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Finding Your Ideal Customer: Strategies and Insights
Episode 6 • 1st October 2024 • Business Ignite Podcast • Business Ignite Podcast
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How to Identify and Connect with Your Ideal Customer

In this episode of the Business Ignite podcast, hosts Ethan Walker and Samantha Reed take a deep dive into finding your ideal customer, inspired by Joshua Maddox’s article 'How to Determine Your Ideal Customer.' They discuss the pitfalls of trying to appeal to everyone and emphasize the importance of targeting a specific audience to build genuine connections. Key highlights include understanding your 'why,' delving into customers' lifestyles and values, and the necessity of consistent messaging. The episode also touches on the importance of adapting your ideal customer profile as your business evolves.

00:00 Welcome to the Business Ignite Podcast

00:16 Introduction to Finding Your Ideal Customer

00:49 Understanding Your Ideal Customer's Needs

03:29 The Importance of Values in Customer Connection

06:16 Tailoring Your Marketing Messages

08:26 Adapting to Your Evolving Customer Base

10:37 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

11:16 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Resources:

  • How to Determine Your Ideal Customer - Determining your ideal customer involves understanding key demographics, behaviors, and needs that align with your business offerings. By analyzing factors like age, location, interests, and pain points, businesses can tailor their marketing efforts to attract the right audience. This focused approach not only improves customer engagement but also drives higher conversion rates and long-term loyalty.

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Transcripts

Speaker:

Welcome back to the business ignite podcast, where we light the fire

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for business growth and marketing success.

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Your hosts, Ethan Walker, Samantha Reed,

bring you the latest trends, expert

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insights, and actionable strategies

to fuel your business journey.

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Let's ignite your potential.

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Ethan Walker: Hey everyone.

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And welcome back to the deep dive.

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You know, today we're taking a little

bit of a different turn, uh, instead

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of our usual format, we are going to

tackle a question that's probably top

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of mind for a lot of you out there.

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Finding your ideal customer.

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Yeah.

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I mean, we've all been there, right?

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You create something amazing, whether

it's a product, a service, even a blog,

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and you think, everyone needs this.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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But the thing

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Ethan Walker: is, that type of

thinking can actually hold us back.

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Samantha Reed: You bet.

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Trying to be everything to everyone often

means you end up being no one to anyone.

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Ethan Walker: And that is why

we are taking this deep dive

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into How to Determine Your

Ideal Customer by Joshua Maddox.

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Right.

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This article really cuts through all the

noise and gives us a clear path to figure

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out exactly who we should be talking to.

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You know, think of it like a

shortcut to marketing success.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah, and what I think

is so fascinating about this approach

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is that it really emphasizes efficiency.

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Right?

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It's not about just like shouting

from the rooftops and hoping

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that somebody will hear you.

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It's about being really strategic about

focusing your resources, focusing your

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message on those folks who are the most

likely to actually become loyal customers.

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Absolutely.

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The people who are actually

going to love what you offer.

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Ethan Walker: It's about being

strategic, not just enthusiastic.

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Samantha Reed: Yes.

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Ethan Walker: And Maddox uses this

great analogy of an indoor greenhouse

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to really illustrate this concept.

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Samantha Reed: Oh yeah,

that's a perfect example.

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So he poses the question, who

would buy an indoor greenhouse?

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And you know, at first you might

think, well, anybody who likes plants.

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Sure.

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But then he digs a little bit deeper

and he highlights that, you know,

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your ideal customer here is probably

somebody who's really limited by space.

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Maybe they live in an apartment,

they don't have a yard.

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Um, But they really value fresh food.

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So it's about really identifying

that need and then crafting your

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message to speak directly to that.

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Ethan Walker: It's such a lightbulb

moment because, you know, when you

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hear it, it seems kind of obvious.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: But we get so caught up

in wanting everyone to love what we do.

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Yes.

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That we sometimes forget that by

focusing on a specific niche, we

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can actually create a much stronger

connection with our ideal customer.

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Samantha Reed: Absolutely.

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Ethan Walker: And that is

where the magic happens.

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The article goes on to break down this

process of finding your ideal customer

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into these really manageable steps.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: And it starts

with understanding the

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why behind your business.

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Samantha Reed: That's right.

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That why is crucial.

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It's the foundation of your

connection with your customers.

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So are you super passionate about

sustainable living and you want to

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offer eco friendly products or do you

believe in empowering small businesses

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with, you know, better technology?

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Whatever that core purpose is, it's

really going to inform everything else.

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Ethan Walker: So you figure out

your why and then Maddox encourages

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us to think about who actually

needs or wants what we're offering.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: It's like

putting a puzzle together.

