The network marketing industry has continued to grow and evolve over the past 50 years. What started as large scale companies like Avon and Mary Kay selling products at home to their friends and neighbors, is now a multibillion dollar industry.

And, for the most part, tactics haven’t changed. You reach out to the people you know in your network and try to get them interested or involved with your products.

But, just because you sell something like health food or vitamins, doesn’t mean everyone that eats is a member of your target audience. You should promote your products specifically to the people that have a need for them.

For example, someone who works from home might not be the best customer for ready-made meals. Instead, you would want to focus your attention on attracting people who are out of the house during the day and in a hurry.

Once you have identified working people as a target market, you can narrow it down from there to people who are tired of eating out all of the time, people who have gained weight due to ordering in, etc.

Don’t use an aimless approach where you make a list, gather information on the people, and see who sticks. Instead, be efficient with your time and use technology to your advantage to direct your marketing message at a very specific audience.

Selecting a Target Market Will Help You Conserve Cash Flow

When you try to make your message resonate with everyone, you convince no one. Understanding your target market will help you promote your opportunity to the right people.

That way, you don’t dedicate your time and resources to approaching people who have no interest in your products or business. If you want to keep your money and time for yourself, you’ll need to learn how to define the characteristics that comprise a target audience.

Learn to Describe the People that Buy Your Product

There are people out there who are already actively using or consuming your products or services — whether it is through you or a colleague. Your goal is to find more people like them — people who want to buy.

To do this, you first need to look at these customers and ask yourself questions like:

• What characteristics do these people have in common?
• Are they more male or female? Or is it an even split?
• Do they fall into a certain age range?
• How tech savvy are they?
• What is their socioeconomic status?

Defining your audience is critical for both targeting and crafting the right message.

Advice for Targeting Potential Team Members

In network marketing, it’s not just customers you should be targeting, but also potential team members that can help grow your business. Your goal is to find other like-minded individuals who want to be part of your journey and be dedicated to the opportunity you are providing to them.

Look for opportunity seekers who are willing to put their money where their mouth is. Focus on people who are struggling with the same problems you had and share with them how your business can help improve their life too. Take time to listen to their goals and be ready to tell them how this opportunity can help get them there.

Communicating with Your Target Audience

Fighting through all the noise to have your voice heard is not an easy task. You need to focus on people who have something to gain from your products and services and find an effective way to engage with them.

Be creative when starting up a conversation with your audience. Consider posting a poll to get a better idea of the challenges your audience is facing.

In our ready made meals example, you can ask things like:

• How long do you spend cooking dinner each night?
• What part about cooking do you like least?
• How many nights per week do you order out?

That way, you will spark conversations about your products and open the door to make a sale in the near future.