change the way they market their current business online. Whether you are an action-oriented, ambitious beginner, or already successful but want to grow your audience and revenue online, this is the program for you. This program is perfect for service-based professionals, particularly in the wellness industry, such as coaches, therapists, trainers, and practitioners.

What You Get at Each Workshop:

  • Lecture followed by exercises, along with in-class feedback from Christina,
  • Bonus take-home items from each workshop, including resource lists & tutorials, and
  • A special discount offer on one-hour, one-to-one marketing clinics, which can be used at any point during the series, as often as you’d like.

What It Costs:

$50 per workshop or $270 for the entire series (a 10% discount!)

Click here to sign up!

Workshop Dates & Learning Objectives:

March 13: Defining Your Marketing Goals (Free Session!)

Take this free workshop to learn more about the program and to begin the process of building a strong, profitable business. This workshop will provide you with clarity about what you want and why you want it. You’ll outline your purpose, the people you’re serving, and the product (or service) that you’re selling. This workshop is also an opportunity for Christina to learn more about your business goals and become more acquainted with you as a person and entrepreneur.

April 10: Workshop 1: Planning Your Strategy to Stand Out to Your Ideal Customers

  • Discover your exact ideal customer and learn to think like them.
  • Position yourself by selling outcomes, rather than services.
  • Find out your strengths and what makes you unique.
  • Create your unique selling proposition.
  • Map out how your services and/or products will revolutionize the industry.
  • Outshine the competition by simply making them irrelevant.

May 8: Workshop 2: Enhancing Your Website, AKA Your Digital Storefront

  • Learn which website platform is right for you.
  • Find out exactly what your technical capabilities are when it comes to website design and development.
  • Uncover your website objectives and how they will convert leads to sales.
  • Tap into what your ideal customer wants to see, read and experience on your website.
  • Understand everything you need to make your website successful.
  • Analyze your website’s effectiveness with a simple yet comprehensive checklist.

June 12: Workshop 3: Positioning Your Offerings to Maximize Profits

  • Enhance your service offerings in a way that makes your customers’ lives easier, more convenient and more joyful.
  • Come up with “outside of the box” solutions that will sell your services at rapid-fire speed.
  • Create a Before/During/After strategy to promote customer satisfaction and retention.
  • Learn how to position, price and deliver your services in a way that builds loyal and raving fans.
  • Understand why discounts are unnecessary and potentially damaging (except under a few circumstances).
  • Set your prices at numbers that feel great and make financial sense.

July 10: Workshop 4: Communicating Your Message to Go Viral

  • Get familiar with the pros of content marketing and how you can integrate it into your business.
  • Develop a strategic plan to stay connected with your audience.
  • Generate content ideas and develop a 3-month content calendar.
  • Understand the value of SEO in content marketing and how to integrate it into your plan.
  • Write irresistible headlines that gather clicks, conversions and could even go viral.
  • Offer value and insight directly related to what you are selling through content.

August 14: Workshop 5: Reaching Your Customers to Generate Leads Right Now

  • Find out why opt-ins on your website optimize and expedite success.
  • Create a smart, effective and winning opt-in offer for your website.
  • Learn why email marketing is the most essential and profitable strategy for your marketing plan.
  • Develop an email marketing plan with specific methods to promote your business.
  • Generate leads immediately and at no cost to you.
  • Explore 25 free list building strategies.

September 11: Workshop 6: Marketing Your Business with Proven Strategies

  • Become more comfortable with marketing and find out why and how you can become a phenomenal (and ethical!) marketer.
  • Consider 20 additional and effective marketing strategies that you can try right now.
  • Learn 4 research-driven pricing strategies to add to your marketing toolbox.
  • Create or enhance your current pricing strategies to sell better.
  • Get the best formatting formula that can be used for a PR pitch or a sales letter.
  • Write headlines and copy that makes traffic click.

Click here to sign up!

About Christina:

All too often, confident, capable entrepreneurs have business dreams that can help others and change the world, but they lack the marketing knowledge and skills required to make it a reality. That’s where I come in. I will arm you with the tools, strategies and resources required for you to do it all yourself – in a way that not only saves you time, but makes you more money.

I have a deep commitment to those that want to consciously and authentically make a difference through their businesses, and I want to help you get the word out. My passion is to help you build the business you desire and deserve through honest and authentic marketing practices.

Click here to sign up!

