Target Population?

Our primary objective during our meeting, which was held 3 days ago (5/15), was on identifying our target population. Any organization knows that to be effective in their marketing "pitch," a population has to be identified and targeted. This translates to knowing who they are, what "turns them on and off,"what are their needs, how can their needs be met, and so forth. An effective tool that many organizations use is a survey.

Knowing this basic method that organizations use can help narrow our target demography. A good example is the radio stations: each station has a target listener. I have not heard of a station that plays all kinds of music........but if you have, please let me know:) Having said this, however, the Spokane Salvation Army does not operate on a firm set of criterias in catagorizing people. Salvation Army, in general, simply helps people who are in need, whatever that need may be. This approach is called "holistic ministry," where people, in all age catagories, are helped with physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

And so, our primary "target group" may not be a typical profile (mid 30s couple, middle class/professionals, with a couple of kids). Instead, our target group has to be socio-economical in nature; meaning, it has to be a catagory that is narrow, and yet flexible and inclusive.

The complexity of this topic has to be revisited in our next meeting (May 29th). We know that to be successful and effective, we must identify and put on paper our target population. May God guide and show us "His Target Group" for us.