the startups.com platform about startups.comCheck out the new Startups.com - A Comprehensive Startup University
Education
Planning
Mentors
Funding
Customers
Assistants
Clarity
Categories
Business
Sales & Marketing
Funding
Product & Design
Technology
Skills & Management
Industries
Other
Business
Career Advice
Branding
Financial Consulting
Customer Engagement
Strategy
Sectors
Getting Started
Human Resources
Business Development
Legal
Other
Sales & Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Search Engine Optimization
Public Relations
Branding
Publishing
Inbound Marketing
Email Marketing
Copywriting
Growth Strategy
Search Engine Marketing
Sales & Lead Generation
Advertising
Other
Funding
Crowdfunding
Kickstarter
Venture Capital
Finance
Bootstrapping
Nonprofit
Other
Product & Design
Identity
User Experience
Lean Startup
Product Management
Metrics & Analytics
Other
Technology
WordPress
Software Development
Mobile
Ruby
CRM
Innovation
Cloud
Other
Skills & Management
Productivity
Entrepreneurship
Public Speaking
Leadership
Coaching
Other
Industries
SaaS
E-commerce
Education
Real Estate
Restaurant & Retail
Marketplaces
Nonprofit
Other
Dashboard
Browse Search
Answers
Calls
Inbox
Sign Up Log In

Loading...

Share Answer

Menu
Market Research: What are the best ways to determine an exact target demographic (or multiple target demographics/avatars), prior to launching?
LP
LP
Leslie Pankowski, Marketing Communications Expert Problem Solver answered:

Hey there, I'm going to give you my low cost/ no cost approach. (Large firms have tools and research teams, I do not!) (1) First I'd break down - into a list - all the aspects that make up a demographic target or avatar (e.g. age, race, ethnicity, gender (e.g. male, female, non-binary, geographic location, income level (i.e. both household and individual), education level, marital & family status (i.e. does your target audience have children), occupation). (2) Second, look at the list, write down what you know, and for what you don't know go to step 3. (3) Next, it's time for more research. You may actually know the answers to all those questions, but do you, or your client, know how big that demographic target (or combination of multiple demos) is? Also, everyone in the same demo does not think, believe, or have the same purchase behaviors. So look at the psychographic aspects of your target as well (i.e. interests/ hobbies, media consumption, political beliefs, organizations affiliated with, etc.), 4) Finally, here are my go-to free data resources to calculate the size of my target audience (which is needed to calculate conversion rates and if the market is large enough to make a profit from based on your product variables. 5) Research resources: Pew Research Institute, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts (obviously I have made the assumption your targets are U.S. based): https://www.pewresearch.org/ | https://www.bls.gov/ | https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045219

Best of luck! Leslie

Talk to Leslie Upvote • Share
•••
Share Report

Answer URL

Share Question

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Google+
  • Share by email
About
  • How it Works
  • Success Stories
Experts
  • Become an Expert
  • Find an Expert
Answers
  • Ask a Question
  • Recent Answers
Support
  • Help
  • Terms of Service
Follow

the startups.com platform

Startups Education
Startup Planning
Access Mentors
Secure Funding
Reach Customers
Virtual Assistants

Copyright © 2025 Startups.com. All rights reserved.