Identify your perfect client with these 9 questions

Jon Richardson • October 19, 2025

Share this article

Who is your perfect customer?

Identify Your Ideal Client with these 9 Questions


Attracting customers who genuinely value what you do (and are happy to pay for it) is key to growing your business and reducing stress.


Knowing exactly who your ideal client is can transform your marketing. It will help your business immensely. As well as enabling you to get your marketing on point, it will also enable you to avoid the customers you don't want.

Whether you're just starting out or fine-tuning your strategy, these 10 questions will help you define your ideal customer clearly and confidently.


1. Who gets the most value from what you do?


Think about the people who benefit the most from your product or service. Who do you get the best results for, and who's happiest afterwards?


If you are a builder who wants to get more jobs extending customers' homes, then say that in your marketing, but you can even be more specific here, maybe it is kitchen extensions, or double-story extensions.  The key here is to be specific.


2. What problem are your customers trying to solve?


Identify their biggest pain point. What's frustrating them right now that your service can fix quickly or easily?

Extending a house is the solution. The question here is what's the problem? Why does the customer need a bigger kitchen, or study or an additional bedroom? Understanding that means you can laser focus your marketing messaging and sales pitch.


3. What's their budget, and what do they value?


It's not just about price. Some people want cheap and fast; others want quality and reliability. Decide which group aligns with your business.


Are your customers on a tight budget, or is money no object? Do they want an additional space that they will finish off, or do they want a luxury finish? Knowing this will mean you can qualify the opportunity at the start, saving you time visiting the customer and quoting when they won't be able to afford your service, or are they looking for more than you can deliver


4. What do they read, watch, or listen to?


Knowing which platforms they use (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.) helps you focus your marketing where they'll actually see it.


It sounds obvious, but there's no point spending time and money on a TikTok campaign if your customers are retired and don't even have any social media accounts. For certain demographics, such as pensioners, advertising in community or parish magazines can give you a much better return on your marketing spend.


6. What objections or concerns do they have?


Do they think it's too expensive, too complicated, or not relevant? If you can answer their doubts before they ask, you'll win more business.


Many companies don't like to appear negative in their messaging, but tackling the concerns head-on not only makes the customer less anxious about going ahead with the service you provide, but it also builds credibility for you. This makes it more likely they will contact you.


7. Who or what influences their buying decisions?


Sometimes, your ideal client isn't the final decision-maker. Identify who else they listen to (a business partner, spouse, or colleague).


Often, with big decisions on upgrades to someone's home, it may be the husband who contacts you and eventually instructs you to move forward with the work, but it may well be the wife who has made the decision to have the work done in the first place.


8. What do your best current clients have in common?


The easiest way to identify your best clients is to take a look over jobs that have gone well previously. What jobs were the easiest to deliver and made you the most money? 


Look at your happiest, most loyal customers. What do they share in terms of industry, personality, budget, location and values?


9. Who do you not want as a customer?


Equally important: who drains your time, haggles on price, or doesn't appreciate your service? Defining this saves time and protects your sanity.


Avoiding nightmare customers and bad payers is as important, if not more so, than identifying your ideal customers.


Ready to Take It Further?


Once you've answered these questions, you'll have a clear picture of who you should be targeting and who you shouldn't.


If you'd like a done-for-you Ideal Client Avatar Worksheet or help refining your marketing message around your audience, request a free 61-point website audit to see how well your site speaks to your ideal customer.


