Main differences between target market and target audience
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2025 3:18 am
What do children care about most? Toys, of course!
When it comes to Happy Meals, children are McDonald's target market, but they are not its target audience!
Target market and target audience are similar terms that often overlap. However, there are key differences between them, mostly related to the practical implications each of these groups has on your business.
A target market impacts every decision a small business makes. Products or services are developed to meet the needs and wants of the target market. Packaging and pricing decisions are made to appeal to the target market. And sales processes are structured around the buying preferences of this target.
However, a target audience only impacts decisions about specific marketing messages.
For this reason, target markets are usually made up of the end denmark email list user of a product or service, while the target audience may or may not be the end user of that product or service.
Target Market and Target Audience can match
Often the target audience for a marketing message coincides with the target market.
For example, a yoga leggings brand may identify a target market of single women, aged 24 to 34, who regularly attend gyms, and who have demonstrated an interest in yoga.
In this example, the target audience will coincide with the target market.
However, marketers can further refine their target audience. For example, they may decide to use Instagram advertising to reach their target market.
By doing so, the target audience can be further defined by Instagram users who follow accounts such as yoga, who have recently purchased products online, who live in a certain city, and who value fair trade products.
Now let's find out why market segmentation is so important for the success of a business.
When it comes to Happy Meals, children are McDonald's target market, but they are not its target audience!
Target market and target audience are similar terms that often overlap. However, there are key differences between them, mostly related to the practical implications each of these groups has on your business.
A target market impacts every decision a small business makes. Products or services are developed to meet the needs and wants of the target market. Packaging and pricing decisions are made to appeal to the target market. And sales processes are structured around the buying preferences of this target.
However, a target audience only impacts decisions about specific marketing messages.
For this reason, target markets are usually made up of the end denmark email list user of a product or service, while the target audience may or may not be the end user of that product or service.
Target Market and Target Audience can match
Often the target audience for a marketing message coincides with the target market.
For example, a yoga leggings brand may identify a target market of single women, aged 24 to 34, who regularly attend gyms, and who have demonstrated an interest in yoga.
In this example, the target audience will coincide with the target market.
However, marketers can further refine their target audience. For example, they may decide to use Instagram advertising to reach their target market.
By doing so, the target audience can be further defined by Instagram users who follow accounts such as yoga, who have recently purchased products online, who live in a certain city, and who value fair trade products.
Now let's find out why market segmentation is so important for the success of a business.