Audience profiling research.

When researching ways to categorise different demographics,  I found a few different methods that this was achieved and ones that helped give an insight into my audience. 

One of the ways I found useful in in identifying a demographic is the ABC1 C2DE form. What this does is it makes the different group from the social classes of the audience. With regards to the rap genre that I'm researching, I think that the genre would come from and focus on the lower sections of the table illustrated above, as they focus on the working class more. I think this as a recurring theme in rap music which is money, and more specifically in making money and how much money you have. This theme would strongly resonate with a working class community as they have struggles with money and I believe that it would clearly resonate with them as they are able to relate to the message the rappers put across.

Evaluating this way of profiling a demographic I feel is useful. However there are limitations, one being that it is quite vague and not specific enough for a specific person or category they may fit into.

Another way I found of looking at demographics is through psychographic profiling. This enables advertisers to link the ideologies of the product to there consumer as they understand how important 'brand loyalty' is as the market gets cluttered with brands that don't differentiate themselves.

Linking to this is the four C's, which stands for Cross-Cultural Consumer characteristics , is a way of categorising people with regards to their aspirations. Here is a handy chart with the definitions of some categories as a part of the 4 C's.

In my opinion, I think this is very effective as a company can use this to find a specific person to sell and cater their product too.

Another way of categorising audiences is through called Life Matrix segments. Here's a picture so you can understand what they are.

This is something I have personally used in one of my questionnaires about the rap genre. Developed in 2002, it defines ten categories which are centered around values attitudes and beliefs more than the original simplistic categorisations. I found it useful as there was little chance in overlapping when a person tried to fit themselves in the category.