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Samantha Reed: Absolutely.

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And this is where you really have to

go beyond just basic demographics.

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While age, location, occupation,

those are all important factors.

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Yeah.

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The article really emphasizes the

importance of delving into your ideal

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customer's interests, their lifestyle,

you know, even their aspirations.

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What keeps them up at night?

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What are their pain points?

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What are they really struggling with?

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Ethan Walker: It's like, we're

putting on our detective hats here.

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Samantha Reed: Absolutely.

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We're

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Ethan Walker: really trying to get

inside the mind of our ideal customer.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah, and this is

where it gets even more interesting,

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because the article highlights

something that I think a lot of

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businesses miss, and that is values.

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Ethan Walker: Values.

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Okay, tell me more.

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Samantha Reed: So it's not enough to

know that your ideal customer, you know,

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enjoys hiking and craft beer, for example.

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Right.

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You really have to understand

why those things matter to them.

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Ethan Walker: Okay.

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Samantha Reed: So are they drawn

to nature because they really value

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sustainability and conservation?

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Does craft beer represent like a sense

of community and connection for them?

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Right.

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It's about understanding that these

values are really the driving force

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behind a lot of their decisions.

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Ethan Walker: Interesting.

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So we're going beyond just their surface

level interests and we're really trying

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to understand what makes them tick.

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Samantha Reed: Precisely.

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And aligning your business with

those shared values is so powerful

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because it builds trust and loyalty.

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Think about it.

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Would you rather buy from a

company that just wants your money?

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Right.

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Or one that you know genuinely understands

and supports what's important to you.

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Ethan Walker: No contest.

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I'm going with the company that gets me.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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And there's actually data to back this up.

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A study by Cone Communications found that

87 percent of consumers are more likely

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to buy from a company that advocates for

the same issues that they care about.

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Ethan Walker: Wow.

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87%.

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That's huge.

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Samantha Reed: It's significant.

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Ethan Walker: Okay.

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So let's bring it back to our

indoor greenhouse example.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: How would understanding

our ideal customer's values?

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And

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Samantha Reed: then we can highlight

the greenhouse's ability to, um, You

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know, grow pesticide free produce year

round right in their own backyard.

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Right.

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No harmful chemicals involved.

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And the food doesn't have to travel

as far to get to their plate.

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Ethan Walker: So instead of just saying,

buy our greenhouse, it's awesome.

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Right.

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We're saying, grow your own organic food.

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And reduce your carbon footprint.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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You're speaking directly to their values.

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Ethan Walker: I love it.

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And the article actually gives

some really helpful tips on how

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to actually uncover these values.

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Samantha Reed: Yes.

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Ethan Walker: Things like market

research, customer surveys, even just

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analyzing social media conversations.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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It's all about listening.

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What are people saying about,

you know, products or services

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that are similar to yours?

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What kind of language are they using?

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What are their concerns?

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What are they really passionate about?

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And by paying attention to those

conversations, you can really start to

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gain some valuable insights into what

your ideal customer really cares about.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah, that

makes a lot of sense.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: So we have now

painted this really detailed

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picture of our ideal customer.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: We understand their

needs, their motivations, their values.

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Right.

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This is great.

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But how do we use all of this information

to actually connect with them?

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Samantha Reed: So this is where we

really turn insight into action.

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The article really stresses the importance

of tailoring your marketing messages.

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To resonate with this specific audience.

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Okay, we're done with the generic slogans,

hoping to catch everyone's attention.

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Ethan Walker: So it's about speaking

directly to your ideal customer's heart.

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Samantha Reed: Say, absolutely,

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Ethan Walker: you got it.

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Samantha Reed: Use language that they

understand and address their specific

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pain points and highlight how your product

or service aligns with their values.

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Ethan Walker: So instead of

just saying, you know, buy our.

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Eco-friendly water bottle

for everyone, right?

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We could say something like, join the

movement for a plastic free planet with

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our durable, reusable water bottle.

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Doing

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Samantha Reed: exactly

to the people that we

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Ethan Walker: know are

passionate about sustainability.

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Samantha Reed: Now you're getting it.

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And remember, it's not

just about advertising,

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Ethan Walker: okay?

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Samantha Reed: Consistency is key here.

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This tailored messaging should really be

reflected across all of your platforms.

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So your website, copy your social

media content, email marketing, even

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how you interact with customers.

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You know, whether it's

in person or online.

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Ethan Walker: So everything needs to feel

like it's coming from the same place.

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Exactly.

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Speaking to that one ideal customer.

