Many writing sites tell you that knowing your ‘target audience’ is very important, but they’re very short on how you find them. So this is explaining it, defining a ‘target audience’, and various other things about your target audience.

What does ‘target audience’ mean?

A ‘target audience’ refers to the specific group or groups of people that an author intends their book to appeal to and engage with. This includes considerations such as age range (e.g., children, teenagers, adults), interests (such as romance, mystery, science fiction), cultural background, reading level, and even psychological characteristics like values or belief systems that the audience may hold dearly. Defining your target audience helps you tailor your content, language, style, and themes to better appeal to those readers and increase the chances of your book finding success.

For example –

• Age range (e.g., children’s books for kids under 12)
• Interests or hobbies (e.g., romance novels for fans of romantic relationships)
• Demographics (e.g., women, men, LGBTQ+ individuals)
• Reading preferences (e.g., genre fiction like sci-fi, fantasy, mystery).

Why is knowing your target audience so important

Knowing your target audience is crucial in fiction writing for several reasons:

1. Tailored content creation: Understanding who the readers are allows an author to create content that resonates with them, which includes choosing appropriate genres and topics they’re interested in. This makes it more likely that potential readers will find your book appealing from their first encounter, and will continue reading or following your work.
2. Effective marketing strategy: Knowing your target audience helps you develop a marketing message that speaks directly to the interests and needs of those specific individuals, increasing engagement with promotional materials and campaigns. And by focusing on specific groups, you can tailor your promotional efforts and messages to better reach and engage those readers.
3. Reader engagement: When authors know their readers’ preferences, they can write in ways that foster deeper connections – whether through character development or thematic elements – that encourage ongoing reader investment over time.
4. Author-reader relationship: Recognising your target audience helps establish an author as a credible voice within their genre and niche, which can lead to building trust with readers who see the book’s content as valuable for them personally or professionally.
5. Audience expansion potential: While focusing on one specific group is beneficial initially, understanding your target audience also allows you to recognise broader appeal possibilities and expand beyond a single demographic if appropriate.
6. Financial success: Books that are well-received by their intended audiences tend to sell better because they meet the readers’ expectations for genre conventions or thematic elements, which can lead to higher sales volumes and potentially more lucrative deals with publishers.
7. Building authority: As you consistently deliver content that appeals to a particular group of people, they will begin to see you as an authority figure in the genre or topic. This helps establish credibility and trust with your audience.
8. Better communication: Knowing who your target audience is allows you to communicate more effectively with them. You can develop messages and strategies that resonate with their specific concerns, needs, and interests, leading to stronger connections and relationships with your readers.

Where can I find my target audience

Finding your target audience involves a combination of research, analysis, and understanding. Here are some steps to help you identify your target audience:

1. Define your genre: Determine the genre or categories that best fit your work (e.g., romance, self-help, historical fiction). This will give you an initial idea of who might be interested in reading it.
2. Research existing books: Look at books similar to yours, especially those that have been successful or received positive reviews. Analyse their book descriptions, tags, and marketing materials to understand who the authors are targeting. You can also check out titles on Amazon and other retailers for inspiration.
3. Identify demographics: Consider factors such as age, gender, location, income level, education, and interests of potential readers. This will help you create a more precise profile of your target audience.
4. Engage with potential readers: Join online forums, social media groups, or attend events related to your book’s genre to interact directly with potential readers. Gather feedback on your work and use this information to better understand their preferences and needs.
5. Define your unique selling proposition (USP): What makes your book different from others in the same genre? Understanding this will help you identify specific aspects that might attract certain types of readers.
6. Amazon bestsellers listings: Analyse the categories under which popular books fall within genres similar to yours for insights into reader preferences.
7. Social media analysis: Use social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook by following trending hashtags or groups related to your genre; this can give you a sense of what topics are currently engaging readers in that niche.
8. Book retailer data: Look at the sales data on book retailers’ websites for books similar to yours – this may reveal demographic information about buyers (age, location).
9. Surveys and focus groups: Conduct surveys or focus groups with potential readers who match your target audience profile based on interests, reading habits, age range, etc., which can provide direct feedback on what they are looking for in a book like yours.
10. Beta readers: Engage beta readers from within the demographic you’re aiming to reach; their reactions and suggestions will give valuable insights into whether your target audience is being effectively reached with content, style, or marketing strategies.
11. Book reviews analysis: Examine reviews of books in similar genres for common themes that resonate well within the intended demographic – this can inform what aspects to emphasise in your book and its promotion.
12. Refine and adjust: As you gather more data and insights, refine your understanding of your target audience. This process is iterative, so continue to analyse and adjust as needed.

