5 – Know Your Customer
Your Customer
Identifying Your Customer
You know there’s a problem, you’ve got a solution, and in doing so, you’re providing a benefit. However, someone has the problem; someone will use the solution; and someone will receive the benefit. This person is your customer.
Hopefully, you have someone in mind. Got the picture in your head? You need to know everything about this person.
Traditionally customers are described in terms of age, gender, geographic location, and income level. Yet, some of the characteristics that are more difficult to see – interests, passions, skills, beliefs, and values – do a much better job of revealing a customer’s heart. For example, if your business serves dog lovers, your customers may be a variety of ages and backgrounds, but the important shared trait is a love of dogs.
You may have more than one customer type, each with its own characteristics and needs. Your customer may be another business or organization. The people who contribute to buying decisions at the business or organization are your customers, as well. Customers might even purchase the product or service for someone else to use (for example, a parent buying a toy for a child).
Make sure to consider everyone who will be involved in the process of buying and using what you offer when defining your customers.
Complete the assignment before moving on. (You can either type directly on the fillable PDF and download it to your device or you can print the assignment, complete it by hand, scan or take a photo of it and then upload it below.)