Target audience vs. target market. While the terms “target audience” and “target market” are related, they have distinct meanings. A target audience is a narrower segment within the broader target market. It’s defined by shared characteristics such as demographics, psychographics, behaviors, and interests.
For example, a target audience for a fitness brand may be women between the ages of 25 and 40 who are interested in health and wellness.
On the other hand, a target market refers to the overall group of people or businesses that a company wants to reach and serve with its products or services. Like a target audience, it includes potential customers who share common needs and characteristics, but a target market also includes multiple target audiences that may have different demographics or preferences but still fall within the company’s overall market scope. The target market for a company could include both individual consumers and businesses in various industries.
Both “targets” are important for a business to understand, but the target audience will give you more to work with when you’re developing a marketing strategy.