Understanding Your Ideal Customer – Why It’s the Key to Business Success

Imagine trying to sell vegan burgers to people who love steak or advertising high-end luxury watches in a flea market. No matter how amazing your product is, if it’s in front of the wrong audience, it won’t sell.

This is why understanding your customer is EVERYTHING in business. The better you know your customer, the easier it is to sell to them—and the more likely they are to buy again and tell their friends.

1. The Three Golden Questions for Identifying Your Customer

Before launching a business, ask yourself:

• Who needs my product the most?
• What problem does my product solve for them?
• Where do they already spend their time (online and offline)?

2. What Is a Customer Persona?

A Customer Persona is a detailed profile of your perfect customer. It includes:

• Name, Age, Location: Gives a clear picture of your target audience.
• Lifestyle & Interests: What do they do? What brands do they already love?
• Pain Points & Needs: What frustrates them? What problem can your business solve for them?

For example, if you are selling eco-friendly school bags, your persona might be:

• "Thabo, a 16-year-old student who cares about the environment and looks for sustainable products."

3. Why Customer Profiling is a Game-Changer

• You won’t waste time & money on ads that reach the wrong people.
• You can design products that truly solve your customers' problems.
• You can use the right words, images, and platforms to market your product.

Think Like a Smart Entrepreneur

Your goal is to attract the right customers and make it easy for them to say, "YES! I NEED THIS!"

For next lesson:

1. Decide upon your product that you want to work on this year, conduct the testing required to check if it is worth making or selling this.

2. Compile a customer profile for each type of customer that you have identified for this product.