How to collect data for your personas

As I mentioned earlier, keep it simple. You don’t want to have to spend too long on this task. However, if you want to get analytical about it, you can.

Ways you can determine who is looking at your websites is through your website analytics. You can get gender, age groups, location etc from these.

Google Analytics have some basic demographics info.

Another technique is to do a survey… you can send out a short survey to your mail list, social pages, or a survey located on your website. But you need to keep surveys short and simple.

Generally, people couldn’t be bothered with surveys, so you need to keep it to 2 or 3 questions. Ask a few simple things like ‘why are they on your website? What are their goals?

You can even get more personal and find out their age, gender, etc if it will help your requirements. Best if you have yes or no questions or multiple choice.

Finding out when they are on your website is also a useful thing. Also if they are on a smartphone, ipad or laptop/ desktop.

It is all just data that you can use to create a profile for your personas.



Join the Discussion
Write something…
Recent messages
Magieken Premium
This is great advice. It is a simple & effectve way to personalize content for the reader. Thanks James
Reply
BillandSue Premium
Hi James,
This was helpful. Made me think (ohh no!). I am going to research with Google some more. Thanks again.
Bill
Reply
MaxDrljic Premium
Very helpful,thanks James :)
Reply
Give It A Go Premium
I like this idea James. There are many visual people out there so thinking of it from a specific demographic etc can be great, but putting a picture to the person is going one step further for the visual people. I'm still trying to get my head around the analytics but I certainly will remember what you have written here when I get on top of things there. Ange
Reply
JamesBB Premium
I added a small snapshot of google analytics demographic info on age groups. But you can also use site plugin analytics that will provide some more data.
Reply
ar20746 Premium Plus
I like your comparison with the real persons like Sarah, Ralph, Jack ... :)
Have a nice day. Joze.
Reply
Top