So, following my previous post on researching competitors, Rohan suggested that checking forums such as Reddit can reveal what your intended audience is really thinking about. Great idea, so let's look at this in more depth. 

https://digitalmatrixcafe.com/community/all-other-business-and-marketing/research-competitor-blogs-to-identify-gaps-and-positioning-with-chatgpt-prompts/

If competitor research shows you the big picture of who’s leading in your space, audience research pulls you closer to the ground. It’s where you stop studying polished blogs and start listening to the raw voices of the people you hope to reach. 

Too many beginners skip this step. They think they know their readers’ struggles because they’ve seen a few blog posts or followed industry chatter. But real clarity only comes from going directly to the source—forums, groups, and surveys where people are speaking freely. 

The reason these spaces are so valuable is that they strip away polish. A blog post written by a competitor has already gone through editing, formatting, and marketing spin. 

By the time it reaches the public, it’s been shaped into something meant to sell, persuade, or impress. In contrast, a frustrated post in a forum or a question in a Facebook group comes from a different place. It’s unfiltered frustration, curiosity, or confusion. That rawness gives you insights that no polished blog ever will. 

Start with forums. Reddit is one of the richest sources because almost every niche has a community there. Search for subreddits that align with your topic and read through the threads. 

Pay attention to the types of questions that get repeated. When people ask the same thing over and over, it signals a common pain point. Also look at the posts that get the most comments. Engagement shows urgency—people respond in droves when a question strikes a nerve. Those are the problems that matter most. 

Groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Discord work in a similar way. People gather in these spaces to learn, vent, and trade advice. The key is not to rush in with promotion but to watch, listen, and take notes.

Look for patterns in the language members use. Do they say “I’m overwhelmed,” “I’m stuck,” or “I don’t know where to start”? The words themselves reveal more than the topic alone. 

They show the emotions attached to the struggle. Understanding those emotions helps you position yourself later as someone who not only knows the answers but also gets how it feels to be stuck.

By the end of this step, you’ll have a notebook or file full of frustrations, questions, and desires. That raw material is the seed of every decision you’ll make next. Competitor research shows you who’s winning, but audience research shows you why people are still searching for help. And if you can meet them at that intersection, you’ll never wonder whether your niche has staying power—you’ll know it does, because the people themselves told you.

Here's a checklist and prompt to help you further:

• [ ] Find relevant subreddits for your niche
• [ ] Join 3-5 Facebook groups where your audience gathers
• [ ] Identify LinkedIn or Discord communities in your space
• [ ] Read through forum threads and note repeated questions
• [ ] Track posts with highest engagement levels
• [ ] Document specific language and phrases people use to describe problems
• [ ] Note emotional words that reveal frustration levels (overwhelmed, stuck, confused)

Forum and Community Research Strategy I want to deeply understand my potential audience in [niche] by researching their conversations in forums, groups, and online communities. Help me create a systematic approach for finding the right communities, what to look for in discussions, how to identify recurring pain points, and how to document the language and emotions people use when describing their struggles. Include guidance on spotting the difference between urgent problems versus mild curiosities.