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Samantha Reed: Imagine a company

that claims to You know, value

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sustainability, but their website is

full of stock photos and their packaging

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is, you know, single use plastic.

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Right.

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Ethan Walker: It just

wouldn't feel authentic.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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And that lack of consistency

really erodes trust.

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Ethan Walker: Totally.

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Samantha Reed: Whereas when your

messaging is aligned across the board,

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It reinforces your commitment to those

values, and it resonates much more

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powerfully with your ideal customer.

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Ethan Walker: They can see

that you're the real deal.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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And

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Ethan Walker: that builds

a deeper connection.

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Samantha Reed: Precisely.

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And this connection is ultimately

what fosters that loyalty.

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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Because they're not just buying a

product or a service at that point.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: They're really buying into

the brand and the ethos and the story.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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It's about building a relationship,

not just making a sale.

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Ethan Walker: And that's where

the long term success comes in.

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Exactly.

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This has been incredibly insightful.

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I feel like I have such a clearer

understanding now of how to find my ideal

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customer and more importantly how to

build that lasting relationship with them.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: But before we wrap

up, is there anything else from the

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article that we should touch on?

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Samantha Reed: You know, there's

one more point that I think

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is really worth digging into.

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Okay.

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The article mentions that, You know,

as your business grows and evolves,

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your ideal customer might too.

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Ethan Walker: Oh, that's interesting.

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So you're saying like our perfect

customer today, not be our perfect

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customer five years down the road.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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Think about it.

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Let's say you launch this really

successful line of handmade baby clothes.

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Right.

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Your initial ideal customer might be

a new parent who's, you know, really

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passionate about unique eco friendly

products for their little one.

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Okay.

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But as your brand grows, you

might expand into clothing for

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toddlers or even young children.

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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So our ideal customer goes from

being a new parent to a new parent.

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To maybe a parent with multiple kids.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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Ethan Walker: And maybe their

priorities are a little different now.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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They might be less concerned with,

you know, the newborn Instagram worthy

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outfits and more interested in, you

know, durable, playful clothing that

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sparks their child's imagination.

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Yeah.

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Their budget might have changed, their

values might have even subtly shifted,

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Ethan Walker: and if we're still

stuck on that initial picture

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of our ideal customer, right.

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We're probably missing out on all

these opportunities to grow with them.

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Samantha Reed: It's like trying

to fit a square peg into a

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round hole at that point.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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Samantha Reed: You really have to

be willing to adapt and refine your

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understanding of who you're serving

as your business grows and changes.

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Ethan Walker: So it's not like a

set it and forget it type of thing.

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It's an ongoing process.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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You have to stay curious about

your customers, keep an eye on,

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you know, what's happening in the

market, and just be open to adjusting

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your approach along the way.

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Ethan Walker: This has been amazing.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: I feel like I have

so much to think about now when it

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comes to finding my ideal customer.

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Good.

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And making sure that I'm still

connecting with them as things change.

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Samantha Reed: Absolutely.

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Ethan Walker: What a fantastic deep dive.

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Samantha Reed: It's all about

building those genuine connections.

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And letting them evolve organically.

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Ethan Walker: Speaking

of genuine connections.

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If you're listening and you want to

dive even deeper into this topic.

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Samantha Reed: Yes.

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Ethan Walker: Definitely check

out How to Determine Your Ideal

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Customer by Joshua Maddox.

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It's full of really practical advice.

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And I think anyone who's serious

about building a successful

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business will get a lot out of it.

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Samantha Reed: It's a must read for sure.

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Ethan Walker: And on that

note, we're going to leave

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you with a thought to ponder.

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The article briefly mentioned

adjusting your ideal customer

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as your business grows.

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But we didn't really get a

chance to fully explore that.

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So let's say you've had that initial

success, you know, you found your footing.

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What are the signs that it might be time

to revisit that ideal customer profile?

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What are the things that you

should be looking out for?

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What are the potential

pitfalls of not adapting?

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Let us know your thoughts.

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We'd love to hear from you.

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Samantha Reed: Absolutely.

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Ethan Walker: Until next time,

keep exploring, keep asking those

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questions and keep diving deep.

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Samantha Reed: And remember,

those valuable discoveries are

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often just beneath the surface.

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Ethan Walker: I love that.

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We'll see you all next time.

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Speaker 2: Thanks for tuning

into the Business Ignite podcast,

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where we fuel your business

growth and marketing success.

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If you enjoyed today's episode,

be sure to rate and review us.

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It does help others find the show.

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Don't forget to follow us on social

media at Business Ignite podcast and

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share this episode with a friend.

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Keep the fire burning and remember,

your success is just one strategy away.

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Until next time, stay ignited.

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