This past weekend, my wife and I packed up the kids in our car and drove to the grocery store for our weekly grocery run.
What I soon realized was how the store was designed and how this same thing can be applied to a home business.
If you have ever been to a grocery store before, then you know the perimeter of the store contains certain things while the inside aisles carries another set of complimentary food items.
I soon realized how brilliant this was. And rather than look at it as an inconvenience, I saw it as an eye-opening experience.
My mind began to wonder, right about when I heard my wife ask if I was listening to her. LOL (Of course I told her I was listening! j/k)
But as my mind wondered, I thought about home business owners and how they have very similar situations as this grocery store did, but they most likely were not capitalizing on it.
This is what I thought and how it can be applied to a home business…
The perimeter of the store sold deli and produce, while the inside aisles contained complimentary items, like processed food, canned goods, chips, pasta, etc. Each of the areas were designed for specific people or what we like to refer to is “our target market”.
The produce section was speaking to health conscious people and the inside isles spoke to wide range of people.
Suddenly the epiphany came to me when I began asking myself, “Why aren’t home business owners still identifying who their target market is?”
We talked about this a lot here and some other blogs I frequent, but what we all didn’t realize was, people didn’t understand how to figure out who their target market is.
Sure, we said if you’re selling nutritional supplements, your market is health conscious people. But, that isn’t enough.
Having a target market is much more specific than that.
I’ll give an example what it is for the company I’m with…My target market is someone who cares about their health, enjoys working out, and has little to no energy to do it all.
You don’t get any more targeted than that.
Instead we hear home businesses say their target market is someone looking for a home business.
EHHHHHH!!! Wrong answer!
More targeted than that!!!
Instead it could be, “someone who is severely in debt, tired of their job, wants more freedom, and is interested in becoming an entrepreneur.”
Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding…Now we’re on to something. That is SUPER specific.
So, how do you determine who your laser targeted market is?
Simple…You come out and say who it is, and find those kind of people by marketing to them.
That’s all you have to do. And as long as you don’t deviate from that, you eventually will find someone that falls into this category.
Oh yeah, one last thing, before I forget. Please make sure that it is congruent with what you do.
Example, for our home business, we wouldn’t have as our target market someone who weaves baskets, enjoys games, and…you get the point.
Just make sure it’s relevant.
Isn’t it amazing how just going to the grocery store can really get your mind wondering. Well, it did for me at least…and I’m glad I was able to take you on this journey.
How were you able to identify who your targeted market is?
Looking forward to learning from you.
P.S. If there is one thing I want you get out of these five signs your home business is failing, it’s this…It’s a normal part of the business. Just don’t get stuck there.
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Hey Jerome, I love the grocery store analogy, which of course got me thinking
We too can have multiple target markets, we just need to arrange our store (merketing) appropriately
Peter Fuller MBA´s last [type] ..Brand yourself online with your own “Nerve” Center
Hey Peter,
Great minds think alike.
Have a great day,
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
A keen analogy here, thanks for sharing.
You can hit your laser target market by consistently hitting on the “Why” aspect of your product or service. The “Why” is the emotions which draw people to products. Make this as specific as possible to create a super targeted niche.
Ryan
Ryan´s last [type] ..My Review Of The Wealth Beyond Reason Personal Development Program
And that’s exactly what to do when identified who these people specifically are.
Chat with you later Ryan,
Jerome Ratliff
You the man Jerome, You know someone is focused when they can go to the store and still be thinking marketing, Lol. Target Your market.
Enough said.
Well done J,
Jonathan
Jonathan Sweeting´s last [type] ..Sky Rocket Your Squeeze page Conversion rates Over Night
Thanks Jonathan.
I know it’s crazy. I guess that’s what happens when you are so engulfed in it, that you start think differently.
That’s a good thing…no doubt.
Have a good one,
Jerome Ratliff
When I go to the grocery store I just pray I get out quickly as possible!
Awesome analogy you used. It makes total sense.
You just have to find which target market works for you since as you stated, it can be more that one. Just make sure it’s relevant,
Have an awesome day!
Twila
Twila Jacobs´s last [type] ..Does Recruiting For Your Network Marketing Business Require Management Skills
Hi Twila,
That’s for sure, there can be. And as long as you stay super focused on that, they will appear.
You have an awesome day too,
Jerome Ratliff
Great analogy Jerome and as looked at the article, thank you for reminding me of a few key things I let fall by the wayside on my blog!
Stuart´s last [type] ..Bonamour International
Thanks Stuart.
I’m glad I was able to help.
Jerome Ratliff
Jerome,
Wow sometimes epiphanies can come in the strangest places or maybe not. Lot’s of money and research go into how to lay out and plan a stores look. It’s practically a science. Maybe if more home business owners put more time and research into what their target audience wants and needs their “stores” would succeed to.
Steve Shoemaker
Steve Shoemaker´s last [type] ..Socially Optimize Your Internet MLM Business
They sure do…I get these kind of things all the time.
It’s like I was saying to Jonathan, it becomes a very natural process, Steve.
