Introduction
There are two places people immediately look to find out about your business; 1) Your website, and 2) Your social media accounts.
If a website is your "main course" then social media is the "appetizer" leading to the gourmet meal. In today's marketplace you can't escape the necessity of a social media account but you can make it a friend by using audience engagement as an extension of your customer service. A healthy social media account will position you as an industry expert as you showcase your products, services, and brand.
However, social media is far more effective if you have a target audience of people interested in the product or service you sell. But finding your ideal customer means doing your homework. So, in this post, we will explore some ideas for finding your target audience and nurturing them.
1: Identify Your Ideal Customer
Your ideal customer by definition will be the one most likely to buy your products or services. So, to find that person you will need to consider factors such as age, gender, location, interests, and behavior. Understanding your ideal customer will allow you to create content that speaks directly to them, and you can use social media to connect with them.
When identifying your ideal customer, it's important to be as specific as possible. For example, if you sell educational toys, your ideal customer might be a parent between the ages of 25-45 who is interested in purchasing toys for their children, lives in an urban area, and has a disposable income. Understanding the characteristics of your ideal customer will allow you to tailor your social media strategy to appeal to them.
Once you have identified your ideal customer, you can use social media analytics tools to find people who match that profile. For example, you can use Facebook Insights to see who is interacting with your content, or you can use Twitter Analytics to see who is following you.
2: See What Your Competitors are Doing
Find similar businesses in your space and check out what they are doing. This is a great way to see what types of content people resonate with in your space. Be sure to read their comments too since this will give you unofficial research for creating your own original content. Also, be sure to share it to your pages with thanks to the creator and your own comments.
3: Use Hashtags
Hashtags are a great way to find your target audience on social media. Hashtags are keywords that are preceded by the "#" symbol. When people use a hashtag in their post, it makes it easier to find that post when searching for that keyword. By using hashtags that are relevant to your business, you can attract people who are interested in your products or services.
When using hashtags, it's important to be specific. Instead of using broad hashtags like #toys or #funtoys, try to use more specific hashtags that are relevant to your business. For example, if you sell organic skincare products, you might use hashtags like #educationaltoys or #toysthateducate. Using specific hashtags will attract people who are more likely to be interested in your products.
You can also use relevant hashtags to your business to find your target audience. For example, if you sell organic soap, you might search for hashtags like #organicsoaps, #organicskincare or #organicproducts to find people who are interested in your products.
4. Find out What’s Trending
Speaking of hashtags… use them to find out what is trending in your niche then hop onto that trend with your own original creative content. You’ll have to do it quickly though because trends change in the blink of an eye. However it is doable if you simply tweak some of your existing content to match the trend. Be sure to include the trending hashtags so that your content can be found by searchers.
5: Engage with Your Audience
Enough cannot be said about engaging with your audience. Engagement becomes a conversation between you and your ideal customer, and you can use that conversation to promote your products or services. Therefore, it is essential to reply to comments and questions in a timely manner (24 hours if possible). Engagement with your audience .
Engaging with your audience also allows you to learn more about their interests and needs. By understanding their interests and needs, you can create content that speaks directly to them, and you can tailor your products or services to meet their needs. By doing so, you can attract more of your ideal customers.
There are many ways to engage with your audience on social media. You can respond to comments on your posts, you can comment on other comments, and you can join Facebook groups that are relevant to your business. By engaging with your audience, you build the like and trust factor and establish yourself as an authority in your industry.
Quick Recap:
Identify your ideal customers
See What Your Competitors are Doing
Use hashtags
Find trending topics
Engage your audience
Finding your target audience on social media may seem challenging, but it's an essential part of building a successful business. These ideas should help you find, target, and attract your target audience and build a thriving social media presence.