Defining your target audience is key as a creator.
It helps you make content that appeals to them.
You can post to the platforms they're on, use relevant language and content styles, and so on.
Ultimately, knowing your audience guides your approach.
But here's the problem:
How can you know who your audience is (and what they want) before you have one?
That question plagued me for years.
It reminds me of the catch-22 you can find yourself in when applying for jobs.
Employers say you don't have enough experience for the position, but the only way to get more experience is to land the job…
Here’s the closest I've come to an answer:
Create content for the person you were (and the problems you faced) five years ago.
I can't take credit for this idea.
I got it from a well-known creator called Tom Noske, and I've heard variations of it recommended elsewhere, too.
Tom Noske even talks about creating AI avatars to represent that person.
He suggests writing out their backgrounds, upbringing, desires, fears, personality traits, outlook, and so on, and then using AI tools to literally give them a face.
The goal is simple:
Get to know them, so you can keep them in mind when making content.