How to Find Your Blogging Target Audience
How to Find Your Blogging Target Audience
Contents
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been doing a little reflecting on my blog. I’m really happy blogging and I really enjoy it most of the time, however, I do get moments when I feel a little drained and find myself looking for topics to write about that I think the audience wants to hear rather than what I want to write about.
Finding a Blogging Target Audience
And there goes the question do you write for the audience or write for yourself?
After thinking about it I have figured out what I need to do. I need to stay focussed on writing for myself and the audience who are attracted to the way I write, the info I share and those who appreciate my writing style will stay. Those who just pop by for a catchy title pop by again but they probably won’t keep returning a regular visitor.
Who Am I as a Blogger?
I realised I have to figure out who I am as a blogger before I can work out my target audience. I’m a number of things. I am a Mother who loves to have family fun, so I want other Mothers who love having fun with kids to follow me. I love testing out new products, reviewing days out, sharing the clothes my child wears (Kids Fashion) and sharing new and lovely items which enhance my home. I love home improvements and want to write more of this.
I guess I want people to follow me who also love new and lovely items and who enjoy reading reviews of products and family outings and want to build a beautiful and happy home.
In addition to this, I am someone with Chronic Illness and Adrenal Insufficiency and so I would like others with Chronic illness to follow me for information, inspiration and awareness. I’m a woman struggling with weight problems and have recently had a gastric bypass. I’d like those interested in my story to follow me.
At the end of the day, I have two target audiences. Mother’s who love to have fun with kids, do activities, go on outings, style their kids and get lovely nice things. my second audience is Women and men with Chronic illness or without who want to follow my story, my dream and journey to better health and success as a blogger.
In a nutshell, I offer information on life with illness, parenting, family fun and lovely things for the home.
Questions to Work Out Who Your Target Audience Is
Now I know what I want to offer I can finally work out who my target audience is. It’s something I’m in the process of doing and if you are interested in working this out for yourself, I’ve created a list of questions to ask which can help you work out exactly who to target as an audience for your blog!
I’m hoping these small suggestions will help me and you to work things out and help you on your way to reaching your audience and getting more page views. So why not sit down with a pen and paper and answer the following questions.
What kind of audience do I want?
What age group, gender and location do I want my followers to be?
What personality traits would I like my readers to have?
What emotions, needs, passions or frustrations might my audience have?
Who is my ideal customer?
What benefit or value can I bring to my readers?
What kind of groups would my followers join?
What would my Target audience dislike?
Creating an Imaginary Target Viewer
Now I am going to create an Imaginary target viewer and call him Fred. Yes, I’ve chosen a Dad who loves having fun with kids. Now create your imaginary target viewer and give them a name too. Give them an age, an outlook on life, maybe a job, a family, a city, interests and an education. Play along this may just help you to work things out!
What would Fred want to to read?
What would impress Fred?
What is cool to Fred?
How would he interact?
Is he technical?
Does he have any outstanding opinions?
Does Fred use slang or swearing?
Is Fred Positive and Happy?
Does Fred get Angry? What would cause this?
What are Fred’s Problems?
What makes Fred Emotional?
What does Fred Value?
What is important to Fred?
What is Fred least likely to care about?
By placing yourself in your reader’s shoes, you may be able to get a better idea of what kind of audience you are trying to attract.
Do Your Research
Another good way to start looking and planning your content may be to observe what is already being shared, discussed and admired by your audience. You may want to ask questions and do some research to help you. Here are some questions you could ask and try to answer.
What does your audience like to do?
Are they social?
Are they readers?
Do they enjoy activities or travel?
Where do your audience like to hang out?
Do they have special lingo or jargon? I love posts on being the #MumBoss
Communication
Next, you could talk to your audience and ask questions directly. This again will be a big help in working out who your existing audience is and how they engage.
Talk to your audience
Ask friends what they enjoy to read online?
Research what other bloggers are doing?
Maybe conduct a Survey?
Then maybe ask yourself, Where do my target audience……
network?
research?
go for entertainment?
read the news?
meet friends?
Don’t forget to check your google analytics. Google Analytics is a fabulous way to check where your audience comes from and maybe you could go visit the sites they visited before you and see what material these sites are offering.
I hope this post is helpful. It’s a process I’ll be going through to try and focus in more on who I want to aim my blog at. However, I need to know who I am before I can know my audience.
