In past blog posts, I’ve discussed repurposing your content and providing products that you’re clients and audience want from you. However… don’t repurpose without a plan. Let’s place the focus back onto your ideal client and find out what type of information they want and how they want to receive it.
Step One: Analyze Your Blog Posts, Social Media Posts, and Current Products
Time for some easy analysis. Take a look at your blog post dashboard and take note of the posts with the most comments and/or the most dialogue between commenters. Now take a look at some of your social media posts, again looking for lots of comments or at least a discussion. Lastly, take a look at your current list of products for sale and note which ones sold like hotcakes and which ones flubbed. The topics which elicit discussion, fiery debate, or made the most money should top your list of topics to address.
Step Two: Ask Your Audience
Don’t be afraid to ask your audience what they want. You are the expert and you need market research. Create a survey, create a poll on social media, or send an email asking about their struggles and how can you help. Based upon the size of your following, you’ll likely get many different answers but you’ll also begin to see a common thread. Add these topics to your list from above.
Step Three: Do Some Spy Work
Where does your ideal client hang out online? Forums, certain social media platforms, particular blogs? Figure that out first and then quietly observe the comments they make in these places. You may see common complaints about an industry or another product or you may notice a common struggle these people all have in common. If you can address these complaints or problems in your own product, you’ll gain the interest of these people because you’re addressing them, not giving them a product they can’t relate to.
Comfort Your Audience: Give Them What They Want
The easiest way to give your audience everything they want and need is to create a monthly membership site. In the broadest sense, your customers want access to you and your knowledge. If they can’t pay your private coaching fees, then a membership site is the next best thing. Membership sites charge a monthly subscription fee in exchange for access to your advice and maybe some of your lower-priced products. You can certainly create some exclusive, membership-only products that solve a problem but make the subscribers feel like you’re speaking directly to them. Perfect way to gain even more trust!
My favorite is to ask them. Sometimes I truly overlook what seems to be obvious. Always looking to make things harder than they need to be.
Reaching out to clients/customers seems to always work best for me too! Thanks, Carrie!
I’m all about creating a membership site for those wanting to subscribe to what I can offer them. I’ve done this before and plan on doing it again this year.
Your blogs are always a wealth of knowledge.
Thanks.
Awesome!
The best part of creating educational content is its often much less salesy. Great tips
Thanks! Sharing your knowledge via a course is always a win-win in my book.
And, sometimes you have to share with them what they need- if they don’t really want it (or know they do).
For me, I like to educate my clients that way. Ultimately, it is their choice, and I want them to be informed when they make that decision.