how to define your target audience

Before you jump into marketing, you need to first be clear on who you will be marketing to. You should have a concrete understanding of who your target audience is so you'll know where to find them. 

Many business owners make the mistake of trying to market to everyyyyone as opposed to marketing to a specific audience.

I created this graphic to help you define your target audience. Use the information to create a detailed customer profile for a specific customer. Refer back to the customer profile as you develop your business.
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If you are not clear on who your audience is, it makes it harder to effectively engage and attract your target audience. The more you know about your customers, the easier it will be to engage with them, interact with them, and of course, sell to them.

Your target audience should not be generic. Your target audience should be specific. 

Example: Woman aged 25-40 who want to start an online business.
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vs. 

Example: African American woman between the ages of 25-34 who already have a business started and are looking to grow it. These woman live in Atlanta, Houston, New York, Fort Lauderdale, California, Chicago, and Detroit. They are either a single parent or newly married. They enjoy reality tv and celebrity gossip. They want to create generational wealth... etc. ⠀
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Keep in mind that just because you TARGET a specific audience, this does not mean that your business is not open to serve people outside of your target audience. Targeting an audience simply helps you clarify who your business is for, who you are trying to reach, and what your business offers. You can have more than one target audience depending on your business and the products you offer.