Remember, finding your target audience is an ongoing process that requires continuous research and analysis. It may evolve over time as you gain more experience in the publishing industry and receive feedback from readers or marketing efforts.

How should I keep my target audience once I’ve got one

To keep your target audience once you’ve got one, follow these steps:

1. Engage with them on social media and other platforms: Connect with readers through Facebook groups, Twitter chats, or Instagram accounts related to the genre of your book. Share updates about your writing process, behind-the-scenes content, and snippets from your work. This will help maintain a relationship with your audience.
2. Community building and involvement: Create an online community where fans can interact, share feedback, and participate in discussions about the book’s themes – this fosters a sense of belonging among your target audience members.
3. Build an email list: Encourage readers to sign up for your newsletter so you can keep them updated on your progress, upcoming events, or new releases. Offer exclusive content or discounts as incentives for signing up.
4. Collaborate with influencers: Partner with influencers in your niche who have a following that aligns with your target audience. This can help expand your reach and credibility.
5. Host giveaways and contests: Organise competitions related to your book’s theme or genre that will attract the attention of potential readers in your target audience. This can help you maintain a connection with them while also generating buzz around your work.
6. Offer exclusive content: Provide exclusive content such as short stories, previews of upcoming works, or bonus chapters to subscribers or followers. This incentivises them to remain engaged and loyal to you.
7. Cultivate personal relationships: Aim to develop personal connections with some of your most dedicated readers by reaching out to them individually through emails, messages, or even phone calls (if appropriate). This can help you better understand their needs and preferences while also fostering loyalty.
8. Adapt to changing interests: As time goes on, the interests of your target audience may evolve. Stay attuned to these changes by monitoring online conversations, reviewing feedback, and analysing sales data. Adjust your content, marketing strategies, or engagement tactics accordingly to maintain relevance and keep your audience engaged.
9. Attend events and conventions: Participate in author events, book festivals, or conventions where your target audience is likely to be present. Networking at these events will allow you to stay connected with readers who are interested in your work.
10. Provide value: Continuously offer value to your target audience through informative blog posts, helpful tips, or insights into the writing process. This demonstrates that you are invested in their growth as readers and fans.
11. Surprise and delight: Occasionally surprise your audience with unexpected content, promotions, or events. This can help keep them engaged and excited about being part of your community.
12. Provide excellent customer service: Respond promptly to reader queries on social media and through email. Address any concerns they may have about your book or writing process, as this can help build trust and loyalty among your audience.
13. Keep them informed about your progress: Share updates on your writing journey with your readers, such as milestones reached in the editing process, new ideas for future projects, or upcoming events related to your work. This will keep them engaged and excited about what you’re doing next.
14. Stay authentic and patient: Building a loyal fan base takes time and effort. Be genuine in your interactions with your target audience, and don’t get discouraged if progress is slow at first.

Remember that building a loyal following takes time and effort. By consistently engaging with your target audience, adapting to their needs, and providing value, you’ll be better positioned to maintain their interest over the long term.

