R093 · 13 Audience Segmentation

How audiences are split into groups so products and campaigns can be targeted effectively.

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Different audience groups by age, lifestyle and interests

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

Audience Segmentation at a Glance

These infographics summarise how audiences are divided into segments and how to use this in exam answers.

Types of Audience Segments

The main segmentation categories you must remember.

  • 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

Using Segmentation in Products & Campaigns

How producers use segments to make better design decisions.

  • 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

iMedia Matters Podcast

Flashcards & Mind Maps

For flash cards and mind maps, use our NotebookLM for this topic. It includes quick-fire revision prompts and visual links between key ideas.

📘 Open NotebookLM for Audience Segmentation

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…?