Who are you writing for?

Why you need to know the answer to this question

Earlier this week, I was reviewing the commercial potential of research projects when it struck me that my corporate knowledge could be directly applied to my writing hobby. This idea has lived in my head for a few days now, and the more I think about it, the more I see its value. So, without further ado, allow me to share some thoughts with you!

I was thinking about the Ideal Client Profile (ICP) when I realised that this rather boring terminology was a relevant concept for anyone who aspires to grow an audience. Yes, it’s boring – so boring, in fact, that I feel uninspired to write this piece. Still, I think it’s important enough to be shared and I think that some of you may get something out of it. So, just bear with me here. 😬

In a few words, the ICP is something that all start-ups should nail down in the earliest phase of their lifespan. It is an exercise that recommends specificity over breadth, with the understanding that a well-defined ICP will help an organisation shape its product into its most effective/attractive form.

I found the below helpful graphic on Tubular which I think quite succinctly explains what your ICP is, and how you can use this information once you’re ready to start marketing. There are also other guides online on how to do R&D according to your ICP.

This approach is, of course, quite clinical. After all, most creative people prefer to produce work that is solely guided by their whims and inspirations. I get it. Shaping work according to one’s audience can feel mercenary. But, if you’re writing with the goal of being read one day, wouldn’t it help to set yourself up for success? Also, isn’t it cool to think that publishing houses may not be the only way to get your book out there?

I also think that shaping an ICP would help most people better understand their creative work. I tried this process a few days ago and found it to be immensely challenging yet illuminating. It made me think deeply about what it is what I want to offer to my audience – what I want to say, how I want to say it, and why I want to say it. What is the running theme across my work? What else do I want to say? Who do I want to read my work? (I’m pretty sure this is grammatically incorrect… sorry) And why? So many questions and not enough answers…

Suffice to say, I’m not quite done with my ICP. I hope to have it down in the next few weeks though, as I’d like it to be a part of my writing process. Once I have it, I’ll work up some courage to share it on this platform. Who knows? Maybe a few of you will have also started working on your own ICPs by then. 😎

That’s all for this week. Apologies for the dryish content – I think that it is ultimately an interesting concept and even if ICPs aren’t for you, you can’t deny that it’s good food for thought. I’d love to hear what you have to say about this topic. Do you already have an ICP? Do you plan on crafting one? Let me know! I’ll see you in the comments.

Kind regards,

Win Win