The Ultimate Business Superpower: Don’t Sell Steak to Vegans

If you and I were to start a burger restaurant, and you could have any advantage you wanted, what would it be? You might consider a dancing clown to attract attention, the best burgers money can buy, or a prime location that guarantees foot traffic. 

You can pick anything you want, as long as I can get one thing: A Starving Crowd.

You could have the best burger money can buy, but what can you do with that if everyone is full?

The starving crowd principle is the ultimate business superpower, and it’s a concept that can make or break your business, regardless of the industry you’re in.

The Starving Crowd Principle

Gary Halbert, one of the greatest direct response marketers of all time, taught us the importance of targeting a starving crowd. 

His principle is simple yet profound: whatever product or service you’re selling, make sure you’re targeting people who not only want what you offer but are also fired up about it and have the means to buy it. 

It’s about focusing on the right audience—those who are desperately seeking what you provide.

This principle applies across all industries. Whether you’re selling physical products, services, or digital solutions, the key to success lies in your audience selection. 

Don’t make the mistake of trying to sell steak to vegans or shoes to people without feet. It’s a waste of time, energy, and resources. Instead, focus on those who are already looking for a solution to a problem that your product solves.

How to Identify Your Starving Crowd

Identifying your starving crowd requires deep market research and a clear understanding of your target audience’s pain points. Start by asking yourself these questions:

1. Who needs my product or service the most?

2. What problems does my product solve?

3. Who is actively searching for a solution to these problems?

4. Do these people have the financial capacity to purchase my product?

Once you have answers to these questions, you can tailor your marketing strategies to appeal directly to this audience. 

Your messaging should speak to their pain points, offering your product as the solution they’ve been desperately searching for.

Setting Your Business Up for Success

The starving crowd principle is not just about identifying the right audience—it’s also about setting your business up for the best possible odds of success. 

This means continuously refining your product to better meet the needs of your audience, and optimizing your marketing to reach those who are most likely to buy.

To apply this principle effectively, consider these steps:

• Market Research: Invest time and resources into understanding your audience's needs, preferences, and behaviors. This will help you create a product that resonates with them.

• Targeted Marketing: Use targeted ads, personalized emails, and direct outreach to reach your starving crowd. Avoid generic marketing that tries to appeal to everyone.

• Product Optimization: Continuously improve your product based on customer feedback. The better your product solves their problem, the more they will be willing to pay for it.

• Sales Funnel Alignment: Ensure your sales funnel is designed to capture the attention of your starving crowd at every stage, from awareness to purchase.

Conclusion

The starving crowd principle is your ultimate business superpower. 

By focusing on the right audience—those who are hungry for what you have to offer—you set your business up for success in ways that no amount of clever marketing or superior product design can achieve alone.

Don’t waste your time trying to sell steak to vegans; instead, find the people who are starving for your product and give them exactly what they need.

This approach will not only increase your sales but also build a loyal customer base that will keep coming back for more.

P.S. If you’re hitting a bottleneck at any point in your advertising or sales process get in touch and we will be happy to take a look at your marketing for you.

- Krishna Waran

Krishna Results

Marketing in Memphis