A demographic or demographic profile is a term used in marketing and broadcasting, to describe a demographic grouping or a market segment. This typically involves age bands (as teenagers do not wish to purchase denture fixant), social class bands (as the rich may want different products than middle and poorer classes and may be willing to pay more) and genders (partially because different physical attributes require different hygiene and clothing products, and partially because of the man/woman mindsets).

A demographic can be used to determine when and where advertising should be placed so as to achieve maximum results. In all such cases, it is important that the advertiser get the most results for their money, and so careful research is done to match the demographic profile of the target market to the demographic profile of the advertising medium.

A good way to figure out the intended demographic of a television show or magazine is to study the ads that accompany it. For example, The Price is Right most frequently airs from 11 AM to Noon. The commercials on it (besides the blatant use of product placement in the show itself) are often for things like arthritis pain relievers and diapers. This indicates that the target demographics are senior citizens and mothers with young children, both of which would be home at that time of day and see that show.

See also

• demographics
• demography
• ACORN (geodemography)