Defining your target audience is one of the most important steps you should take when starting a business or launching a new product or device. Without clearly defining who your target audience is, you will not be able to develop an effective product or service and you will not be able to create a quality marketing strategy. If you don't know who your target audience is, how can you know if they even need the product or service you will be selling?

The first step in defining what your business is to decide who is your target audience.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your product is for everyone, that’s a mistake. But don't feel like you need to get yourself married to a niche right away. You want to get to know your target market but you don't have to turn away clients or customers that you want to work with just because they don't fit into your niche. Your target audience can evolve and change over time, just like every other part of your business. The better you know your target audience the better you can relate to them. You can speak to their pain points and how you can help them.

You want to be able to describe your ideal customer and identify what makes their life difficult. Try build an avatar / persona for your target audience. That will help you tailor your messaging so that it resonates with them. Many companies even give their target audience persona a name! 

Once you know who your target audience is, you can identify their problems and define how your product or service solves that problem. They should feel like you are reading their mind! You should offer exactly what they’re looking for, exactly what will make their lives easier. You’ll use the knowledge and understanding of your target customer when you define your value proposition to them.