12 Secrets to Targeting The Rich via Facebook & Instagram Ads

The other day I was chatting to one of our LeadSync customers, she was trying to target high net-worth individuals with one of her Facebook ad campaigns. High net-worth individuals is really just a fancy way of saying “rich people”; the folks with the means to purchase high cost products or services like real estate or a new car.

It occurred to me that this is something I’ve done regularly when running Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns in the past, and something many businesses struggle with.

Table of Contents

1. Frequent International Travelers
2. High-End Device Users
3. ZIP/Postcode Code Geotargeting
4. Income Targeting
5. Interest Targeting
6. High Value Goods
7. Facebook Payments Users
8. Facebook Business Page Admins
9. People Who Shop Online
10. Mac Users
11. Combining Targeting Options
12. High-end publications

Often advertisers will try targeting people based on their occupation: CEO’s, CMO’s, Founders, to name just a few examples.

This is all fine in theory, however, you’re relying on people having entered their profession into the Work and Education section of their Facebook profile. Not only that, we’re relying on them keeping it up to date.

When writing this post, I checked my own Facebook profile. I hadn’t updated it in 3 years. When was the last time you checked or updated your Facebook profile?

If we can’t rely on profile data, then how else can we target higher income earners?

I believe it’s best to target people based on what they do, not what they say they do – there may be a life lesson in there somewhere 😉

Following are some targeting options to help you get your Facebook and Instagram ads in front of high net worth people (aka: rich folks).

I like to use these techniques when when running Facebook & Instagram Lead ad campaigns to help improve the quality of the leads being generated.

These targeting options work particularly well for promoting real estate, high end motor vehicles and boats, business coaching and SaaS trials. Pretty much any high ticket item.

The following ad targeting options are all set at the Ad Set level in Facebook Ads Manager.

The real power is in combining them to laser target your audience:

1. Frequent International Travelers

This is a “behavior”. Facebook knows where you are unless you’ve turned off the Location option in app settings. I have no idea what the definition of “frequent” is, however, this behavioral targeting has worked for me in the past in larger countries where it costs a lot to fly to another country. Australia is a perfect example. It may not be as effective in Europe for obvious reasons (nor while travel has been limited during COVID).

2. High-End Device Users

On its own, targeting high-end devices isn’t necessarily an indicator of wealth. However, combined with other targeting option, it may help refine your audience. The latest Samsung and Apple phones are pretty pricey. High-end device ownership will also vary from country to country. This audience targeting option might work well in emerging countries, for example.

3. ZIP Code / Postcode Geo-Targeting

In every city around the world, there are wealthy areas and there are not so wealthy areas. If you’re a local, you’ll be familiar with which ZIP codes, postcodes, region codes or whatever you call them, where it’s expensive to live. Armed with this knowledge you can target people who live in these locations. I bolded that bit, as that’s the option you should select before adding in your zip codes. I’ve used Manhattan NY as an example but being from Melbourne, Australia, I’m not sure if these ZIP codes are accurate – and rightly or wrongly – I’m assuming anyone who lives anywhere in Manhattan is wealthy.
Here’s a list of wealthy US Zip codes. 

4. Household Income Targeting

There is an option (at the time of writing) to target the top income ZIP codes in the US. Depending on your Facebook Ad account location, you may see other options here.

5. Interest Targeting

On its own this might not be the most powerful targeting method. For example, I love Audi R8’s but that doesn’t mean I can afford one. However, when you combine multiple Interests along with other targeting options it will help you build a targeted persona. For example:

• High-end fashion labels
• Motor vehicle companies
• Travel destinations
• Property investing
• Stock Market Investing
• Yachting, Polo,
• Venture capital financing
• Kopi Luwak coffee drinkers 😉

Think outside the box with this one and combine interests using the “and MUST ALSO match as least ONE of the following” option.

6. People Who Prefer High-Value Goods

This option is only available in 13 countries and doesn’t include the US, Australia or Europe and the UK. I’m not even going to try to guess why these countries made the cut, however, this is a targeting option worth testing if your audience is in one of these lucky countries.

7. Facebook Payments Users

While not available in all countries, the “Facebook Payments users (higher than average spend)” lets you target people who have transacted using, you guessed it, Facebook Payments. I’m uncertain as to how popular Payments is, so throw this one in the mix for testing in your campaigns.

8. Facebook Business Page Admins

Another targeting option that can be powerful when combined with others, is the Business Page Admin behavior. Take one part Business page admin, AND one part Frequent international traveler, and you may have identified a high net-worth business owner.

9. People Who Shop Online

If you’re selling expensive stuff online, then you might try adding Engaged Shoppers, found under Behaviours >Purchase behavior. This way you’ll know your ads are getting in front of people willing to shop online.

10. Apple Mac Users

This is a little bit of a contentious one. I own a Mac, but certainly don’t consider myself rich. However, if I was working on a Mac while living in certain parts of the world, compared to others, I would be considered quite well off.

You can target people based on the operating system they have used while logged into their Facebook account. See the Mac OS X option available under Behaviours > Digital activities > Operating System Used.

11. Combine Targeting Options for Maximum Effect

If you’ve made it this far, by now you should realize that the power isn’t in any one particular targeting options. The real magic comes when you combine audience targeting options.

When you’re building your rich audience, be sure to use the Narrow Audience feature to combine some of the options listed above.

Here’s an example of an audience that targets Facebook Business Page admins who are also Mac OS X users. As you can see, the potential reach is quite small at 52,000 people, but this also means it’s highly targeted.

12. High-end publications

Target people interested in high-end publications, particularly investment related publications. For example:  Financial Times, The Robb Report, Departures, Vogue etc.

For more tips on audience targeting, check out our free Facebook Ads Targeting Guide.