Ideal Client Worksheet: A Systematic Approach

Find your ideal client in record time using our worksheet

Apr 5, 2025
Finding your ideal client profile in record time with our worksheet
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Find your ideal client in record time using our worksheet
 
This is part 3.2 in the series below.
 

 
View our related series on Positioning and Messaging (Toggle For More)

Messaging & Positioning Template

• Intro: (i) The Positioning Pyramid; (ii) 5 Expert Tips
• Needs: (i) Customer Unmet Needs; (ii) Persona Worksheet; (iii) Discover Needs
• Niche: (i) Ideal Client & (ii) Ideal Client Worksheet
• Differentiator: (i) Differentiators & (ii) Value Proposition Worksheet
• Category: Market Category

Overcoming Objections
• Proof
• Workflow Redesign
• Offers

Strategic Learning
•
Clarify: Copy Testing
• Discover: Discover Needs; Use channel partners
• Validate: Customer Validation;
• Questions: 4 key questions (quick start)
• Scale: Smart Feedback

 

Worksheet: Ideal Client Profile

Last time, we discussed the risks of targeting generic or diverse markets for positioning and how to address them. Now, it's your turn to apply the steps we identified to your customer list.
(For further explanation of any of the steps below, see the related article on finding your ideal client profile)
 

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Step 1: Copy the worksheet

Fill this out. Provide comments on the linked article on finding your ideal client
Request access. I give access to those who fill the form out above.
 

Step 2: Identify your top criteria

These are the criteria that you’ll use to to score and compare segments against in Step 3
Go to the tab “Criteria”:
Add your top criteria
Add your top filters
Ideal Client Profile: These are the criteria that you’ll use to to score and compare segments against in Step 3
Sample criteria and criteria filters to score and compare your segments against in Step 3.
 

Step 3: Brainstorm Segments

Brainstorm the top sub-segments or niches where you can gain a competitive advantage.
Document. Fill out the tab “Win/Loss.” (For more specific guidance on this tab, see Messaging & Positioning Template: Learning from Data)
 
Fill out the “Win/Loss” tab with organizations, outcomes, and predictors for analysis in your ideal client worksheet
Fill out the “Win/Loss” tab with organizations, outcomes, and predictors for analysis in your ideal client worksheet
 
Analyze. Identify attributes of your top bright spots in the “Win/Loss” (Analysis) Tab.
 
Ideal Client Profile: This displays outcomes (win/loss or stage) and predictors of those outcomes.
This displays outcomes (win/loss or stage) and predictors of those outcomes.
 
Add Segments. Draw from your analyses of win/loss or selected criteria.
 
Add new segments in your ideal client worksheet
Add new segments in your ideal client worksheet
 
Score Segments from 1-4 (high). Note: if desired, you can use more precise numbers, but I suggest a scale for simplicity.
 
Score the segments you’ve identified in your ideal client worksheet
Score the segments you’ve identified in your ideal client worksheet
 
Add to the reasoning column. This helps others understand the “why” behind your scoring.
 

Step 4: Choose the Focus for Your Positioning Messages

In the “Segments” tab:
5 minute “gut check.” See if the top-scoring result “feels” right. If not, make appropriate changes.
Optionally - fill out the “Concerns/Challenges” column. Identify your concerns around your top rated picks. We can brainstorm solutions to them.
Select your top items. Note: The more specific you can get the better. You will have opportunities to refine your thinking around the critical unmet need in future sections.
Organization category or sector
Buyer role
Critical unmet need
 
Ideal Client Worksheet: Select the top roles, needs, and category/sectors in your sheet that will form the basis of your positioning message
Ideal Client Worksheet: Select the top roles, needs, and category/sectors in your sheet that will form the basis of your positioning message
 

Step 5: Send Your Completed Worksheet

Check off completion of every key step in tab “Checklist”
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Share this sheet with me providing “edit” access
 

Next: Core Unmet Needs

Go to the Core Unmet Needs post now that you’ve better prioritized some promising ideal client segments.
This dives deeper into clarifying what problem you’re solving and how. This then generates a critical artifact for discovery and testing with this segment.
 


See the next article in the series below
 

 
View our related series on Positioning and Messaging (Toggle For More)

Messaging & Positioning Template

• Intro: (i) The Positioning Pyramid; (ii) 5 Expert Tips
• Needs: (i) Customer Unmet Needs; (ii) Persona Worksheet; (iii) Discover Needs
• Niche: (i) Ideal Client & (ii) Ideal Client Worksheet
• Differentiator: (i) Differentiators & (ii) Value Proposition Worksheet
• Category: Market Category

Overcoming Objections
• Proof
• Workflow Redesign
• Offers

Strategic Learning
•
Clarify: Copy Testing
• Discover: Discover Needs; Use channel partners
• Validate: Customer Validation;
• Questions: 4 key questions (quick start)
• Scale: Smart Feedback

 

 

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