Here are 12 questions to help you identify your ideal client. Once you know, you can tailor your business practices and marketing strategy more effectively.
Identifying Your Ideal Client
So, who is your ideal client? What are their characteristics? If you have no idea, or only a vague notion, you’re playing a hit or miss game. Before you can have a client roster of ideal clients, you first need to know how to identify your ideal client in a line-up. This is going to require some research on your part. The following questions will help you nail down some of the qualities you look for in an ideal client.
- What kind of writing/work are you most interested in getting paid for? List three and be as specific as you can.
- What are your ideal rates for this preferred work? (Not what you think the client can afford, but what you’d ideally like to receive.)
- In your opinion, what industries/professionals need this kind of writing? List as many as you can think of.
- Is your ideal client a public or private company? (Ex: Oregon Lottery or Humane Society) Are they for- or non-profit? (Ex: Nike or Oregon Humanities)
- What is the ideal company size for your ideal client? (Ex: single location or chain; small, medium, or large.)
- What is their employee size?
- What is the ideal yearly income of your ideal client?
- Where is your ideal client located? (Ex: local, regional, national, or international; Portland, Nova Scotia, Sydney, Dubai, etc.)
- What are some desired characteristics of your ideal client contact? (Ex: funny, female, communicative, open to new ideas, 40-60 years old, has clear project vision, etc.)
- Do you know the names of specific companies/professionals that fit your criteria and/or that you’d like to work with? List at least three.
- In your experience, can these companies/professionals pay your ideal rates?
- If not, either reconsider them as ideal clients or change your rates accordingly. What a copywriter can charge an attorney in Portland may be far less than what she can charge an attorney in Los Angeles.
By this point, you should have a short list of at least three specific companies or professionals who fit your criteria and with whom you’d like to work.
Congratulations! This is a huge step toward landing clients that are ideal for you.
Ok, so now you know what your ideal client looks like, but how do you find them? I’ll tell you in my next post.