Who is My Audience?

Audience

Understanding who you’re writing for creates a deeper connection between you and your readers, helping your work reach and affect the people it’s meant for. So, here’s how:

1. Define Your Book’s Genre and Themes

   Genre: Identify the genre (e.g., fiction, non-fiction, romance, sci-fi, self-help, etc.). Each genre has a typical readership.

   Themes: Consider your book's main themes. Are they related to aging, personal growth, relationships, or something else? These themes can attract specific groups of readers.

2. Analyze Similar Books

   Look at successful books similar to yours. Check the reviews, forums, or social media discussions around those books to see who’s engaging with them. Pay attention to the demographics and interests of the readers.

   Use Amazon’s “Customers Also Bought” section on your book's page or on similar books to understand what else your potential audience reads.

3. Create Reader Personas (I love doing this one. It’s like writing characters. Sometimes I even put pictures of random people together with their bio.) 

   Build reader personas by considering:

   Demographics: Age, gender, location, education level, etc.

   Psychographics: Interests, values, attitudes, lifestyle, and challenges.

   Reading Habits: Do they read primarily digital books (e.g. Kindle), or do they prefer print? How much time do they spend reading?

   For example, if your book is about aging, your audience might be middle-aged or older readers interested in health, wellness, and navigating life transitions.

4. Conduct Surveys or Ask for Feedback

   If you already have a mailing list or social media presence, survey your followers about their interests, reading habits, and what they look for in a book.

   If possible, send advanced copies of your book to beta readers and ask for detailed feedback on what resonated with them and why.

5. Check Social Media and Online Communities

   Platforms like Goodreads, Reddit, and Facebook groups can be great places to learn about the types of readers who might enjoy your book.

   Search for discussions around your book’s topic or genre and observe the people participating—what are their demographics, and what are they looking for in a book?

6. Review the Data

   If you’ve already published your book, check analytics from Amazon, social media, or your website to see who is engaging with your book.

   Look for patterns in customer data, such as age, gender, or location, and use this information to refine your audience understanding.

7. Consider Why You Wrote the Book

Think about your motivation for writing the book. Who were you thinking about when writing? What type of reader did you have in mind? Often, the reasons behind your book’s creation can give insight into who would appreciate it most.

By combining these methods, you'll develop a clear picture of your target audience and be able to tailor your marketing efforts directly to them.

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Work In Progress

Broke 

Liz Dubelman

Betty, armed with her list and a renewed sense of purpose, sets out to conquer the world, one quirky job at a time. With each new endeavor, she embraces the absurdity of her situation, proving that it's never too late to reinvent yourself – even if it means becoming a professional eyeglass hunter or a vintage curse word curator. As she navigates the ups and downs of her unconventional career path, Betty discovers that true fulfillment comes not from financial security, but from embracing life's unexpected twists and turns with humor, resilience, and a healthy dose of self-deprecation. And who knows, maybe she'll even find love along the way – this time, with someone who appreciates her for the delightfully eccentric woman she is.

Betty knew all along it was stupid. She was a foolish old woman. But who was she hurting except herself? She had no family. It was supposed to be just a spot of good fun. It started like this. Her heart fluttered uncontrollably as her gaze met her TA. She was a seasoned teacher, well-respected and nearing retirement, but in that moment, she felt like a reckless teenager. The electricity between them crackled with intensity, sending shivers down her spine. He was 30, handsome, and charismatic - everything Betty had once been, but now felt she wasn't anymore. She just couldn't resist a little adventure.

Their relationship was mostly sexual, with a side of companionship. She loved having him on her arm. Betty showered him with extravagant gifts, desperate to hold onto his attention and affection. Every dollar spent felt like a small price for the rush of joy and validation he brought her. 

Every once in a while she dared to check her dwindling savings account. She couldn't help but wonder if it was all worth it. The looming threat of financial ruin was suffocating, but the thought of losing the thrill was even more terrifying. Betty knew without a doubt that every moment with him was worth the risk - even if it meant sacrificing everything else in the process. It was six months and all her savings for a little morsel of bliss.

After returning from Rome, Betty was more than broke. She was in debt. All her credit cards were at their maximum limit. She knew she had to break up with Josh. She just couldn’t afford him anymore. She also knew he wasn’t going to stay if they couldn’t afford room service. She didn’t blame him. 

And that’s how she got herself into this situation. The plan now was to take every job a 60-year-old woman could do. She had to fit in 3 classes a week. The rest of the time she could…

She sat down and made a list:

Become a professional dog walker, specializing in senior dogs and providing a therapeutic service for both the dogs and their owners.

Become a professional house sitter for rich vacationers.

Become a senior YouTube sensation, doing hilarious challenges and pranks.

Sell homemade pickles at the local farmers market.

Offer walking tours of her neighborhood, with humorous commentary and anecdotes.

Open a lemonade stand with a twist - selling spiked lemonade to the neighborhood kids.

Become a fitness influencer for seniors.

Become a professional bingo caller.

Become a professional hula hoop dancer at retirement communities.

Create a YouTube channel about her adventures as a broke 60-year-old.

Become a professional cat lady and rent out her cats for events.

Start an OnlyFans.

Teach mothers how to be grandmothers.

Senior TikTok Influencer – Her dance moves may be slower but her wisdom-filled rants might go viral. Bonus points for crocheting tutorials mixed with sass.

Personal GPS Voiceover Artist – Offering snarky directions like, “You missed that turn, but it’s not like we have anywhere urgent to be at our age!”

Professional Nap Consultant – Teaching younger generations the art of the 15-minute power nap that turns into a 3-hour siesta.

Vintage Curse Word Curator – Reviving classy insults like “nincompoop” and “scallywag” for the modern world, with a subscription service to teach new generations.

Menopause Life Coach – Guiding women through hot flashes and mood swings with techniques such as “just stay in bed” and “ignore everyone.”

Personal Space Enforcer – Working at crowded events to firmly remind people of the importance of personal space, with her signature look of judgment.

Online Dating Profile Editor for Boomers – Helping fellow single seniors craft profiles that include appropriate hobbies (bird watching, complaining about the weather) and candid truths like, “Yes, I’m still alive.”

Chief “Put on a Sweater” Officer – Employed at large corporations to make sure employees are warm enough at all times, while muttering about heating bills.

Full-Time Pet Rock Curator – Reintroducing the beloved 1970s trend with deluxe pet rock care kits, complete with sweaters for your rock.

Senior Group Text Manager – Offering services to keep large family group chats in check, silencing unnecessary drama and clarifying that “LOL” still doesn’t mean “Lots of Love.”

Virtual Grandparent on Demand – Available to pop into Zoom calls to dispense wise advice, scold young people, or simply sit there knitting while nodding approvingly.

Official Hallmark Movie Critic – Watching every cheesy Christmas movie and delivering biting commentary on plot holes and excessive fake snow.

Cat Whisperer – Specializing in convincing cats to do absolutely nothing differently, but offering weekly updates on feline superiority.

Eyeglass Hunter – A detective-style service to help people find their missing glasses, using highly specialized “Where did you last have them?” techniques.

Key Hunter – See above, substitute keys for glasses.

Now to get started. Betty opened a new tab and decided to make a website for each new potential job. 

(Stay tuned to follow Betty’s adventures navigating the gig economy.)