Have a good one,
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
I was running low on fresh fruit this morning so I made a quick trip to get some more.
Somehow I ended up with some chicken, coffee filters, and an asortment of other goods in my basket.
Reading your post here got me thinking how each aisle is actually a mini marketing funnel, drawing you in, leading you to make even more purchases.
Fantastic Analogy,
Mike
Michael Cole´s last [type] ..Brand Yourself- Not Some Attraction Marketing Training System
Hi Michael,
It sure is…I’m really glad this made you think, because I know this is the part that helps a lot of people get ready to take some serious action.
Have an awesome day,
Jerome Ratliff
HAHA Jerome,
Your wife asked if you were listening to her! Sometimes it’s hard when you’re mind is working through a thought like that. lol
This is a great analogy. Each isle is very targeted and we know just where to go. And people are so loyal, so you go to the same stores because you know just where to find each item.
Good stuff!
Susanna
Susanna Hess´s last [type] ..Celebrate A Life -amp Say Goodbye
Glad you found that part funny Susanna.
Yeah, I hope this analogy really made some people think how to do this, as every business is doing it today – right before our eyes.
Have a great day,
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
cool analogy. Absolutely, there is no accident in a well-designed grocery – and a lot accident – bad accident – in poorly designed ones. The same holds true for any kind of business. Without knowing who your target is, you’re wasting your time. Thanks for this article.
Have a blessed weekend and take carOliver
Oliver Tausend´s last [type] ..We don’t need another pre-launch- we don’t need another ground floor opportunity
Hi Oliver,
A lot can be learned by just taking notice at those unusual places…there are opportunities all around us.
Have a great one too.
Jerome Ratliff
Hey Jerome,
Nice job! It is vital to know how to target your audience. It seems like at the beginning individuals don’t know who to target or even how. That is why it’s important to study markets that are designed around your business.
A true entrepreneur is always tweaking and fine tuning their approach.
Have a great weekend…
Josh
Josh Garcia´s last [type] ..Are You Making These 3 Article Marketing Mistakes
Hey Josh,
Thanks buddy…Yeah, always been on the look out as they will surface just about anywhere.
Have a good one too,
Jerome Ratliff
Hey Jerome,
Haha, I often find myself in a state of wonderment too without a care for the outside world!
To be successful in marketing, you gotta position yourself as a solution provider to your target audience. Everything you say in your marketing needs to speak to their biggest issues.
I think it’s genius that they put chocolates and sodas at the checkouts, in case you’ve “forgotten” to treat yourself. Again, that’s excellent target marketing.
Cool man,
Wayne
Wayne Wu´s last [type] ..Network Marketing Success Be Prepared for Disappointment-
Great point about the chocolates and sodas…shouldn’t we all have that special treat for our clients as well?
You made me think again…ha ha.
Check in with you later,
Jerome Ratlifff
I enjoyed your post Jerome. I have a good friend who is a nutritionist and she has always told me to stick to the outer aisles of the supermarket for optimal health so I related well to your analogy.
You are right,the more targeted we can be when it comes to out marketing the easier our job becomes.
~Marcus
Marcus Baker´s last [type] ..Don’t Let These two Myths About Product Creation Stop You MLM Tips
And that’s exactly what it’s all about…to make it easier.
Have a good day Marcus,
Jerome Ratliff
P.S. We also find for us, in those outside aisles is where some of the best ingredients are.
Jerome, as someone who managed a supermarket for 20 yrs, I feel your analogy is right on. It’s another example of where we can take what’s working on the outside and apply it on the inside of our industry. Target market has to be more than a buzzword in our efforts.
Jack Koetting´s last [type] ..Would you like to know the secret to success in network marketing
Hey Jack,
Now that is something. It’s specially cool to hear that from someone with your experience.
I’m glad you had a chance to stop by. Looking forward to hearing from you again.
Have a great weekend,
Jerome Ratliff
The grocery store analogy is awesome!
I’ve been doing a LOT of target and niche work myself and I’ve found something that I supsect applies to a lot of people.
Even though we KNOW in our heads we need to narrow, narrow, narrow that niche down… Even when we get to where we can name off the exact demographics of our “Becky”… there’s this lurking fear in our gut that keeps creeping in, urging us to speak to a broader audience, in the guise of wanting to “help more people” but rooted in the fear of not finding enough people. I can definitely say its been (and still is) a challenge and a half for me to keep my behavior lined up with what I know I need to do.
I figure though that if I keep on course correcting back to target, keep on telling myself that its gonna work, it’s finally gonna go from my head into that deeper emotional knowing! (Well either that or I’ll just have found enough people it frankly will have been self fulfilling, LOL I’ll settle for either, they amount to the same!)
Good stuff!
Kimberly
Kimberly Castleberry´s last [type] ..31DBBB – Day 4 – Analyze a Top Blog In Your Niche
Hi Kimberly,
That’s good you’re targeting your market. Yeah, we know a lot of people who know this but never execute it.
I agree with you, it’s the fear in their gut that stops them.
Have a good day,
Jerome Ratliff