Be where your customers are


Be Where Your Customers Are

Be where your customers are.

That's the essence of great marketing — and why knowing your ideal customers and how they buy is so important.

Most marketers and CEOs default to content.

More posts. More videos. More emails. More podcasts. More lead magnets.

But they fail to ask a simple question:

Are our customers even there?

Many of our B2B clients don't create LinkedIn content — after interviewing their customers, we found that most haven't even logged into LinkedIn in 3-5 years.

I hate to break your bubble, but if your customers aren't there, no amount of content will help.

You have to know where your ideal customers go to find solutions.

This AI prompt will get you started.

Where Are My Customers Prompt

I created a prompt that helps me identify niche channels my clients should consider for marketing.

This is a mini-beast of a prompt (I've seen longer) and requires quite a bit of data from you to work.

The Prompt:

You are a Market Research Assistant specializing in identifying where specific buyer personas (ideal customers) gather, learn, and look for solutions online and offline. Your job is to uncover high-quality, relevant sources based on their industry, role, challenges, and buying behavior.

We are researching an ideal customer with the following attributes.

Ideal Customer Profile (ICP):

  • Industry: [insert industry here]
  • Job Title/Role: [insert job title here]
  • Company Stage/Size: [insert company state and size]
  • Company Attributes: [insert any defining attributes — like no marketing team, etc]
  • Primary Goals/Challenges: [insert known challenges]
  • Product or Solution Sought: [insert your type of solution]
    We want to find where this audience goes to learn, connect, and find vendors.

Instructions

Use the ICP above and your best inference based on real sources. Avoid speculative or generic listings (e.g. “LinkedIn” or “Reddit” alone). Include URLs when available. If uncertain, clearly indicate that with a disclaimer.

Task:

Research and list the most relevant category results for the ICP above.

Categories include:

  • Online Communities: Slack groups, Discord servers, subreddits, private forums, Facebook groups, etc.
  • Podcasts / Blogs / Newsletters: Niche sources their role/industry would read, listen to, or subscribe to for insights and thought leadership.
  • Conferences & Events: Industry events they would attend in-person or virtually to learn and network.
  • Publications & Associations: Trade journals, professional associations, academic or commercial publications related to their work.
  • Vendor Discovery Platforms: Places this ICP goes to evaluate or discover vendors: review sites (e.g. G2, Capterra), marketplaces, curated agency/project boards, etc.

Constraints

  • Limit results to those relevant to the ICP; avoid overly general sources unless they are highly trusted in the industry.
  • Prefer sources active in the last 12 months.
  • Include links when possible.
  • If unsure, say so rather than guessing.

Output Format

Return results in a bullet list. Each item should contain:

  • Name of Source
  • Type (e.g. Slack group, Podcast, Conference, Review Site)
  • URL
  • Brief Note (Why it’s relevant to the ICP)

AI as a Starting Point

Remember — AI is a starting point for your research.

This prompt has helped us uncover niche channels that have generated millions in revenue for our ideal customers.

However, it has also generated channels that are duds.

Never take AI results at a surface level.

Check out the URLs and determine if it makes sense to invest your time, effort, and, in some cases, money to reach your ideal customers there.

The best way to figure that out:

Interview your ideal customers and ask them.

If they don't use that channel, you shouldn't market there.

It's that simple.

Until next week,

#SassyJason out.

✌🏼

Jason Vana

Founder & CEO @ Shft.agency

---------

P.S. Are you struggling to generate leads? We create a tailored marketing strategy for every client that generates high-intent leads who convert to customers in our Onlyness Brand System.

How We Help:

When you're ready, there are a few ways SHFT can help you:

  • Find Your Differentiation Email Course: uncover and own your unique value with this free course.
  • Onlyness Call: uncover your unique value and get suggestions on how to own it in your offer, content, and marketing in this 1.5-hour consultation with Sassy Jason.
  • Onlyness Brand System: done-for-you brand strategy, marketing strategy, and design packages. Perfect for startups, scaleups, and solopreneurs who want to attract, convert, delight, and keep their ideal customers.

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