Targeting an Audience

      This last week I was introduced to the book "Signs of life in the USA." In this book there was a section on the way the advertisers target their audience. The author Steve Craig talks about "The economic structure of the television industry had a direct effect on the placement and content of all television programs and commercials"(187). In other words, advertisers feature their products during times of the day that relate to the viewers. For example; during sports games they have beer and car commercials. These commercials usually feature strong, tough men or beautiful women with little clothes. Craig tells us that the "Camaraderie in all-male or nearly all-male groupings is a staple of weekend commercials, especially those for automobiles and beer"(190-1). Therefore the advertisers are showing a man's man or a man's women to target their main audience. This goes the same as for a women's women or a women's man. Targeting specific audiences work and it's something that's going to continue thriving because of the outcome the advertisers get for their products.