First, let’s define “Target Market”.  Your target market is your perfect client, customer or business partner.

In order to find them, you must first define them.  Think of your perfect customer, client or business partner.  What do they look like?  What do they do?  What qualities do they posses?  Be specific.  The more specific, the better.  “Someone who wants my product/service/to join my business” is NOT specific enough.  You must define who that person is.  For example, if you have a product that helps regulate blood sugar, your target market would be someone with diabetes.  You might find them in a diabetes support group.

Once you have CLEARLY defined your target market, you can find them easily by asking yourself “Where might this person “hang out” online?

Now that you know who they are and where they hang out, go find them.  DO NOT pitch your product/service/business to them.  Simply interact with them online.  Make sure your profile clearly states what you do and who you are looking for.  Let them ask you once they get to know you.

Want to find out more about social networking to build your business?  It’s not too late to join my 6 Week Social Network Your Way to Cash course.  It’s already underway, but you can listen to the recordings.  (Week two was delayed a week due to a family emergency on my part, so the course will run one week longer than expected.)

It amazes me when you say something that contains 90% positive and 10% negative, the majority of people latch on to the negative.  I made a post on facebook yesterday that said:

Got blood test results back from the doctor. All is well. BP, sugar, thyroid, etc… All is within normal levels except cholesterol. That is a little high. She says to eat fish and drink 1% milk among other things. YUK….I hate seafood and to someone who grew up on a dairy farm 1% milk tastes like mild milk flavored water. I think I’ll go for the Os. Olives, oatmeal, olive oil…

ONE poster said “congrats!! sounds like a good plan ”

The others gave advice like…take pills and eat this and eat that, etc…

Now…I take nutritional supplements.  I do NOT take any other type of pills.  I think that overall, my news was great news.  Most people like me (overweight and sedentary) have diabetes, high blood pressure, etc…  I have none of that.

So…why do the majority of people gravitate toward the negative instead of the positive?  Here is today’s facebook update:

Life is what you make it. How you handle upsets and bumps in the road of life determines what type of life you will have. Always look for the silver lining. It’s there, you just need to find it. Happy Hump Day!!!

That is so true.  How do you handle it when you have good and bad news?

Last night and today, we have no water.  Well…we had cold water in the sink, but no hot water and no water in the tubs and toilet, washer, etc…  My attitude was “Oh well…at least we have SOME water”.  I heated water on the stove to wash up and again to wash dishes.  I carried a couple of buckets to the bathroom to flush the toilet.   Now…I could have let it ruin my whole day and bitched and complained and focused on the lack of water, but I didn’t.  I looked for the silver lining and was thankful that we at least had some water we could use.

Where is your focus?  When something goes wrong or when you hear good and bad news at the same time, which one do you focus on?

Next time something negative happens or is said, look for the silver lining.  See how fast you can find it.  Sometimes it’s easier to find than others, however, it’s always there.  Once you get in the mindset of looking for it, the silver lining will eventually jump right out in front of you.  I’m not quite to THAT point yet, but I’m getting there.