I’ve been dreaming about the blueberry steak from Aqua al 2 in Florence. Maybe it’s because at a recent family gathering we were swapping Florence recommendations, or maybe it’s been too long since I lived in Firenze (How has it been 20 years?!). Either way, the pull to book a flight is real.
You know this feeling, right? That restaurant or meal that stays with you because it was different. Because it spoke to something specific in you.
Here’s the thing: the restaurant I love might not be for you. And that’s exactly the point.
When You Speak to Everyone, You Connect with No One
A restaurant trying to please everyone ends up disappointing most people. Too many options, none done particularly well, and a whole lot of “meh” experiences.
Your website works the same way. Without defining your ideal client it feels generic.
When your copy tries to appeal to everyone, it falls flat. Like AI wrote it without knowing you or your clients. And right now, with AI-generated content everywhere, people are craving the personal and specific. Content that makes them think, “Wait, are they in my head?”
The fix? Get specific about who you’re talking to.
Specificity creates resonance. Resonance creates interest. Interest creates connection.
For you, that means:
- Easier content creation – you know exactly what your audience needs to hear
- Clearer positioning – you’re not trying to be everything to everyone
- Better conversions – the right people recognize themselves in your words
I’ll be honest: I’ve struggled with this. I’ve helped clients across so many industries that narrowing down felt impossible. But when I finally took the time and mapped out the characteristics of my best clients, the patterns were undeniable. They had so much in common. And using those insights to shape my content? Game changer.
Let me show you how to define your ideal client.
Defining Your Ideal Client Profile (With AI as Your Assistant)
Step 1: Start With What You Already Know
Pull up your past clients. Who were the perfect ones? Why?
Look at what they said during and after working with you. How did you make them feel? Relief? Excitement? Confidence? Have they referred others to you? Why?
Start a document and capture these data points. Everything counts.
Step 2: Use AI to Fill in the Gaps
Once you have your raw data, it’s time to get detailed. Share what you know with AI and ask it to help you explore:
- Demographics (age, gender, location, business type)
- Values, fears, and aspirations
- Pain points and frustrations
- Desired goals and outcomes
- Communication preferences
Here’s a real example from my process:
My client data:
- Male & female, typically 35-55 years old
- Small business owners, service providers, solopreneurs
- Don’t understand technology – feel frustrated
- Don’t have time – feel overwhelmed
- Want help from someone they can trust
Client quotes:
- “Their emails feel like Christmas morning”
- “They take care of everything for me without me having to worry”
- “They provided solutions I never thought of”
My prompt to AI:
“Here are some data points I’ve gathered on my current clients. I’d like to create an ideal client profile that I can use to better understand who I’m serving. Can you take these points and provide me with a detailed profile? Include their goals, buying behavior, what they value, their pain points, what they’re looking for when they hire someone to help them, communication preferences, and success indicators.”
I used both Claude.ai and ChatGPT for this. Once I got the general profile, I followed up with:
“Okay, this is great. Now let’s turn this data into a very specific person I can write to. Give her a name, a backstory, and a typical day.”
Then I took what I liked from each, combined them in a document, resent it to both to refine, took what I liked, put it in a document and tweaked it some more.
Try it yourself with your own client data and see what emerges.
Step 3: Go Beyond Demographics
Build a multi-dimensional picture:
- What’s a day in their life look like?
- What keeps them up at night?
- What would success look and feel like to them?
- How do they prefer to communicate?
- What’s their relationship with technology?
Ask AI these questions. The more vivid the picture, the more details you define about your ideal client, the easier it becomes to write directly to them.
Mining for Story Gold: Understanding Your Ideal Client’s Journey
Now you have a clear picture of your ideal client’s life. You know what frustrates them, how to communicate with them, and what they want to feel after working with you.
This is your superpower.
You can now talk about their results before you even work with them because you know exactly what results they’re after.
You know those emails that make you think, “Were they reading my mind?” That’s not magic. It’s someone who knows their ideal client inside and out—and writes directly to them.
They’ve found the intersection between your story (your desires and wants) and their story (how they solve your problems and help you achieve what you want).
The better you know your ideal client (mine is Sarah), the better you’ll get at reaching her. You’ll nail the right phrases, cover the topics that matter, and offer solutions that land.
Critical reminder: You are NOT your ideal client.
They may be like you in some ways, but they’re not you. Because what you do is solve their problem. If they were you, they’d already have solved it themselves. Don’t forget this.
Crafting Your Story Through Their Eyes
Here’s the hardest part, and I’m going to be blunt about why: empathy is in short supply right now. I don’t see enough of it in our leadership or our communities. But to be a truly successful business leader—one who connects with both believers and skeptics—you must start with empathy.
Empathy means starting with their perspective.
