How to Target Prospects and Avoid Accidental Audiences
What do most people do when they start a blog?
They just start writing.
This isn’t the wrong thing to do. Actually there is a lot to be said for just getting on and doing it.
So what is the problem?
You get whatever audience you attract.
Lots of people are happy with any audience they can get for their personal blog, well unless you get complete weirdo stalkers, but mostly it is fine. What though if you have a particular goal in mind with your blogging?
Perhaps instead of your ideal prospects you attract your own peer group, or tyre-kickers and freebie hunters, or trolls who just want to make trouble?
What if you actually want to attract sales leads with your blog? If you want to sell products, what then?
Then you have to target your content. Draw a bulls-eye and hit it.
It’s something I often repeat.
You don’t want more “traffic”, you want to attract actual living breathing people. Human beings have wants, needs and interests.
Only by addressing those wants, needs and interests specific to your target audience will you attract the right people.
- Identify your ideal prospect, not a demographic, geographic or other broad category, a perfect individual.
- Write a pen portrait in as much detail as possible.
- Brainstorm that prospects biggest pain, need, hunger or addiction.
- Show you have the solution, demonstrate your expertise, be that prospects best friend
You have two choices, write “stuff” and hope people like it, or you can identify an audience and absolutely delight them until they think you are a hero. I know which I would prefer 
Tags: blogging, marketing, audiences, target, tips, writing
Posted on April 24th, 2007 by Chris Garrett in Blogging
Thanks Chris. Very good reminder that it’s not about the “traffic” but the living breathing human being who ultimately visits, stays, and reads our blogs/sites.
Glad you liked it
Thanks for this post. I started reading your blog recently and I had not read about Pen Portraits.
I started off my other blog, Splat, in an impromptu manner. Thus, I think, it is not doing that good.
Then, I thought I will focus on the art niche, and hence, I started KalaaLog. But the point is that, I am not finding ways to actually bring it to the notice of people I imagined would be there on the other side. Any suggestions?
Well there it is. In one blog you have successfully shut me down because all I want are topless dancers to come to my blog and everyone knows they can’t read!
@Vyoma - the best thing to do would be to hang out where they hang out, comment on their favourite blogs/forums etc
@Paul - Put a big banner above the blog in comic sans saying if they come round to your house you will read it to them
Wish I had more time to check out the rest of your topics They look interesting and well worth the read. Going to bookmark it and come back.
If possible I would like to link to your blog. That is if you apporove of mine
http://wensonlinebusiness.wordpress.com/?
http://www.blogchex.com/wendyswhimsy/?
Oh yeah I forgot to ask is there any way to rate this blog
Wendy
Thanks
I started out writing about a general subject and have been drawn (in my research for orig. content) to a niche in that subject. It is about energy efficient lighting that I have become more and more interested in and as my research gets more efficient I am sure readers will come. And if they dont I will be satisfied with an important life long knowledge and do what I can to help.
Do your best and even if they dont come your life will improve with your positive energies.
I’m in the process of creating a blog for the new company I’m working for. Problem is the company does a lot of things. Web Design, Programming, IT, SEO, and a bunch of other stuff. Do we create a blog for each subject or just take turns blogging on the same blog in our area/
Draw up a list of your very best customers and for each create a pen portrait. Focus your content on what they need. If the audiences for different services do not overlap then you will need separate blogs, otherwise categories will do fine.