Angela x
About Angela Milnes
Angela Milnes is a Qualified Early Years Teacher who has specialised in Preschool and Kindergarten teaching. She has a wealth of experience teaching young children and is passionate about kids crafts and having fun as a family. Angela has also taught cooking skills and loves to share both family recipes and easy instant pot recipes here on The Inspiration Edit. Follow her on Pinterest!
fantastic post and very helpful I try to picture the person I would expect googling the post I am writing and put myself in their shoes
Oh thanks Emma. I’m glad you liked this. It can be really hard when blogging and taking some time to think about the person reading your posts is sure to benefit us and help refocus!
This is a great post, Angela and I must say it is something I have never really contemplated much before due in part to the fact that I blog as a hobby and in part because my original target audience was friends and family abroad who may not have had Facebook or other social media to engage with them on (believe me, I know quite a few people who really don’t enjoy social media at all). I still mainly blog as a hobby but may have to give a target audience a think. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed this and hope it gives food for thought when thinking about blogging. Angela x
I think I need a Fred in my life. I think this is a great post with lots of things to think about here for me
oh I’m glad your enjoying this.
this is such great advice so thank you so much for sharing. I’m very new to blogging and am trying to find out the best way to approach it through listening to you experts! #brilliantblogposts
Okay, I’m glad your finding this useful. it’s something i’m working on myself at the minute. Angela
Fab post and tips 🙂 I definitely write about what I am interested in, I could just write because that is what the readers want etc. I think if you don’t enjoy what you write then it will show in the posts.
Gemma xx
Thanks Gemma. I agree if you dont enjoy it then it becomes more work and not fun and will as you say show in your writing.
Thanks for ths, I pinned it to my Blogging Tips Pinterest board! #BloggerClubUK
Oh thanks. hopefully it will get seen and get shared around a lot more.
This is a great post and will be very helpful to me. I’ve thought about some of these things just in my head but there’s a of things I’ve missed. It would be good to write it down and think in more detail so I can plan out my posts more.
#BrilliantBlogPosts
I think it’s always great to share ideas and bounce thoughts off one another. the more ideas the better.
Interesting post with some really good prompts that get you thinking. A lot for me to think about here #brillblogposts
Glad you found this useful!
This is really useful. As my blog is a hobby, I need to be careful about striking the balance between the needs of my target audience and my desire to have fun writing.
Sometimes i wish my was more a hobby. Its about getting the balance right I think.
Hi Angela, this is a fab post, I have no doubt there are loads of bloggers wondering who their target audience are and how to write for them.
when I first started blogging I was worried that I didn’t really have a niche or a target audience. I write best when I’m feeling inspired by how I’m feeling, what I’ve been doing or life in general, as soon as I start worrying about writing for a specific audience I loose confidence. But that’s just me, and I know that if I targeted my writing more I may get more readers, but it doesn’t feel natural
xx
Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed the post Debbie. i’m still working on this. I guess I write naturally no matter what the subject, however sometimes i do look for content/ideas which my readers might enjoy.
I need to consider this post at length and probably a bit at a time. I never can work out how mercenary we should be with our blogs. Mine developed with no plan and I miss those days of knowing nothing and just going with a gut instinct.
There is a fine balance. Yes the blog needs to be natural and what we want but also, if we want to develop and grow or even create topics to write about then this could be a good activity.
Google Analytics is definitely great for this. I tend to focus more on the content and as you say write for yourself, if the content is good people will come. But is definitely something to think and focus on if you want to commercialise your blog x
Yes I totally agree with that. I find it hard to plan posts as i like to write as things happen more a journal style but yes an audience or planning certain how to posts throughout the months might be good for when im ill to have a killer post to help boost stats.
I think this can be the hardest part, sometimes, figuring out your niche and who you are aiming it at! I just like too write about what I like to be honest – good writing and the rest will follow. x
So true! It’s a tricky one but something to think about.
This is such a good idea, I encourage my clients all the time to think about their target client but I have never thought about it from a blogging perspective which is silly really! I will be thinking and working on this too over the coming months, thanks so much for the idea. Have pinned too :). Thank you for joining us at #BloggerClubUK hope to see you again this week xx
I’m glad you found it useful and pinned it! Angela x
Great points and questions…very helpful and I enjoyed reading this…Pinning!!!
Glad you find this useful
This is a really interesting article, and the questions are really useful. I guess I always thought my target audience is me, or someone like me, but it’s good to think more deeply and make sure you are meeting that person’s needs. Thanks for the insight.
Thanks Cal. I’m glad you found it interesting.