Ideal Customer – Attracting the Right People
Welcome back to this special blog series where I’m introducing you to my 6-part framework for building a successful creative business from scratch.
If you missed last week’s post about Step 1: Strategy First, I recommend starting there because strategy lays the foundation for everything else you’ll build. You can catch up on it here.
Today, we’re diving into Step 2: Defining Your Ideal Customer. Because once you have clarity about your own purpose and goals, the next essential step is knowing who you want to reach.
Why Knowing Your Ideal Customer Matters
Here’s something I want you to know right away: I didn’t try to sell anything until I clearly defined who my ideal customer was.
From the very beginning, I knew that if I wanted to build something meaningful and lasting, I needed to understand exactly who I was trying to reach. I needed to be crystal clear about the person I was creating for.
And that’s when it hit me.
The people I wanted to serve were a lot like me.
When I started identifying my ideal customer, I knew she was someone in her 50s or older, just like me. Someone who didn’t go to art school because her family said no, even though she was really creative as a kid. My family didn’t actually say “no”, but I didn’t have any role models to follow who had taken a creative path so I followed in my dad’s footsteps and got a corporate job.
I spent years working for someone else, and although we can sometimes think that’s the safe choice, it’s often not since you can lose your job at the drop of a hat. I knew I wanted to serve women who finally have the time, opportunity, and the desire to do something for herself.
I don’t know about you, but in my corporate job, I was following someone else’s dream. Now is the time for your dreams. The time to create something you love, build something you own, and do it on your terms.
Defining my ideal customer was the key that unlocked everything. It allowed me to design my offers, create valuable content, and build genuine relationships with the exact people I wanted to serve.
And that’s what I want for you, too.
What It Means to Define Your Ideal Customer
Your ideal customer is the person who’s the perfect fit for what you offer. They’re the ones who genuinely appreciate your work, feel excited about what you create, and are willing to pay for it.
But it’s not just about demographics like age or income level. It’s about understanding their:
Desires: What do they truly want?
Struggles: What’s holding them back from achieving their goals?
Values: What’s important to them when it comes to creativity and business?
When you can speak directly to your ideal customer’s desires and challenges, you create a connection that feels personal and powerful.
The 3 Key Questions to Ask Yourself
To help you define your ideal customer, start by answering these three important questions:
Question 1: Who do you truly want to serve?
Take some time to think about who your ideal customer is.
Are they beginners looking to learn a new creative skill? Are they experienced artists who want to turn their art into a business?
For me, I knew I wanted to serve women in their 50s or older who were ready to finally pursue their creative dreams.
Reflect: Who lights you up when you think about serving them? Who would you love to work with every single day?
Question 2: What are their biggest struggles and desires?
Think about what your ideal customer is trying to achieve and what’s getting in their way.
Maybe they’re overwhelmed by technology, unsure of how to market themselves, or stuck in a cycle of self-doubt. Or perhaps they’re excited about taking their creative work to the next level but need guidance to make it happen.
Reflect: What problem are you helping them solve? And what outcome do they truly desire?
Question 3: Why are they the perfect fit for your business?
It’s not just about them being a good fit for what you offer—it’s also about why you want to serve them.
Maybe you’re drawn to helping women over 50 rediscover their creativity. Or perhaps you’re passionate about guiding emerging artists through the process of building a sustainable business.
Reflect: What makes this group of people the perfect audience for what you have to offer?
Putting It All Together
Defining your ideal customer is about more than just creating a profile of who they are. It’s about understanding what they want, what they struggle with, and how you can truly help them.
When you’re clear about who you’re trying to reach, everything else becomes easier. Your marketing will feel more genuine, your offers will be more compelling, and you’ll start attracting the exact people you want to serve.
Download Your Worksheet
I’ve put together a simple worksheet with these three questions to help you get crystal clear about your ideal customer. Take some time to write down your answers and gain the clarity you need to move forward.
📄 Download Your Ideal Customer Worksheet Here
Join Me Live on Wednesday
As usual, I’ll be live on Facebook & YouTube on Wednesday at noon PT / 3pm ET.
📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annelafolletteart
📌 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnneLaFollette1
Come hang out and bring your questions—I can’t wait to see you there!
xo,
Anne
Interested in my group coaching program? Spots are limited. Complete your application HERE and I look forward to talking to you.
It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