Request your website audit

Recent Posts

Laptop displaying a construction company website on a desk in a bright office
By Jon Richardson • October 14, 2026
Website Essentials for Property and Construction Firms; What Your Site Needs Before Winter Hits.
Construction worker in orange vest and hard hat using a laptop at a building site
By Jon Richardson • September 4, 2026
Is your website winning you work or losing you leads? Discover the website essentials every UK trades and construction firm needs this autumn.
Technician in blue coveralls using a smartphone inside a service van with tools and equipment.
By Jon Richardson • August 19, 2026
August and early September quiet? Learn how UK trades and construction businesses can keep leads coming in during the summer holiday slowdown.
Two people talking outside a house, one holding a clipboard in a front garden.
By Jon Richardson • July 16, 2026
Discover how local SEO can help your UK trades or construction business attract more nearby customers and win more work this summer. Expert tips inside.
Man using a laptop at a picnic table outdoors in a sunny garden.
By Jon Richardson • July 11, 2026
Discover how UK trades and construction companies can use local Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to win more work in their area this summer. Practical tips from trades marketing experts.
By Jon Richardson • October 26, 2025
The 3 Most Important Marketing Priorities for Your Trade Business – 3 Minute Read Running a trade business is hard work. You’re quoting jobs, juggling calls, and trying to keep everything on schedule — so marketing often takes a back seat. But if you want a steady flow of new enquiries without relying on sites like Checkatrade or MyBuilder, you don’t need to do everything. You just need to focus on what actually works. Here are the three most important marketing priorities that will help you win more local work and keep your phone ringing. 1. Get Found on Google When someone searches for “electrician near me” or “builder in Bournemouth,” the first thing they’ll see is Google’s Map Pack — that box with three local businesses listed under the map. That’s where most of the clicks go. If your business isn’t showing up there, you’re missing out on the easiest leads you’ll ever get. Start by setting up and optimising your Google Business Profile (GBP) : Make sure your phone number, address, and opening hours are correct. Add photos of your work and your team regularly — Google loves fresh updates. Use the posts section to share jobs, offers, or news once or twice a month. These small actions help Google trust your profile more — and push you higher up in local searches. 2. Be Trusted – Get More 5★ Google Reviews Most people won’t call a tradesperson without checking their reviews first. It’s simple: the more good reviews you have, the more enquiries you’ll get. After every job, send your customer a direct link to your Google review page — don’t leave it to chance. And always reply to every review , even the short ones. It shows you take pride in your work and value feedback. Aim for five new reviews each month . Over time, this builds a solid reputation that helps you stand out in your area — and boosts your ranking on Google too. 3. Get Contacted – Make It Easy for Customers to Reach You Once someone finds you online, the next step is simple — they need to get in touch fast . The easier you make that, the more leads you’ll win. Start by making sure your Google Business Profile has every possible way for customers to reach you: Enable the “Call” button so they can phone you directly. Add a “Message” option — perfect for quick questions or out-of-hours enquiries. Include links to your website , WhatsApp , or quote request form . Keep your email address and opening hours accurate and up to date. Many people search from their phones when something breaks — they’ll call whoever they can reach first. So if your details are missing, you’re giving those leads to someone else. In a Nutshell You don’t need complicated marketing funnels or expensive ads. Just focus on three things: Get found on Google. Be trusted with reviews. Get contacted quickly and easily. Do that consistently, and you’ll never have to worry about where your next lead is coming from. Want to know how your business performs online? Get your free 61-point website audit from Trades Marketing UK and find out what’s helping — and what’s holding you back. 👉 Request Your Free Audit
By Jon Richardson • October 3, 2025
Our 7-Step Process to Get More Google Reviews
By Jon Richardson • October 3, 2025
Google Business Profile Setup Checklist Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most powerful free tools available to any trade business. It’s the listing that appears when customers search for your services on Google Maps and in the Local Pack (the map section at the top of search results). A properly set up and optimised GBP helps you: Get found by local customers at the exact moment they’re searching for your trade. Build trust with reviews, photos, and a professional business presence. Generate more enquiries without spending a penny on ads. If you’re a tradesperson, your GBP is often the very first impression a potential customer will see – so it’s vital to set it up correctly. Follow this simple, step-by-step checklist to ensure your business stands out. Main Setup Steps Go to google.com/business and sign in with your Google account. Click “Add your business to Google” and enter your business name exactly as it should appear. Choose the most accurate primary business category (this is a big ranking factor). Add your business location if customers visit you, or set your service area if you travel to them. Enter your contact details – phone number and website URL. Verify your business using the method Google provides (postcard, phone, email, or video). Once Verified, Complete Your Profile Add your business hours (including holiday hours). Upload photos and your logo – include team photos, vans, past projects, and before/after shots. Write a strong business description (include what you do, where you do it, and what makes you different). List your services and products so customers know exactly what you offer. Final Steps Add relevant attributes such as “wheelchair accessible” or “women-owned” if they apply. Turn on messaging if you’d like customers to contact you directly through GBP. Actively encourage reviews and reply to them promptly. Post regular updates, offers, or events to keep your profile fresh and engaging. Check Insights monthly to see how customers are finding and interacting with your profile. Setting up your Google Business Profile properly is the foundation of your local online presence. Get this right, and you’ll be in the best position to win more work from Google search. >>>Download this Checklist<<< Need help? Then get in touch using the form below and a member of the team will be get back to you as soon as possible:
By Jon Richardson • October 3, 2025
Free 61-Point Website Audit: Find Out What’s Holding Your Website Back When was the last time you gave your website a proper health check? Most business owners never do — they set it up, add a few updates, and hope it just works forever. The truth is, your website could be quietly losing you leads every single day without you even realising. That’s where our 61-point website audit comes in. We use a clever tool called Insites.com that digs deep into your site and shows you exactly where things could be better. Don’t panic, it’s not technical, and you don’t need to be a web geek to understand it. 
By Jon Richardson • October 3, 2025
See Exactly Where You Rank Locally with Our Local SEO Report