Audience Targeting: What It Is and Why You Need It

Think of some of your favorite brands. Why do you gravitate toward them? Maybe they keep you laughing, like when Wendy’s burns a competitor on X. Maybe they hype you up or keep you up to date, like when your favorite teams post pre-game interviews on TikTok. However they do it, successful brands engage their audience.

Engagement keeps businesses in business, and targeting helps these brands identify and interact with their ideal audience.  

What is audience targeting?

Audience targeting is a method used to segment customers based on a variety of factors such as demographics, special interests and lifestyles. Its overall goal is to modify marketing campaigns to reflect the lifestyles of target consumers. When done right, the results attract your niche audience naturally, sparking interest in your product or service.

Some methods of audience targeting include consumer research, questionnaires, focus groups and even something as simple as responding to social media comments. 

Why do you need audience targeting?

Audience targeting is a major factor in generating consumer loyalty for any business. Developing an effective audience-targeting strategy includes research and segmentation.

Some of the biggest factors to consider when looking for a target audience are:

1. Narrow your sights! As the saying goes, you can’t please everyone. The same goes for marketing. Being specific in your targeting can increase the chances of converting your chosen demographic into loyal clients. 
2. Don’t over-target. In the age of the internet, it can be easy to disperse advertisements to your target audience. But, consistent advertising can turn your target audience off if it becomes overbearing.
3. Social media matters! Every brand is utilizing social media in a way that provides direct interaction with their target audience. If you notice specific engagement with certain types of social media content, you can use that to further appeal to your target audience.

Essentially, audience targeting helps you stand out from your competitors, increase brand loyalty and, ultimately, establish an authentic relationship between your brand and your customers.

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From social media calendars to billboards and digital ads, Team TRIO does it all! Contact our full-service marketing and communications agency today to learn more about our marketing, event and web solutions.