Audience segmentation means splitting a large audience into smaller groups based on factors like
age, gender, income, location, interests and lifestyle. This helps media products and campaigns
hit the right people in the right way.
What is Audience Segmentation?
Audience segmentation is the process of dividing potential customers or users into
groups that share similar characteristics. These characteristics can include
demographics (age, gender, income), geographics (where they live),
psychographics (values, attitudes, lifestyle) and behaviour
(buying habits, loyalty, usage patterns).
Understanding segments helps producers design media products and campaigns that are more relevant,
appealing and effective for specific groups rather than trying to target “everyone” at once.
Key points you must remember
- Segmentation categories include demographics, geographics, psychographics and behaviour.
- Products can be aimed at mass markets or niche audiences.
- Targeting a clear segment can improve engagement and make marketing more efficient.
- Different segments may prefer different platforms, styles and content types.
- Exam questions often ask you to match a product or idea to a suitable audience segment.
Audience Segmentation at a Glance
These infographics summarise how audiences are divided into segments and how to use this in exam answers.
- Demographics: age, gender, income, education, family status, job.
- Geographics: country, region, city, climate, urban vs rural.
- Psychographics: values, attitudes, opinions, lifestyle, interests.
- Behaviour: buying habits, brand loyalty, usage frequency, benefits sought.
- Mass vs niche: broad mainstream audiences vs smaller specialist groups.
- Exam link: state which segment the product is aimed at and why.
Demographic · Lifestyle · Behaviour
- Product design: choose content, style, features and platforms that suit the target segment.
- Messaging: adapt language, tone and imagery to match audience interests and values.
- Media planning: select channels (social platforms, TV, print, outdoor) your segment actually uses.
- Testing: use research to check if a segment understands and responds to the product.
- Exam tip: write “This targets [segment] because…” and refer to specific design choices.
- 9-mark boost: compare how effective a product is for two different segments.
Targeting · Design · Impact
Games to Practise Audience Segmentation
Use these games to practise matching media products to segments, choosing platforms and
sharpening your explanation skills for exam questions.
Product design
Audience Matcher
Use segmentation categories such as age, income, lifestyle and interests to
match media products to the correct audience.
MCQs
Segmentation
Targeting
Mixed exam
Explain It! 2-Mark Engine
Practise perfect 2-mark answers for advantages, disadvantages and differences
with instant feedback on structure and detail.
2 markers
PEE structure
Targeted practice
All topics
iMedia Genius
The flagship exam-style quiz covering every R093 question type: MCQs, short answers,
binary questions, bonus rounds and timed scoring.
Exam-style
All R093 content
Mixed difficulty
Audiences
Audience Segmentation Simulator
Match campaigns to demographic, psychographic and behavioural segments – practise exam-style audience reasoning.
Arcade quiz
Audience
Segmentation
Exam Practice – Audience Segmentation
Q1. State one way an audience can be segmented. (1 mark)
Technique: Give one clear category such as age, gender, income,
location or interests.
Q2. Explain one reason why a games company might target a niche audience instead of a mass audience. (2 marks)
Technique: Make one clear point (e.g. more focused marketing, stronger
brand loyalty) and then explain the impact on the success of the product.
Example structure: “Targeting a niche is useful because… This means that…”
Q3. Describe one way a streaming service could use audience segmentation to recommend shows. (3 marks)
Technique: Describe a specific method (e.g. tracking viewing history or
interests) and then develop your answer by explaining how this helps match content to users.
Q4. Explain two reasons why it is important to identify the age range of the target audience when designing a mobile game. (4 marks)
Technique: Give two separate reasons (e.g. difficulty level, content
suitability, PEGI rating, controls). For each, explain how it affects design decisions.
Q5. A company is launching a new eco-friendly sports drink. Discuss how audience segmentation
could be used to plan a media campaign for the product, and explain how targeting different
segments might change the choice of platforms and messages. (9 marks)
Technique: Refer to different segments (e.g. teens who play sport,
young professionals, fitness enthusiasts). Explain how each segment might prefer different
platforms, visuals and messages. Finish with a justified conclusion about which segments
are most important.
- Paragraph 1: Identify possible segments using demographics and lifestyle.
- Paragraph 2: Explain how platforms (social media, posters, influencers) might change by segment.
- Paragraph 3: Explain how messages (health benefits, performance, eco values) might be emphasised differently.
- Final paragraph: Conclusion – which segment(s) to prioritise and why.
Can You Now…?
- List key audience segmentation categories.
- Explain the difference between mass and niche audiences.
- Suggest suitable segments and platforms for different media products.