Know Thy Audience: The Foundation of Content Strategy

EmiliaSto
3 min readJul 17, 2023

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Welcome back to our content strategy adventure, where we’re delving deeper into the art of captivating your audience and creating content that shines brighter than a disco ball at a ’70s party. If you missed my first blog post in the series on how to incorporate content strategy into your business, fret not! I’ll bring you up to speed. So grab a cup of your favorite beverage and let’s dive right in!

In my previous take, we took those initial wobbly steps toward content strategy brilliance. I emphasized the importance of understanding your audience, and now it’s time to dive even deeper into the first and most crucial step: defining your target audience.

Know The Audience

Imagine you’re a mastermind detective on a quest to solve the mystery of your customers’ desires, needs, and preferences. Sherlock Holmes has nothing on you! Understanding your audience is like deciphering a complex code, but fear not, dear reader. I’m here to equip you with the tools you need to crack it wide open.

  1. To begin, take a moment to reflect on your product or service. Who does it appeal to? Is it tech-savvy teenagers, busy professionals, or perhaps fashion-forward grandparents? Paint a vivid mental picture of your ideal customer — their age, interests, lifestyle, and even their pain points. This information is like a treasure for your content strategy, allowing you to craft messages that hit the bullseye of their hearts and minds.
  2. Now, let’s put on our detective hats and gather clues. Conduct market research, engage with your existing customers, and analyze data from social media platforms and website analytics. These valuable nuggets of information will provide insights into your audience’s online behavior, preferences, and the kind of content that tickles their fancy.
  3. But wait, there’s more! Remember that your audience is made up of real, unique individuals. Don’t fall into the trap of viewing them as a homogeneous mass. Get to know them on a personal level by conducting surveys, hosting focus groups, or even engaging in one-on-one conversations. This will uncover the nuances and diverse perspectives within your target audience, helping you tailor your content to resonate with each person.
  4. Now that you’ve unearthed a wealth of knowledge about your audience, it’s time to put that detective hat back on and analyze the evidence. Identify common threads, patterns, and recurring themes. Are there shared values, aspirations, or challenges among your audience members? These insights will guide your content creation, ensuring that each piece speaks directly to your audience’s deepest desires, offers solutions to their problems, and resonates with their emotions.

As you embark on this journey of discovery, remember that knowing your audience isn’t a one-time task. Keep your detective skills sharp by continuously monitoring and adapting to evolving customer needs and preferences. Stay agile, be open to feedback, and never stop learning from your audience.

In my next blog post, we’ll continue our content strategy adventure and explore the enchanting realm of storytelling. We’ll uncover the secrets behind crafting narratives that leave your audience hanging on your every word. So grab your magnifying glass and stay tuned for more captivating content insights!

P.S. Missed my previous blog posts on content strategy? No worries! Catch up on all the fun by giving it a read here.

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EmiliaSto

Junior Marketing Manager at day & Content Strategy student at night :)