10 WAYS TO IDENTIFY YOUR AUDIENCE'S PAIN POINTS

Radical listening means truly tuning in to what your audience is experiencing.

It’s a level of listening that’s radical because it’s rare. And it takes continual practice.

It's critical to listen to what your audience has to say in order to make a connection with them. Listening to their problems will help you tell better stories about how you can solve their pain points...and ultimately make a deeper brand connection.

Not sure how to start?  Let me help. 

10 Ways to Identify Your Audience's Pain Points:

1. Be an armchair therapist.

   Notice lots of frowning on a video call or webinar? Lean into it. Say, “Let’s unpack this. Tell me more…”
   
   

2. Be a journalist.
   Take furious notes. Always ask “why.” Record a video call if you can for reference. 
   
   

3. Be an empath.
   Repeat back what people are saying to you, to show you understand. This doesn’t have to be literal - outline your own interpretation to gauge if you’re on the right path.
   
   

4. Diagnose the level of pain and treat accordingly.
   If one person on Facebook complains about an issue, address it right away then keep on chugging. If 100 people on Facebook complain about an issue, create a solution for them. Maybe even change your offer. 
   
   

5. Reach out to your network informally.
   Jumping on a video call is easier than ever these days. Or send a personal email asking for feedback… “I had a hunch about x issue, are you feeling that these days too? What could I do to make it better?” People will appreciate your transparency. 
   
   

6. Observe.
   Hang out in the IRL or online environment that your audience is hanging out in. Notice the stickiest conversations… which have the most comments? Which have the most divisiveness? If there’s something that’s polarizing people, that’s where you dig deeper. 
   
   

7. Survey.
   Define what you’re really wanting to know, then be specific. Make it short. Make it easy. There’s nothing worse than a super long survey that provides muddy results.
   
   

8. Be quiet...
   longer than you have to. In person or on a video call, this might make people uncomfortable, but sometimes it can force people to fill the silence by telling you what you really want to know. 
   
   

9. Draw what people are saying.
   This one sounds a little wild, but it forces you to use a side of your brain you don’t normally use. It might just kick up your creativity a bit, which always helps with problem-solving. 
   
   

10. Be still with yourself.
    Listen to your intuition. Really just sit for 5 minutes. It will feel like a long time since we’re used to the cult of doing. Be quiet and listen to your own interpretation. 

Working to be totally focused on you.