The Power of Customer Research in Web Design: Understanding Your Target Audience

Before you start to build your brand online, it’s a good idea to do your homework. 

The number one item on your checklist should be getting to know your audience.  In other words, get to know those who will be visiting your website.

How do you do this? Through customer research.

Your research should include identifying customers who will most likely buy from you. 

How old are they?  Where do they live?  What are their interests? What do you think will get them to click on the “buy now” button?

Knowing who your crowd is will help you better understand what they like and what they would purchase.  This knowledge will help you plan out your website and accentuate some of these items on your page such as colors, placement of call-to-action (CTA’s) buttons, images and more. 

If you already have a website, it’s a good idea to evaluate who your current audience is.  Look at who buys your product or service.  What items did they buy?  Did they come back for more?   Knowing these key points will help focus your marketing efforts and dollars on generating more business leads from those active customers, as well as gaining prospective customers, in an efficient way.

Aside from research, another great way to learn about your audience is through social media and customer surveys. 

Getting a social media account up and running will allow you to start engaging with your customers.

Customer surveys are a fun and easy way to learn about someone’s spending habits, what they’re looking for and what they’re interested in. 

Not only will you be able to read the room, you’ll also be able to capture their information for future marketing efforts.

However, once you think you’ve learned who your audience is, experts say think again.  Don’t wait too long to revisit and study your audience. 

Through time, target markets can change, customer behaviors and preferences shift, and a new generation of consumers may come into the market. 

It’s important to regularly reassess your audience to make sure you’re marketing and reaching crowds that are worth your while.