Build a Marketing Strategy Tailored to your Industry Needs

Understanding your customers is essential for success as an entrepreneur. One effective method is creating a customer persona. This is a profile of your ideal customer based on real-time data and insights. Google Trends, a free tool, can show you which keywords are trending in your niche. By analyzing these keywords, you can start to build a profile of the people searching for them. This helps you better understand and reach your target audience.

In this guide, I show you how to use Google Trends to spot market trends in your niche. Then, using AI we’ll create a detailed customer persona. By the end, you’ll have the tools to generate marketing a marketing strategy that tailored to your audience. These ideas will set your brand up for smarter growth.

Contents

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1. Using Google Trends to Spot Market Trends

Google Trends lets you see what people are searching for right now. By exploring these trends, you can spot popular topics in your niche and adjust your business strategies to meet current customer interests.

A. Find Relevant Keywords using AI

Start by generating a list of relevant keywords. AI can generate a list of keywords you can explore further in Google Trends.

Here’s a sample prompt you can use:

Prompt example: “What are the most popular searched keywords in [insert your niche]?”

Pick a few that align with your brand’s focus and your audience’s interests to start your research.

I’m curious about “unique experiences” and “experiential gifts.” I’ll use these examples to discover what’s trending in these niches.

Using the generated keywords in Google Trends will help you find interest patterns. You will find rising topics and uncover potential new areas to explore within your niche.

B. Explore Google Trends

Go to Google Trends.

Enter your keywords to see how popular they are over time. Focus on the next areas:

• Interest Over Time: This feature shows whether people’s interest in a keyword is increasing or declining. It gives you a sense of current demand.

• Related Topics and Queries: Google Trends suggests related topics. I find that most related topics are not very helpful, so I move to look at queries. Related queries show rising searches. These are helpful in inspiring new content ideas or marketing angles. Top queries are the most common related searchers to the keyword you are looking for. When you see the term breakout it means the search frequency increase more than 5,000%.

• Spot Seasonal Trends: Lastly, look for seasonal patterns in searches to better time your product launches or campaigns. Change your interest over time graph to the last 5 years. Identify the peaks where most people buy. Plan your marketing during the lower part of the curve. For the category of gifts, the peak happens in December. November has a steady rise.

I use mainly Pinterest for my marketing. Pinterest acts like a visual search engine and can reach audiences overtime. Organic marketing content can take me anywhere from 30 days to 90 days to reach 1,000 impressions. Depending of the search of course. So, I release content with enough time in advance so its available when people search for it. Paid content speeds up that exposure process. If you plan to advertise, try at least 30 days before the searched keywords start rising.

C. Refining Your Keywords

Some of the AI generated list keywords may not have many major findings. For example, the only significant related query for travel experiences was luxury travel destinations. Outdoor experiences only significant query was outdoor dining. Use these keywords to get inspiration for some more popular searches related to your niche. For example, I can ask AI to generate another list of related keywords to outdoor experiences. I know that outdoor festivals is a popular summer search. So, I am going to check for trends to see how this keyword behaves. I will also search for indoor activities and see how the graphs compare.

• Outdoor festivals: As expected, searches peaks in summer and are lowest in winter.

• Indoor activities: Have peaks during both summer and winter. Typically, when is hot outside people look for things to do where there is air conditioning.

For the specific keyword of unique experiences:

Overall this search has been on the rise for the past five years. Peaks are around:

• February: Which is aligned with the related query “unique experiences for couples” and “unique dining experiences”.
• March and April: These months include spring break. These peaks could align with the related query of “Airbnb unique experiences.” Also, people who are planning for summer trips may be doing their searches during these months to find deals.
  

Understanding these seasonal trends lets you tailor your offerings and marketing to meet audience needs when they’re most interested.

2. Creating Your Ideal Customer Persona with AI

Consider the trends you’ve identified. For this post example, we’ll keep using the keywords “unique dinning experiences”. Relevant for restaurants, foodies, travel, or experiences bloggers.

Who are the people likely interested in “unique dining experiences”? Think about their characteristics, preferences, and motivations. Are they adventurous foodies, travelers looking for memorable meals, or locals who enjoy exclusive dining events? Reflecting on these questions helps you understand the type of audience drawn to unique dining.

A. Gather Your Data

Think about the trends you identified. Who are the type of people who are likely interested in these trends?

For example, if you’re in the experiences niche and “outdoor adventures” is trending, consider who seeks these experiences. What are their characteristics? What drives them? What are their lifestyles and goals?

