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Posted by Andy Mabbett on 08/05/06 13:23
In message <7btcq3-4vi.ln1@ophelia.g5n.co.uk>, Toby Inkster
<usenet200607@tobyinkster.co.uk> writes
>Ed Mullen wrote:
>
>> the site has a limited audience (as does mine).
>
>A little rant, not in any way directed at either of the two above
>mentioned sites, which I'm sure are brimming with wonderfulness...
>
>I can't stand the concept of a "target audience". Why can't people/
>companies just be honest and say that their product is "of limited or
>no appeal to the general public".
Because the "target audience" is often part of the "general public".
>Every creator/inventor/designer/artist/author would love to reach the
>entire global audience
A fallacy.
> (think of the sales!), but their lack of
>ambition/confidence/brilliance/vision leads them to create products
>that fall short of the ideal.
Nonsense. Do you really think Rolex want to sell watches for everyone?
They could make them from cheap plastic and sell them for a quid or two,
if so.
>When they realise that vast segments of the world population are
>disinterested in their creations, they are comforted by the notion
>that these people are "not their target audience" and thus may be
>ignored.
Indeed. So?
>"Yes, I'll create my website with hundreds of popups and lots of
>Flash navigation, and my target audience will love it because my
>target audience is people-who-love-hundreds-of-popups-and-Flash-
>navigation, or more specifically my target audience is people-who-
>love-my-site."
Now you're switching from companies, their designers, and their
products, to their websites, Apples and pears.
>The notion of a target audience itself becomes a moving target. One
>doesn't refine ones product to meet the needs of the target audience;
>one redefines the target audience so that it neatly co-incides with
>the people who would already buy your product.
>
>And thus the product is not improved.
And how would you improve, say, a Ferrari, so that everyone could own
one?
BTW, please see <CjCaxo+lWTyEFwIY@pigsonthewing.org.uk>
--
Andy Mabbett
Say "NO!" to compulsory ID Cards: <http://www.no2id.net/>
Free Our Data: <http://www.freeourdata.org.uk>
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