Setting Goals to Hit the Right Target

When setting your annual goals you may first want to redefine and narrow your target market. Why do you want a narrow target market? It's easier to market to a well-defined target, because then you can find them in groups. Finding groups of leads is a better use of your time than going after them one by one.

Defining your target market is simply locating the people who are most likely to need your service. You can separate people by age, income, profession, location or other demographics, as well as psychographics (mindsets).

Once you've clearly defined who your solution is for, it's also easier for them to find you. Also, if you can zero in on one problem and one solution for a specific group of people, it's easier to create marketing materials.

You can speak their language and attract them, rather than chase after them. They feel that you are speaking directly to them, and that makes it easier for them to raise their hand and say, "Yes I need your help."

When you know who your target market is, you don't waste time pursuing those who aren't ideal clients. You stop trying to attract just any client and start attracting ones who are a vibrational match.

You enjoy working with each other, and the relationship is mutually beneficial.

Create an "avatar"

A great way to define your ideal client/target market is to create a profile or "avatar" to go beyond demographics, such as gender, income, location, age, by listing the qualities that you would want them to have.

Consider qualities such as reliability, sincerity, honesty, willingness to change, flexibility, and sense of humor.

You can also chunk it down by breaking the possible target market into smaller segments. Do this by identifying a group of people with 1) very specific identifying characteristics, such as people starting a home business, people with dog problems, or people who need to lose weight; or 2) problems that you can solve, such as people recovering from breast cancer, people deciding on a new career, or people in search of their life purpose.

A version of you

Another thing to consider when defining your ideal client is that they are probably a version of you... some form of you in the past, who was facing the same problem that you now can solve.

For example, maybe you've gone through a painful experience in a relationship, and now you coach others how to avoid that experience. Or you may have taken years to find your life purpose, and now you coach people to find it in a few weeks. Or you learned the "hard" way how to present teleseminars and now you can coach people how to do it the "easy" way.

One of the biggest mistakes solopreneurs make is they often overlook their life experiences as part of their expertise. They ask, "Why would anyone care about what I've done, or what I've accomplished?" But the truth is, people reach out and follow a coach because they resonate with their story. People want to learn from people who solved a problem similar to the one they have.

As you get to know that ideal client you can language your offers specifically to them. The more you know about your ideal client, the easier it will be to attract them to you.

Tips for Defining your Target:

Defining your target market is the key to finding them offline and online. Here are some tips:

� It's easier to market to one group of people who need your solution because they'll know you are speaking to them.

� You're going to get a better caliber of client because you are speaking their language and you will naturally attract them.

� It may be helpful to create an avatar of your ideal client so you can get a clear picture in your mind of who to attract.

� Your ideal client may be a version of you before you had the transformation you are helping others have.

� Market research will help you find the language that your ideal clients use so you can use it in your marketing materials.

� When networking, tell people who you help and what their problem is to define your target market.

Watch Out: Not Getting Narrow Enough

Many coaches and consultants are concerned that if they narrow their target market, they will be leaving money on the table from all the folks that they are leaving out. This myth couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, just the opposite is true: when you narrow your market to a specific group of people with a specific problem, you have a much better chance of finding qualified leads and turning them into clients.

Jeannette Koczela trains life coaches, consultants, and solopreneurs to run their business more profitably by teaching them business skills and how to use LinkedIn to get all their clients. Download her free eBook, "How Solopreneurs Can Get Quality Leads Every Month Without Spending a Dime"�


 By Jeannette Koczela

Article Source:  Setting Goals to Hit the Right Target