Finding The Ideal Customer

Starting a new eCommerce business begins with an idea. Whether that is something you are passionate about or a gap in the market that you want to take advantage of, that idea will form the basis of your business.  Creating a retail website or having a brick-and-mortar store might not actually be the first step towards starting your dream store. Once you have an idea of what you want to sell, and what industry you want to go into. The next best step will be finding the right audience for your store. You need to find the ideal customer who will form your customer base.

Finding the ideal customer for your business means finding someone who loves your products and will be loyal to your brand and business. Read on for some helpful tips on what to look for and how to find your target audience.

Define Your Ideal Customer

First things first, you need a mission statement for your business that outlines your core values. Sustainability is a good aspect to focus on for your business. Make sure your brand’s values align with the kind of customer you want to attract, otherwise, they may go elsewhere.

Finding the Right Market

Opening a business in the market you like is all well and good, but you need to know the demographics in your area, as well as any competitors you may have. If you open your business close by, will you be able to find a steady flow of customers? Are there competitors close by who might compete for consumers against you? Do people in this area want what I am selling? These are all the issues you need to address before setting up shop.

Research the kind of demographics that your business attracts by looking at similar businesses. Having an eCommerce website with a delivery element could be a good way to sideline a lot of these issues. If you don’t have customers close by, then it’s fine since you can deliver to them. Unless you are lucky enough to find an untapped gap in the market, you will be likely to find competitors. Try and think of something unique your business can do, this could be:

• Loyalty Programs
• Discounts
• Unique Customer Service
• Unique Personalised Products

By having something that makes your business stand out, your store can stand out against competitors, leading your ideal customer to your shop.

Advertising To Your Customer Base

Once you know the kind of customer you are looking for, and what could potentially draw them in, you need to work out how to reach them. Depending on your marketing budget, this might be something difficult to do. If you are just starting up and don’t have much to spend in marketing, then using social media is a great way to reach an audience who identifies with your brand.

Social Media websites like Twitter(X) or Facebook see millions of users every day. It is totally free to create an account and post on social media sites like these. Users might see your posts come up on their social media feed, which will lead them to you. Posting interesting or topical things can also help you to receive engagements and lead more people to your brand. Instagram and TikTok are also possible avenues that you can use to advertise your business.

If you have more of a budget, you could also use Google Ads or advertise on Twitter or Facebook. These advertising tools usually will seek out people who have shown an interest in products like yours.

Finding the right customer is not always an easy feat, especially if you are in a niche market. Hopefully, these tips can give you a start in knowing what to look for in how to find your ideal customer.