Show them you understand where they’re coming from. Show them you’re listening. Try different tones until it sounds like you and feels like them. Then watch what happens. Do you get comments? Replies? Conversions? That’s your signal you’re on track.
Still Stuck? Try These Story Frameworks:
- The transformation story – Show the before and after
- The shared struggle story – “I’ve been where you are”
- The “I was you” story – Build credibility through lived experience
I’ve also found writing prompts incredibly helpful. People don’t want just facts. They want personal stories, anecdotes, and understanding. Give them that.
Putting It All Together: From Defining Your Ideal Client Profile to Writing Compelling Copy
Once you’ve identified, refined, and gotten to love your ideal client, you’re ready to speak to them in all your writing:
- Website copy
- Emails
- Social media posts
- Landing pages
- Sales pages
The more you write and the more examples you give AI, the better and faster you’ll get at creating compelling content.
My Content Creation Process:
- Brain dump – I jot down notes or free-write about a topic
- Add a personal story – Something specific from my experience
- Paste into AI with past examples – I include 2-3 of my best previous blog posts
- Give clear instructions:
“Help me refine the copy I just provided so it reads in the same tone and voice as these past blogs. I want Sarah to feel like I’m talking directly to her, solving her problems, and giving her one clear action to take.”
- Edit, edit, edit – AI always makes mistakes. I reread and refine everything
- Repurpose for social – I ask AI to create platform-specific posts, suggest images, and pull compelling quotes
I try to batch this work: 1-2 days in a row where I write out a month’s worth of blogs, social posts, and emails. Sometimes I go for a whole quarter. The key is consistency. Set up a system so you don’t skip it when you “don’t feel like it.” (Trust me, I’ve been there. Don’t even look at when I last posted.)
Common Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
DO NOT just ask AI to write a blog for you.
It will be obvious to your audience. It seems easy. It seems efficient. But it doesn’t work. Your ideal client will sniff out that fakeness immediately.
They want humanity. They want your stories. They want to feel like you’re in their head, understanding their exact situation.
Use AI as your editor and brainstorming partner, not your replacement.
Track Your Results
After 6 months of consistent messaging, look at your data:
- Are people staying on your website longer?
- Are you getting more qualified leads?
- Are people engaging with your content?
If yes, keep going. If no, refine. Maybe your voice needs to be more professional or more casual. Maybe you’re solving the wrong problem (try a different one).
Make only ONE change at a time so you can track what’s working. I know it feels slow, but you’ll want to know exactly what resonates when you find it. Let the data and your gut guide you.
Your Next Step: Let’s Talk About Your Website
Defining your ideal client as clearly as possible will transform your marketing. Using AI as a tool to help you clarify and connect will help you do more—but never as a replacement for authenticity.
The world is always changing, and so is your client. When you notice shifts happening around you, revisit your ideal client profile and refine it.
Once you have your ideal client identified, we’re here to help you bring them to life in your marketing. We’ll use that profile to write your website content that speaks directly to them, and recommend the right technology to run your business efficiently and reach your audience effectively.
Book a Discovery Call today and let’s get started making your website speak directly to Sarah.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to create an ideal client profile?
The initial profile can take 2-4 hours if you already have client data. Refining it is an ongoing process—plan to revisit it every 6-12 months as your business evolves. And remember, it’s never truly done, you’ll always be tweaking it, just as the world is always changing.
Can I have more than one ideal client?
Yes, but start with one. Once you’ve mastered speaking to your primary ideal client, you can create additional profiles for other segments. Just make sure each gets dedicated content that speaks to their specific needs.
What if my ideal client profile doesn’t match my current clients?
That’s actually common! Your ideal client profile represents who you want to work with, not necessarily who you’ve been attracting. As you adjust your messaging to speak to your ideal client, you’ll naturally attract more of them.
How do I know if I’m using AI correctly for content creation?
If someone reading your content can’t tell whether AI was involved, you’re doing it right. AI should enhance your voice, not replace it. Your stories, insights, and personality should shine through every piece.
What’s the difference between an ideal client profile and a buyer persona?
They’re similar, but an ideal client profile goes deeper into psychographics (emotions, motivations, fears) while buyer personas often focus more on demographics and job functions. For service-based businesses, the deeper emotional understanding of an ideal client profile typically works better.
How often should I update my website copy once I’ve defined my ideal client?
Your core messaging can stay consistent, but plan for a refresh every 1-2 years or when you notice significant shifts in your ideal client’s needs or pain points. Smaller tweaks can happen more frequently based on what’s resonating.
Do I need different ideal client profiles for different services I offer?
Not necessarily. Often, the same ideal client needs multiple services from you at different stages. However, if you serve distinctly different audiences with different offerings, separate profiles can help you craft more targeted messaging for each.
Ready to transform your website into a client magnet? Let’s create copy that makes Sarah think, “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.” Book your discovery call now.
