In order to get the most out of your social media marketing efforts, you need to know a lot about your target audience as an influencer before you start curating your incredible content.

Insights into your audience’s interests and demographics are what make you and your brand successful. But where to start? Well, look no further!

Below, we have detailed the most important tips for how to find your target audience as an influencer.

1. Check your business plan

A business plan is necessary before you start.

Though you may think you don’t need one, you do– even as an influencer (after all, your social media is your business). Why? Because it lays out the details of each aspect of your business, letting you know if your idea is feasible or not.

One component of making a business plan is identifying your target audience as an influencer, but you cannot identify them before your business is up and running. So, the solution is to ideate your perfect customer and/or follower by creating a brand persona.

A brand persona is a collection of personality traits, attitudes, and values that your brand forms into the ideal customer. Essentially, the company believes they can solve the customer’s needs with their product.

Be aware, however, that when you look at your insights and statistics on your profiles, the information might differ slightly. 

2. Look at the stats

Once you have your business and accounts set up, this is where your audience stats come in handy.

If your main account is Instagram, then “you should go to your Instagram Insights panel and enter the Audience tab. There you can see the age, gender, and location of your followers – three important Instagram metrics that can help you target your future” influencer campaigns says Gramista.

3. Use hashtags

Hashtags have been one of the most popular ways to search for new accounts, brands, and topics.

“Being able to identify popular hashtags and use them to gain visibility among your target audience” is key to finding a more niche audience and discovering their interests according to Vreeland.

Though finding the right hashtags may take some time and research, when you find and utilize the most relevant, the results will be worth the effort. 

4. Poll your audience

“Instagram polls are also a way to research what kind of content the audience prefers seeing in the feed,” writes Olga Rabo on Iconosquare.

You may think you know exactly what your audience likes to see, but it never hurts to ask again to get confirmation. Even if your audience wants to see something new, then at least you know now! Better get working!

5. Stalk your competitor’s followers

If you’re looking for your target audience as an influencer on Instagram, I bet they are already following your competitors. Which, in this case, is good! You can easily find your new followers now.

If you want to know how Jenn’s Trends offers the perfect guide:

“Go to your competitors’ profiles, and click on their “Followers”. You can see the whole list of people who follow them. Scroll through the list of followers and find people that are your ideal clients. Look for people that are active, engaging, and match your ideal customer profile. Then scroll through their posts, like some of their posts, and join in the conversation by responding to comments, complimenting them, or answering a question.”

No matter how unique and engaging your social media campaigns are, they won’t increase conversion if you target the wrong people.

Simply remember to do your research, and you will find out who your target market is in no time.

Additional articles you might be interested in:

• 22 Of The Best Brands With Stunning Instagram Feeds
• How To Create A Killer Content Marketing Strategy
• How To Engage Your Target Audience
• How To Discover and Engage Your Target Market
• How To Write An Effective E-commerce Business Plan
• How To Become A Full-Time Social Media Influencer
• How To Build Your Personal Brand
• How To Hashtag: Your Secret Weapon For Social Media
• How To Use Instagram Hashtags Correctly
• 5 Ways To Stand Out From Your Business Competitors

Claire Erickson is currently a blogging intern at LadyBossBlogger.com. Claire has just returned from studying abroad at the London College of Fashion and will finish her senior year studying retail merchandising back at her home university – University of Minnesota (Twin Cities). She is looking forward to having a future in buying, trend research, or planning.