As a founder, you may not have all the data you need when starting out. Building Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) can begin with your own story. Why did you create your product? Often, it starts with solving a problem you faced or filling a gap you noticed in the market. Use this as your first step to outline who your customer might be.
Are you looking for ways to create strong, actionable customer profiles for your product? Schedule a Discovery Call today.
Start with What You Know
Begin by mapping out what you think you know about your potential customers. If your product stems from a problem you faced, others likely have the same issue. Use that understanding to outline your ICP’s key characteristics:
- Challenges: What problems do they face?
- Goals: What are they looking to achieve?
- Preferences: What type of content or solutions resonate with them?
Your ICP doesn’t have to be perfect from the start. Think of it as a rough sketch that you can refine over time.
Building and Testing: Minimum Viable Product Strategies
After defining your ICP, the next step is to create a minimum viable product. Your MVP doesn’t need to be complex. It could be:
- A Visual Presentation: A slide deck that explains your product.
- An eBook: A downloadable resource outlining your value proposition.
- Basic Content: Articles or posts that describe your solution and the problem it solves.
The goal of your minimum viable product strategies is to put something into the world that shows what your product is and why it matters. This initial content should clearly communicate your value proposition.
Read More: Mastering Sales Systems and Playbooks to Scale Portfolio Companies
Gather and Use Feedback
Once your MVP or content is live, pay attention to the feedback. Engagement metrics, comments, and direct replies can provide valuable insights. Here’s what to look for:
- Reactions: Are people liking or sharing your content?
- Downloads: If you offer an eBook or guide, how many download it?
- Comments: Are users asking questions or leaving feedback?
This feedback helps you understand what’s working and what isn’t. Use it to make quick adjustments and improvements. Test your MVP to get closer to a stronger, more refined version.
Rapid Iteration is Key
As you collect feedback, keep iterating. Rapidly making changes based on real responses helps with defining your ICP and your product. This process is vital for learning what resonates with your audience and building a product that truly meets their needs.
Start with what you know and test your MVP to understand your market faster. Use the feedback you gather to improve your product and continue building ideal customer profile. This approach sets the stage for a solution that engages and converts.
Additional Resources
→ My Lead Generation Reading List
$100M Offers by Alex Hormozi
$100M Leads by Alex Hormozi
Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson
The Art and Business of Writing by Nicolas Cole
Founder Brand by Dave Gerhardt
Predictable Revenue by Aaron Ross & Marylou Tyler
The Challenger Sale by Matthew Dixon & Brent Adamson
→ My Sales & Marketing Stack
