Todd Sporer

Why this persona fits the audience

Independent B2B marketing consultant in Chicago working with two clients at a time. He builds target-account lists for campaigns into France and Switzerland using spreadsheets, public registries, and free enrichment tools; he has never paid for a dedicated lead database.

• Age: 42
• Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
• Occupation: B2B marketing consultant
• Income: $110k
• Education: Bachelor's degree in communications
• Company size: Self-employed (solopreneur)
• Years in role: 8

“The real value is in knowing where to look and how to connect the dots yourself; anyone can buy a list, but understanding the 'why' behind each contact is what makes it work.”

Todd Sporer, 42, has carved out a niche as an independent B2B marketing consultant in Chicago, specializing in meticulous target-account list building for international campaigns. His journey into consulting began after a few years in a corporate marketing role, where he grew frustrated with the inefficiencies and the disconnect between strategy and execution. He craved the autonomy to control his workload and client selection, leading him to establish his own consultancy eight years ago. He operates on a lean model, deliberately avoiding expensive software subscriptions, and prides himself on his resourcefulness. His current focus is on clients targeting France and Switzerland, a complex market requiring deep dives into public registries, official business databases, and extensive web scraping using free tools. He meticulously compiles data into detailed spreadsheets, a process he finds both challenging and rewarding. Todd's income of $110k reflects his specialized skills and the value he delivers, but he lives frugally, prioritizing financial stability and future independence over conspicuous consumption. He rents a comfortable but not luxurious apartment, and his savings are earmarked for a future down payment. His Bachelor's degree in Communications provided a foundational understanding of messaging and audience, which he's honed through practical experience. He recently decided against investing in a paid lead database, believing his current manual methods, while time-consuming, yield more accurate and tailored results for his specific international niche. This decision underscores his pragmatic approach and his commitment to proving the efficacy of his self-taught methods before adopting new, potentially costly, tools. He sees his ability to navigate public data sources as a core competitive advantage, allowing him to offer a level of detail that automated solutions might miss.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Todd's typical weekday starts around 7:30 AM with coffee and scanning industry news and emails. By 9:00 AM, he's deep into client work, often focusing on one client's list-building project for a few hours, cross-referencing public registries and company websites for specific contact details. Lunch is usually a quick, home-prepared meal eaten at his desk while reviewing LinkedIn updates. The afternoon might involve a client call, more list building, or researching potential new data sources. He aims to wrap up core work by 5:30 PM, often followed by an hour of personal development, like reading a marketing blog or watching a tutorial, before making dinner and relaxing.

Lifestyle

Todd lives a fairly routine-driven life in a modest one-bedroom apartment in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. His income allows for comfort but not extravagance; he prioritizes saving for future stability and occasional travel. Weekends often involve catching a Cubs game (weather permitting), working on small DIY projects around his apartment, or exploring different Chicago neighborhoods. He's health-conscious, opting for home-cooked meals and regular walks over gym memberships. Social life is a mix of occasional happy hours with former colleagues and catching up with a small circle of close friends, usually centered around shared interests like sports or local events.

Work life

As a solopreneur, Todd's work life is entirely self-directed, which he values immensely. He juggles two clients at a time, focusing on meticulous B2B target account list building for international campaigns, primarily into France and Switzerland. His days are spent deep-diving into public registries, LinkedIn, company websites, and various free data enrichment tools, meticulously compiling information into spreadsheets. The pressure comes from managing client expectations, delivering accurate lists on tight deadlines, and the constant need to find new clients. He thrives on the problem-solving aspect of uncovering hard-to-find data points, but the manual nature of the work can be time-consuming.

Relationships

Todd maintains a professional network primarily through LinkedIn and occasional industry meetups. His closest relationships are with a few college friends he's known for over two decades, with whom he discusses life, career, and sports. He has a good rapport with his current clients, built on trust and consistent delivery, but interactions are strictly professional. His parents, who live in Indiana, are a source of occasional advice, though he largely navigates his career decisions independently.

How they decide

Todd is a cautious and research-driven decision-maker. He meticulously gathers information, weighs pros and cons, and often seeks out multiple data points before committing to a course of action, whether it's a personal purchase or a professional strategy. He values practicality and evidence over trends or aggressive sales pitches, preferring to understand the underlying mechanics of any solution.

How they sound

Todd speaks with a clear, measured cadence, avoiding jargon unless it's industry-standard and necessary. He's articulate and precise, often pausing to ensure he's conveying information accurately. He tends to be direct but polite, and he's not one for excessive small talk or overly casual slang. He avoids hyperbole and focuses on factual descriptions, often prefacing statements with 'Based on what I've seen...' or 'My understanding is...'.