B. Use AI to Describe Your Ideal Customer

Now, use AI to develop a more detailed customer persona. Try prompts like:

• “Who is my ideal customer for unique dining experiences?”
• “What are the main interests of someone seeking exclusive or one-of-a-kind dining events?”

AI can provide insights into essential characteristics, including:

• Demographics: Age, gender, location, and income level. For instance, those interested in unique dining may be young professionals or affluent couples willing to invest in memorable experiences.
• Psychographics: Interests, values, challenges, and motivations. This audience might value authenticity, exclusivity, or cultural exploration through food and may be motivated by the desire to share unique experiences with others.

With this profile, you can begin to understand the needs and motivations of your ideal customer, setting the foundation for targeted marketing and offerings that resonate with them.

C. Build Your Persona Profile

With the insights from AI, craft a detailed profile for your ideal customer. Consider including:

• A fictional name and backstory: For instance, “Foodie Fiona, a 30-year-old marketing professional who loves discovering unique dining spots and sharing her experiences online.”
• Key motivations and challenges: “Fiona seeks memorable dining experiences that offer more than just a meal. She values atmosphere, creativity, and exclusivity.”
• Buying behaviors: “She frequently books with brands known for originality and high-quality experiences, often relying on reviews and social media recommendations.”

This persona becomes a practical guide for shaping your messaging. It helps in refining your product offerings. It also assists in designing marketing strategies that appeal to your audience’s preferences and motivations.

3. Generating Marketing Ideas with AI

Now that you’ve built a customer persona, you’re ready to brainstorm targeted marketing strategies to connect with your audience.

A. Ask AI for Marketing Ideas

Leverage AI to create marketing ideas tailored to your persona’s specific interests and values. Here are some prompts to get started:

• “What are creative ways to promote unique dining experiences to adventurous foodies?”
• “How can I market exclusive dining events to professionals looking for memorable outings?”

AI can suggest a range of strategies, such as:

Social Media Campaigns

• Experience of the Month
  Feature a new, exclusive experience each month to keep your audience excited and engaged. Build anticipation by sharing sneak peeks before the full reveal. Highlight a unique venue, a one-of-a-kind dining experience, or an adventurous activity that your audience can book for the month.
  • Instagram Idea: Use carousel posts or Stories to showcase images and clips of the experience, adding personal insights or behind-the-scenes shots to spark curiosity. Hashtag Ideas: #ExperienceOfTheMonth #HiddenGems #AdventureAwaits
• Interactive Polls and Quizzes
  Boost engagement with Instagram Stories polls and quizzes, asking your followers what type of experiences they’d love to book. For example, you could ask, “Which dining experience sounds more exciting: a rooftop dinner or a cooking class with a local chef?”
  • Instagram Idea: Run a “This or That” series where followers can vote on their preferred experiences. Follow up with relevant content based on their responses.

Content Ideas

• Curated Dining Guides
  Create valuable blog posts or videos such as “An Insider’s Guide to the Best Unique Dining Experiences” to showcase your expertise. Highlight special dining setups that set your experiences apart. This content will attract food lovers and potential customers looking for unique experiences beyond the ordinary.

• Event Countdown Stories
  Build excitement and anticipation for your upcoming events with Instagram and Facebook countdowns. Share sneak peeks of the event setup, menu, or venue as the date approaches to keep your audience eagerly waiting.
  • Instagram/Facebook Idea: Post daily stories or updates, showing glimpses of exclusive behind-the-scenes preparations. Encourage your followers to mark their calendars for upcoming unique dining experiences, limited-time menus, or special pop-up events.
  • Engagement Idea: Use the countdown sticker in Instagram Stories to let followers track when the event is coming.

Promotional Tactics

• Experience Packages
  Bundle together unique dining experiences such as a wine pairing dinner, seasonal tasting menu, or a chef’s special event. Offer these packages at a discounted rate for customers who book multiple experiences upfront, providing extra value and encouraging customers to return for more.
• VIP Access Passes
  Reward your most loyal guests with VIP access to new menus or exclusive events. Offering an “insiders club” with early bookings or special invitations gives your best customers a sense of exclusivity and encourages repeat visits.

Conclusion

By combining Google Trends and AI, you can uncover valuable insights about your market and ideal audience. Start by using Google Trends to identify current keywords and trends in your niche. Then, use AI to create a well-defined customer persona and brainstorm targeted marketing strategies. This approach enables you to develop offerings and campaigns that resonate with your audience, helping you grow your brand more effectively.