How a product addresses an audience

Different products address different audiences by having there own unique style, layout, colour, font and font size, who or what is on the front cover etc. an example of three different magazines for three different audiences.

Audience one: Magazines aimed for teenagers (16-19) would mainly have someone famous on the front cover or the latest technology product, big bold brightly coloured letters maybe resembling the colour of the product or having the most important bit coloured red as the producers want their audience to see that first, having the famous person wearing similar style of clothes. Very little writing would be used, three word sentences or just one word that stands out from the rest. There may also be a small box that mentions prizes can be won which would appeal to the young audience. Inside would be topics on latest technology such as phones and Ipods, they may also be information about certain famous people who attract a young audience and entering contests that will appeal to the young audience.

Audience two: Magazines aimed for adults in business (30-45) would have just one or two people on the front wearing suits with their arms crossed showing authority and an image that shows he/she is successful. The font would be bold, either coloured red or white to show the seriousness of a topic such as money. The background may also be related to a topic and the magazine such as buildings, computers or pie and bar charts. Text will be in small font as small paragraphs describe one or more topics of interest placed just below a sub heading. Inside there would be plenty of in depth articles about certain products such as phones and computers, there may also be information that include pie charts or bar graphs for a visual view of certain complex topics. The advertisement would include expensive clothes like suits and smart shoes or expensive accessories like watches and latest technology such as phones, laptops or even hands free products.

Audience three: Magazines aimed at an elderly audience (50-70) would consist of being more hobby based and may show a pair or group of elderly people doing something easy and practical which is hobby based like gardening, sewing or making jewellery. There may be famous people on the front cover in the same age group as the audience that tell bits of their life or hobbies they enjoy for example Alan Titchmarsh who is not only in magazines but also has a TV show which is primarily aimed at an older audience as it consists of similar topics that the older audience are interested in such painting and gardening. Inside the magazine would be information about other elderly peoples lives, likes and interests. There may also be articles or stories about pets and their owners.

Producers know when they are reaching a specific audience by receiving feedback from customers letters or email explaining how good or bad the magazine has been. If the product is selling well this will be a more accurate indicator of finding out how well the type of magazine is selling, the higher the profits the more successful the product is and this demonstrates that the content is correct and targeted at the right audience.

How a product addresses the audience – Images

Images are an important part to how a product can address the audience as it can change the way that they perceive a product. For family orientated products, like healthcare and furniture products, images of families are used, to create the sense that buying these products will enrich the consumer’s life.

Another way that images are used, is through symbolism. Flowers are often used to symbolise different meanings. Red, pink or white roses are often used to represent love or romance, and often used on women’s perfume, as fragrances are often associated with romance.

How a product addresses the audience – Colour

Colour can affect the way that the audience reacts to what they are watching. Some films add a tint to create a certain type of mood, like The Ring, which is tinted blue to give a cold, creepy feel. Likewise, brightly coloured films, like animations, would attract children as the tone of the film would be friendly and happy. On the other hand, dark and de-saturated films would appeal to an older audience, as the film would include serious and sinister themes.

How a product addresses an audience – Modes of Address

When a film or T.V program is made, then the creators have to think about what the audience wants and how they will react to certain things. The sounds, images, colours and words used in the film or T.V programcan influence the way that people react to the content.

Language is a big part of this as different dialects would be dubbed so the content can reach a larger audience than just one language. Not only this, but different modes of address, like certain types of slang can affect who does or doesn’t watch it, as in different places, different types of words would be used and applied, that are different in another place. This would then draw in many different types of people as they can relate to the people in the film with the same mode of address.