The creator's guide to attracting your ideal audience (3 steps that actually work)

Yes, we can learn from successful creators - but simply copying them doesn't work. Learn how to find your perfect audience using real data and build trust that lasts. I'll share the simple 3-step process I used to build multiple successful businesses by truly understanding who I serve and what makes the Nicheology approach unique.

"I could do that too!"

I said these words in 2019, watching other brands succeed with productivity tools. So I jumped in... and failed completely (at first).

Why? Because I missed something big: these brands hadn't just found a good niche – they'd spent years building trust with their customers.

Does this sound familiar?

• You see someone doing well in their niche
• You think "I could do that too!"
• You create similar content
• No one responds
• You wonder what went wrong

Here's the truth: it's smart to learn from successful creators. Their strategies can teach us a lot.

But most people miss one key thing:

You can't copy trust.

It's like seeing a busy restaurant and thinking you should open one just like it. Sure, you can copy their menu and aesthetic, but their success comes from years of knowing their customers and building real connections.

After starting 10+ businesses (some failed, some made millions), I've learned two main things:

1. You need to truly know WHO you're helping
2. You need to show WHY they should trust you

Here's the story that changed everything for me...

Before launching my productivity planner business, I spent weeks studying data and talking to people I wanted to help. While other companies pushed paper planners, the data showed people wanted digital tools.

But knowing the data wasn't enough. My co-founders and I had to show that our brand really got what modern professionals needed. So we built a digital planner that worked the way they did.

By understanding our market and positioning our brand clearly, we built a six-figure business in under two years.

Here's my simple 3-step process to find and connect with your perfect audience:

1. Start with data

a) Check Google Trends to spot what's growing

Look at what people are searching for over time. We found searches for "digital productivity tools" went up 47% while others still focused on paper products.

b) Read Reddit and Quora posts

People share their real problems on these sites without holding back. We found tons of comments from people saying their paper planners just sat on their desks unused.

c) Read Amazon reviews, especially the 3-star ones

These middle reviews often give the most honest feedback about what's missing. We kept seeing "great system, but I wish it was digital."

2. Listen to how they talk & build trust

a) Join groups they're in

Don't just watch - join the conversation and note how they describe their problems. We learned people didn't just want to get organized, they wanted "flexibility without mess."

b) Read comments on other people's content

Look for questions and complaints about current solutions. When people kept asking "how does this work with my team?" we knew we'd found a gap to fill.

c) Save the exact words they use

Keep a list of how they describe their problems. When they said "I need this to work on all my devices," we made sure to use those exact words in our marketing.

d) Share how you understand their struggles

Show how your solution fixes real problems they've talked about. We told stories about how our own team's remote work challenges led to specific features.

3. Test and stand out

a) Try small tests first

Test different messages before going all-in. We tried 5 different ways of describing our product to see what people liked best.

b) Watch what gets attention

Notice which topics get people talking. Posts about using our planner across different devices got three times more comments than general tips.

c) Show what makes you different

Don't just list features - show how you solve problems in a unique way. We focused on how our system worked anywhere, unlike others that only worked on computers.

(Quick note: This was 2019, and things have changed a lot since then! Notion and many other tools have come out. Here's a lesson we learned: we got excited and built seven different brands instead of focusing on making one or two really great ones. Just look at reMarkable - they started in 2016 and stayed focused!)

What's next

I use this same 3-step process with Nicheology.

When starting Nicheology, I noticed something interesting. While other business educators talk about "finding your passion," creators used very different words:

• "I feel all over the place..."
• "What if I make the wrong choice?"
• "I'm scared to commit to one thing..."

Instead of copying other business education brands, I share my real stories of building different businesses. Being honest about both wins and failures builds more trust than just giving advice.

This is only the start of finding your perfect audience and creating your own unique space.

Next week, in part 3 of our 4-part series, I'll show you how to find gaps in the market – and how to figure out if your niche has real potential.

Want to learn more? Nicheology Academy is coming soon. You'll get to learn all these methods (and many more) in detail. Stay tuned for early access.

Got questions about today's newsletter? Want to share your thoughts about finding your audience? I read and answer every reply – just hit that reply button and tell me what you think!

Here's to finding your perfect audience.

- Cait