No customers? No problem.
So don’t worry about starting from scratch – read on and get started today!
This blog post will teach you how to discover your buyer persona without customer data.
I’ll show you how to use market research to deduce your ideal customer profile.
1. Start by conducting online research
Thankfully, there are many ways to conduct online research to discover your buyer persona.
Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can be great places to start.
By observing the conversations that people are having online, you can get a better sense of what they’re looking for and what kinds of products or services they might be interested in.
You can also use search engines to see what questions people ask about your industry or product category.
By taking the time to understand the needs and wants of your target audience, you’ll be in a much better position to market effectively to them when they become customers.
2. Ask your friends and family for help
Create a list of questions you think are relevant to your buyer persona, and don’t be shy to ask your friends and family for help.
Start by asking five people you think would buy your product the most.
When you get their answers, try to draw any conclusions you can.
When you’re done, revisit your questions and make changes if necessary.
When you’re satisfied with the updated questions, find another five people.
Rinse and repeat this process a few times until your buyer persona starts to take form.
3. Use social media platforms to gather information
For example, you can search for people who have recently purchased a product or service similar to what you are offering.
Once you have found some potential customers, you can reach out to them and ask them questions about their needs and wants.
You can also search for groups of people with similar interests.
This can be done by using hashtags, joining groups, or subscribing to relevant subreddits.
By engaging with potential customers on social media, you will be able to gather the information you need to discover your buyer persona.
4. Try surveys or questionnaires
Another option is to use online surveys or questionnaires.
You can post these on social media or forums related to your industry or use a platform like SurveyMonkey to reach a wider audience.
Another excellent tool for surveys or questionnaires is Google Forms.
It’s not free, but the information you might get could be worth it.
Do this in small batches to see your results and make changes accordingly.
5. Analyze your website’s traffic data (if you have one)
Odds are, you already have some customers if you have a website that gets some traffic.
But if you don’t, remember that Google offers many insights into your audience in their Google Analytics tool.
For example, you can see what keywords people use to find your site, what pages they visit, and how long they stay on each page.
You can also see some demographic information, like what country they’re in and what language they speak.
It’s not a lot, but it’s a good start if your options are limited.
6. Analyze your competitor’s social media accounts and reviews
Another way to learn about your target market is to analyze your competitors’ social media accounts and online reviews.
By taking a close look at their language and the type of feedback they receive, you can start to get an idea of who their customers are and what they’re looking for.
Additionally, this research can help you identify gaps in the market that you can fill with your products or services.
So, if you’re not sure who your target market is, take some time to study your competitors.
You may be surprised at what you discover.
7. Attend trade shows and networking events
Industry trade shows and networking events are fantastic opportunities to gather intel for your buyer persona.
At these events, people are usually friendly, and you’ll meet many peers and potential customers.
You can print out quick questionnaires to have handy, or you can send them out via email to people you meet.
Additionally, you may also be able to make some valuable connections that can help you get your business off the ground.
So if you’re unsure who your target market is, don’t be afraid to venture out and explore.
You might just be surprised at what you find.
8. Look through online forums and discussion boards
While they’re not as popular as they once were, online forums and discussion boards still exist.
And you can count on the people there being really interested in the topics discussed.
Just remember that these sites have rules and guidelines, and don’t look kindly at people who just want to use them for their own gain.
This means it’s a good idea to participate in discussions and try to be helpful before asking members for favors like filling in surveys or questionnaires.
Once they recognize you as one of their own, they’ll be happy to help.
Before no time, you’ll potentially have a lot of info to work with and maybe even a new customer or two.
Conclusion
Even if you have no customers, that doesn’t mean you can’t start developing your buyer personas.
There are several ways to gather the information you need, most of which are free or relatively inexpensive.
I’ve listed eight methods here, but many more are out there.
And make sure to check out these buyer persona case studies that really show the effectiveness of this marketing tool.
So get started today, and you’ll be well on your way to understanding your target market better than ever before.
What method will you use first to develop your buyer personas?