I know, I know, I know, I KNOW… you’ve been in some sort of business program or read an article on someone’s website who has encouraged you to complete an “ideal client avatar” exercise.

Usually you’re instructed to make up a person who would be your ideal client and then answer a series of questions about them — what color is their hair? How much money do they make? What kind of car do they drive? What does their ideal life look like?

 

 

I know these exercises are important, but I can’t stand them.

Making up a fake person is hard. (And they never work for me!)

I’m not a fiction writer; I’m an entrepreneur.

I figure: Why make up a fake person when there are plenty of real people who fit into my target market who I can profile instead?

Herein lies the magic of this week’s video. Click “play” to learn how I get intel on my target clients without having an “ideal client avatar”:

 

Tweet out your favorite tips from this week’s post:

The antidote to “target market avatars”. You’re gonna LOVE this: http://ow.ly/TocVd @CourtRJ 

Target client = a real person who you are inspired to help! http://ow.ly/TocVd @CourtRJ 

 

 

 

Here’s how I get inside of my target client’s head:

 

I’ll show you exactly how to do this in the “Anti Client Avatar” worksheet above.

1. Pick a real, live human being. Nope, you’re not making up an “avatar”. Instead, you’re going to choose a real, live human being you already know who is the perfect fit for your product or service.

2. Work your empathy muscle! Close your eyes and pretend that you are this person. Step into their skin and live life as them.

3. What are your biggest frustrations? What keeps you awake at night totally stressed out?

4. What do you wish you had? Who are you jealous of and what do they have / do that you don’t? Write all of this down as a journal entry in the 1st person!

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what color hair your made-up customer “Barbara” has. What matters most is what’s going on in between her ears!

 

Answer in a comment below: What is one quality of your ideal client?