target consumer

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablebusiness

   the particular group of people a company aims its products, prices, or advertising at.

   Grammar: Countable; use "a" with the singular and add -s for more than one group: reach a target consumer, reach target consumers.

   Patterns

   • a target consumer for something
   • reach/attract a target consumer
   • the target consumer for a product

   The ad was written for a young target consumer who shops mostly on her phone.

   Before launching the drink, the team interviewed the target consumer in five cities.

   Cheaper packaging helped them reach a target consumer with a smaller budget.

2. 2nounsingularbusiness

   the typical person a product is designed for, seen as one representative buyer.

   Grammar: Often used in the singular with "the" to stand for the whole group: the target consumer wants convenience.

   Patterns

   • the target consumer wants/needs something
   • appeal to the target consumer

   The target consumer wants quick meals that still taste fresh.

   If the target consumer cannot find the app, the design has failed.

3. 3nouncountable

   a person or household that a government policy or public campaign is meant to help or influence.

   Grammar: Used beyond business for the group a policy or campaign is aimed at; still countable.

   Patterns

   • a target consumer of a service
   • identify a target consumer

   The subsidy was designed for a target consumer on a low income.

   Officials struggled to identify the target consumer for the new bus pass.

Word forms

Common combinations

reach a target consumer

Social media lets small firms reach a target consumer at low cost.

identify a target consumer

Surveys help you identify a target consumer before you spend on ads.

the target consumer for a product

Teenagers are the target consumer for this phone case.

appeal to a target consumer

Bright colors appeal to a target consumer who is shopping for children.

attract a target consumer

Free delivery attracts a target consumer who hates extra fees.

Synonyms and how they differ

target customer

Very close and often used interchangeably, but "customer" stresses the person who pays, while "consumer" stresses the person who uses the product.

target market

Refers to the whole group or segment rather than one person; use it when you mean the collective audience, not an individual buyer.

target audience

Common for media, ads, and messages; it fits readers, viewers, or listeners better than people buying goods.

end user

Focuses on the person who finally uses a product, especially in technology, and says nothing about marketing aims.

Word family

target marketing noun

the practice of aiming ads and products at a chosen group.

consumerism noun

the culture or system of buying and using goods heavily.

consumer goods noun

products bought for personal use rather than for business.

consumer behavior noun

the study of how people choose and buy things.

Commonly confused: target consumer or customer? target consumer or target audience?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “target consumer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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