CGC - Transforming Your Unique Selling Proposition

Transforming Your Unique Selling Proposition

by Christina Giordano

In a previous blog, we talked about your unique selling proposition and how it impacts your overall business message. It is essentially what makes your brand different. It’s what makes it uniquely yours. It’s absolutely essential to identify this if you want to market your business effectively.

The secret to finding what makes you unique is not only obvious but easy as well – it’s all about you. You have to quite literally build YOU into your business. By you, I mean your personality, your style, your quirks, your unique stories and your values. Remember, there is only one of you on the planet, and nobody can ever compete with something that is purely you. The way to bring this idea to life is through your unique selling proposition, or USP.

The USP, according to Entrepreneur Magazine, is: “The factor or consideration presented by a seller as the reason that one product or service is different from and better than that of the competition.” I like to take this one step further and say that the USP is: “the unique set of strengths, stories, values, and the style of a seller that sets them apart from the rest.”

You can figure this out through several ways, and my signature program includes all of them. However, for now, make a list of 20 things you love, things you’re passionate about – even those little quirks that you may find silly! Some of the things you come up with (particularly through the list of 20 things you love) may seem insignificant, but these details actually have the potential to enhance the customer experience, or help you build your culture, or even help your brand become more memorable.  

For instance, if you love the color pink, perhaps there are ways you can infuse pink into more of your color scheme and throughout your business’ brand. All of a sudden, your business is even more uniquely you. Another example could be related to a charitable cause you love, for instance, dogs. Say you love dogs and one of your services includes an option for customers to donate a portion of your sales to a local dog shelter in your community.

The opportunities are endless! The bottom line is that these special aspects of your business that are uniquely you will inevitably help you connect more with your prospects and allow them to spread word about you.

The Importance ofYour Ideal Customer

The Importance of Your Ideal Customer

by Christina Giordano

Finding your ideal customer is one of the most important steps in developing a marketing plan for your business. In fact, aside from fine-tuning the passion behind your business and understanding its purpose, finding your “people” is what will drive your marketing messages.

What is an ideal customer?

Your ideal customer is someone you speak to in every piece of communication coming from your business. Whether you’re promoting a product or a program or even a blog, your ideal customer is at the core of your creation. I find it easier to think of this “someone” as a character or an avatar, so that you can really visualize and picture them. This character could be based on an actual customer that you have, or someone that you’ve worked with, but it’s generally someone that you would love to have as a customer, and someone that makes you think: “If all of my customers were like this person, I would have my dream business.”

So why do you need an ideal customer?

First, without an ideal customer, you’re really not going to sell much of anything. How can you sell something to someone without considering what he or she truly wants? In order to ethically and honestly sell to someone, you have to understand them, and they have to feel like you do. How do you expect to engage with and persuade others to buy from you if you do not understand their fears and their desires?

Second, if you don’t have an ideal customer, it’s very likely that you will attract less-than-ideal customers. And we’ve all had a few of those experiences before! These are the customers that don’t value what you do, your pricing, or your time, and it’s all because they weren’t meant to be your customers in the first place.

Third and lastly, if you’re not clear about who you are targeting, then your marketing, your sales efforts, and your content creation will likely be too general and too generic – all ending up as a complete waste of time.

A Few Things to Consider…

Now, many entrepreneurs are afraid to get too specific with their ideal customer. Either they feel like they’re missing out on possible leads, or they’re afraid that they are labeling themselves as a provider for only one particular group. I cannot reiterate this enough – one of the biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs make is trying to sell to everybody. Expert after expert will tell you: if you’re trying to sell to everybody, you will sell to nobody. Your messaging will be bland, basic, forgettable, and lost, and any type of promotion will be entirely ineffective. The truth is, there is no product or service that is right for everyone. There are always subsets and subgroups in every market. Furthermore, having an ideal customer doesn’t limit who you reach. If you end up having a wide range of customers of different genders, ages, and income levels, that’s absolutely possible. However, you can still achieve that by starting with one character in mind.

I promise you – the clarity that you will feel when you recognize your ideal customer is so refreshing. The subsequent writing of content, messaging, branding, and marketing you will do for your business will come to you quickly and easily. You will save a tremendous amount of time and energy marketing to a specific group rather than get overwhelmed marketing to everyone. You are going to serve people that are genuinely a good fit for your business and in turn, running your business will be a lot more fun and more profitable!

So, take this advice and go find your ideal customer. They are waiting to be discovered! Need help? Contact me for a worksheet that will jumpstart the process for you.