Audience research

(Photo taken from google.co.uk/images)

Audience research is used to collect information about how your demographic audience reacts to your product. It is used largely by production companies as it helps them see what their audience sector will be and how to reach them. For example audience research is used in film and television to see how certain audiences react to their film or television programme. It's also used to see if there is a slot in the market for the the product or production. 

There are many factors to consider when categorizing audiences. Age, gender, geodemographics, demographics, hobbies, social-economic classification and ethnographic are just some examples. Separating the audience into different categories makes it easier for companies to establish and target their demographic audience. 

Companies use a wide range of methods to collect the data they need. BARB is a popular method within television. BARB collects viewing figures for TV channels and programmes. Other methods of audience research are:

• Quantitative and qualitative - Questionnaire and surveys 
• Interviews and focus groups
• Observations and inter-forums - Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

What is a demographic audience? A demographic audience or demographics profile is a large marketing tool used by companies. It is used to find out the products audience and how they can market it. Both product marketing companies and broadcasting groups hugely use demographic profiling. For example you wouldn't advertise a new horror film on a childrens channel as it wont reach the correct demographic audience. Demographic profiles are typical put into groupings of gender, age, ethnicity and social-economic. Social-economic classification is a combination of education, income and occupation. 

There are six main social-economic categories: 

                (Photo taken from nrs.co.uk)

Information taken from:

http://www.slideshare.net/AnnieRose95/audience-research-22808080