This document provides tips for effectively targeting an audience. It advises to 1) define the audience by researching their media consumption habits, 2) learn the vernacular or key phrases they use, and 3) see things from their perspective by understanding their values and challenges. It also suggests 4) having a target audience member review design ideas to ensure the message will resonate.

2. Targeting Your Audience
Define the Audience
Begin by defining your audience. Look at the media that your target
demographic typically reads and watches. Which newspapers, blogs,
magazines, books, websites, TV programs, etc. do your audience
members consume?

3. Targeting Your Audience
Learn the Vernacular
How do members of this group speak? Are there key phrases or
terminology that members use?
Understanding the language of your audience will resonate with viewers
and will help your message come across as more genuine than terms or
slang that are unfamiliar to the average group member.

4. Targeting Your Audience
Put Yourself in Their Shoes
Try to see things from your audience s perspective. If you are not a
member of the group, pretend that you are for a moment. What are
values, goals and even obstacles that this group faces?
Do your research on these issues if necessary.

5. Targeting Your Audience
Show Your Design to a Target Audience Member
Try to arrange for a member of this demographic to look at your
design ideas to see if your message is on target. Doing so will give
you valuable perspective, and will let you know if your design is headed
in the right direction.
This is a simple step, but one often overlooked by designers. Doing so
can save you a lot of time, disappointment and failed marketing dollars.