Who Are You Talking To? Discovering Your Target Audience

LaChaya Terry
Oct 3
2 min read

If your brand was a person, who would it talk to? Who would it invite to the table?

If you don’t know, your message might be missing the mark.

The truth is this: when you try to talk to everyone, you end up connecting with no one. The strongest brands are clear about who they’re serving, what they value, and how to speak their language.

Here’s how to discover your target audience and build a brand that resonates:

1. Stop Trying to Reach Everyone

Your brand isn’t for everybody, and that’s okay. The more specific you are, the easier it is for the right people to see themselves in your story. Generic messaging gets ignored. Focused messaging gets remembered.

2. Define the Basics (Demographics)

Start with the simple questions:

How old are they?
Where do they live?
What do they do for work?
What’s their income level?

This helps you narrow down your lane. A luxury skincare brand won’t use the same approach as a discount family brand because the people they serve have different needs.

3. Dig Deeper (Psychographics)

Go beyond age and income. What do they value? What are their dreams and fears? What motivates their choices?

For example, two 35-year-olds could look the same on paper, but one might care most about convenience while the other values sustainability. Knowing this difference changes how you position your brand.

4. Pay Attention to Behavior

Where does your audience hang out online? How do they shop? What kind of content do they engage with?

If your people are on LinkedIn reading thought leadership, don’t waste all your energy trying to go viral on TikTok. Meet them where they are.

5. Speak Their Language

Once you know who they are, talk like you actually get them. Your tone, visuals, and stories should feel like you’re in conversation with them, not shouting at them.

Think about it: the way Nike speaks to athletes is very different from how Disney speaks to families. Both work, because both are speaking their audience’s language.