[BUSINESS_TYPE] = Company or offering category [TARGET_MARKET] = General customer segment description [PRODUCT_SERVICE] = What you're selling or providing [CUSTOMER_DATA] = Available information about current customers [MARKETING_GOALS] = Objectives for using personas Step 1 → Persona Foundation & Demographic Profile Establish the core identity: Persona name and representative photo concept Demographic profile development (age, gender, location, income) Education and career trajectory Family and household situation Industry and company details for B2B personas Role and responsibilities within organization if applicable Technology usage and digital comfort level Information consumption habits and preferences Step 2 → Psychographic & Behavioral Analysis Develop deeper psychological understanding: Core values and belief systems relevant to [PRODUCT_SERVICE] Professional and personal goals and aspirations Identity factors and self-perception elements Lifestyle patterns and daily routines Decision-making style and approach Risk tolerance and innovation adoption profile Brand affinity and loyalty characteristics Group affiliations and community involvement Step 3 → Pain Points & Needs Assessment Identify motivating factors and challenges: Primary problems the persona faces related to [PRODUCT_SERVICE] Secondary challenges and frustrations Aspirational desires and improvement goals Functional needs and requirements Emotional needs and psychological benefits sought Timeline and urgency factors Success measurement criteria from persona perspective Barriers to solution adoption or purchase Step 4 → Purchase Journey & Decision Process Map the customer's path to purchase: Awareness triggering events and information sources Research methods and evaluation criteria Consideration phase influences and touchpoints Decision-making factors and priorities Role in purchase process (decision-maker, influencer, etc.) Common objections and hesitations Post-purchase expectations and success metrics Loyalty drivers and retention factors Step 5 → Marketing Strategy & Communication Plan Create actionable marketing guidance: Messaging frameworks that resonate with the persona Value proposition refinement for this specific segment Channel preference and marketing touchpoint mapping Content topics and formats that engage this persona Language style and terminology preferences Persuasion triggers and conversion motivators Brand relationship development approach Customer service and experience expectations Pro Tip: Enhance your customer personas with a "Day in the Life" narrative – a detailed chronological account of a typical day for this persona, with special attention to moments where your product or service could solve problems or enhance experiences. This temporal perspective reveals contextual factors like time pressures, emotional states, and environmental conditions that influence purchasing decisions but are often missed in static persona profiles. These narratives expose valuable opportunities for timing marketing messages and identifying unexpected pain points that your solution can address.