Tricks to Identify Target Book Audience

[Jennifer]

The part that is extremely demanding for a writer is marketing a book to the target audience. A book will not address the expectations of all people. It will aim at gaining readership levels within a certain section of the population. A writer needs to identify the target audience and persuade them to make an effort of reading the book.

Below are tricks to identify target book audience.

Analyze your message.

The message presented in the book plays a role in defining the target audience. It has a lot of weight since it is the information the writer intends to put across. The message is the guiding principle that steers transition from a general to a specific state in deciding the audience to shift attention to. The message is basically used to either inform, entertain, create awareness or persuade the audience to change behavior. A writer needs to think about who the message will appeal to most and ensure it is crafted accordingly before his first steps to writing a book.

Undertake research.

Writers are often contented during the writing process that they already have the target audience in mind. As a writer, do not make the mistake of thinking that you have tailored the book to specific individuals. During the editing process, the message is likely to assume a new course necessitating a different set of audience.

Gathering information about the audience through primary and secondary sources pledges refined comprehension of the target audience. Primary sources include face to face interviews, focus group discussions and survey. Primary sources if well used enhance acquisition of first hand and accurate information. This information can come in handy in creating rapport with the target audience. Secondary sources involve written information. Reading through written information enables a person to get clues on audience characteristics.

Focus on major audience attributes such as:

1. Demographic information.

Getting the audience attuned to your book is related to demographic information of the audience. Audience demographics help a writer to know if the book is in line with the needs of the audience. They involve issues to do with:

· The age, gender and race

· Occupation and social status

· Education background

· Religious beliefs

If a book adopts a feminist approach, it will best be suited for the female gender. If it is very technical and has a lot of jargon, the most applicable target audience will be well educated people. In case it contradicts with the religious affiliations of a group of people in society, it will be inappropriate for these people.

2. Psychographic information.

It is all about the psychological inclinations, attitudes and behavior of the audience. This information determines the reasons as to why the audience will identify with a book.

A writer must ensure the book does not violate the beliefs of the target audience. When it is detected that some issues in the book are prone to misunderstanding, they should be rectified to conform to the values of the audience.

Finally, determining the target audience for your book can never be too hard to handle. The framework that leads to success is based on prior identification of the target audience, scrutinizing the audience attributes, the key content of book and research. Establishing a fulfilling relationship with the target audience may also involve editing some aspects of the book.

[Robin]

You have certainly done your homework, Jennifer! Thank you for compiling this.