How can I grow, or expand, my target audience

To grow or expand your target audience, consider these steps:

1. Identify new segments of potential readers: Research and identify other demographics that may be interested in your book’s genre or theme. This could include age groups, geographic locations, or interests not yet targeted.
2. Diversify your content offerings: Create a range of content that caters to different reader personas within your current target market; this can include short stories, blog posts, ebooks, or audiobook adaptations – expanding on topics and genres will attract new readers while keeping existing ones engaged.
3. Expand your online presence: Create profiles on different social media platforms to reach a wider audience. Share content related to your book and engage with potential readers by participating in discussions and joining relevant communities.
4. Collaborate with influencers: Partner with bloggers, podcasters, or other content creators who have an established following within your target market. They can help promote your work to their audience and introduce you to new potential fans.
5. Attend events and conventions: Participate in author events, book festivals, or conventions where your expanded target audience is likely to be present. Networking at these events will allow you to connect with readers who are interested in your work.
6. Offer exclusive content: Create bonus material such as behind-the-scenes videos, deleted scenes, or character interviews that can only be accessed by joining a mailing list or following specific social media accounts. This will incentivise potential readers to engage with you and expand their interest in your work. You can also share excerpts from your books, free chapters, or previews of upcoming works to entice potential readers and give them a taste of what they could expect if they decide to purchase your full-length novels.
7. Advertise strategically: Use targeted paid advertising campaigns on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Google Ads to reach new audiences interested in your book’s genre or theme. Make sure to track the performance of these ads so that you can optimise them for better results.
8. Use data analytics: Use data analytics tools (e.g., Google Trends) to identify emerging trends in your target market’s reading preferences; this can help you stay ahead of the curve, adapting content and promotional strategies accordingly over time while keeping an eye on potential new audience segments.
9. Cross-promotion with other authors: Partner with other authors who have a similar or complementary readership; this can involve joint promotions, shared events (e.g., book signings), and cross-promoting content on social media – this expands your reach by tapping into the existing fan bases of both parties while fostering collaborative relationships within the writing community.
10. Community outreach: Host or participate in local reading groups, literary festivals, author panels, book clubs, and other events that cater to specific reader interests (e.g., genre-specific conventions); this will help you build a reputation as an active member of the writing community while attracting new readers who share similar passions within your target market’s niche genres or themes.
11. Write guest posts and articles: Contribute content to websites, blogs, or magazines within your target audience’s interests. This will help expose your work to new readers who may be interested in what you have to offer.
12. International expansion: Explore opportunities to reach international audiences by translating and promoting content in other languages, partnering with foreign publishers (e-books), attending global literary events, or leveraging social media platforms popular among targeted countries – this will help you tap into new markets while catering to the preferences of diverse reader demographics.
13. Personalised reader experiences: Develop personalised reading experiences for your audience (e.g., curated book recommendations, customisable ebook features) that encourage them to explore and share content with others; this can help foster a sense of community among readers while driving engagement across various platforms – ultimately leading to increased word-of-mouth promotion within the target market’s niche.
14. Engage with bookstagrammers and booktubers: Reach out to popular book influencers (bookstagrammers on Instagram or booktubers on YouTube) who specialize in your genre and offer them free copies of your books for review or feature opportunities. This can help you tap into their large, engaged followings.
15. Run targeted advertising campaigns: Utilise paid advertising options on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or book-related websites like Goodreads to target specific demographics and interests relevant to your genre and audience.
16. Encourage word of mouth: Encourage your existing readers to leave reviews, share your work with friends, and recommend it on social media or book forums. This organic promotion can help attract new readers who trust the opinions of their peers.
17. Continuously improve and adapt: Regularly assess your audience growth strategies, monitor feedback from readers, and adjust your content, marketing tactics, or engagement efforts as needed to stay relevant and appealing to both existing and potential fans.

Conclusion

Now that we understand ‘target audience’, we can start to define who we are writing for, and why we should write for them.

But we shouldn’t forget that we have a life as well, so give yourself permission to occasionally drop out of the rat race of fiction writing, and do something else that we enjoy. Something that isn’t related to our ‘target audience’, but is just ‘me time’!

So, enjoy your writing, but also enjoy your ‘me times’.