Why Knowing Your Target Audience Doesn’t Really Matter
Have you ever met someone who tries too hard to impress you? It's almost as if their every word and action is a plea for attention, but the more they try, the more you want to pull away. Their facade leads you to question their sincerity.
Perhaps, as you read this, you might be worried you’re that person!
The truth is, we've all been both the giver and receiver in such dynamics. And while I’m not going to get into the psychology of these behaviors, let's explore how this dynamic could impact you negatively in the context of building your personal brand.
When you start creating content, a pressing question arises: "Who is my audience?"
The importance of knowing your audience has been emphasized by marketers and social media gurus everywhere—but it might be less critical than you think.
Here's the key distinction: Personal branding is not company branding. While companies may need to manufacture relatability in order to resonate with audiences, you don't have to—because you inherently are.
In essence, You. Are. Not. A. Company. You're a relatable, multi-faceted person with so much to share.
When you filter your thoughts, opinions, and content through the lens of how other people perceive you, you repress what is instinctively trying to emerge from within you.
The problem comes when you try to overly categorize or name your audience, interfering with an attraction that happens naturally. Not to mention, people can tell when content feels forced or when you're attempting to coerce people into listening to you for personal gain.
Example: Consider my journey. When I first started building my personal brand, I was told I needed to identify my audience. But the more content I created, and the more my business grew, the less relevant that task became for me. It didn’t seem to matter one way or another, as long as I was being myself.
I created content that resonated with me, shared my story authentically, and expressed my genuine passions. The result? An engaged audience that appreciated my authenticity AND an increase in sales and revenue.
Personal Branding Tip
Forget preconceived notions about your target audience and create the content you genuinely want to make.
Set aside monetary goals and ambitions, and concentrate on creating from a place where none of that matters. Then, once you can name what you want to create, focus on making that content the best it can be.
Personal Question
What type of content would you create if you were creating for yourself? Would it differ from what you're currently making? Why or why not?
When you're ready, here are two ways I can help you build your Personal Brand:
Personal Brand Accelerator: A 3-month program to help you build your personal brand, tell your story, and post with confidence on social media. Join the waitlist!
Full Service Personal Brand Development: Work directly with my team and I to build your personal brand. Walk away with a stunning personal website, brand photos, content strategy for social media, and a powerful, consistent brand message that accurately conveys who you are and what you do. Now booking for Spring 2024.
