How to Conduct Audience Analysis

Conducting an Analysis

 

1

Know the definition of audience analysis: determining the important characteristics of an audience in order to chose the best style, format and information/arguments when writing or speaking. Understanding the identity, personality and characteristics brought to a situation by the specific type of audience.

2

Know the purpose of audience analysis: Having knowledge of a specific audience allows the writer or speaker to understand the social situation in which he or she writes. It allows the writer to come up with a strategy to adapt arguments to best suit an audience. Conducting audience analysis informs a speaker or writer about the people he or she is talking to. This is important because based on what is found out in the audience analysis a writer/speaker can adjust his work to relate to an audience in the best way possible. It allows a writer/speaker to be able to succeed in their goal of writing or speaking whatever that may be. If a speaker/writer wants to persuade, inform, motivate, excite, scare, warn or cheer up an audience, then analyzing those people to which he/she is talking can allow them to pick the best words, stories, tone, style and delivery to use when writing or talking to that specific group of people.

3

Follow this acronym and answer the resulting questions. Just remember the AUDIENCE.

• Analysis- Who is the audience?
• Understanding- What is the audience's knowledge of the subject?
• Demographics- What is their age, gender, education background etc.?
• Interest- Why are they reading your document?
• Environment- Where will this document be sent/viewed?
• Needs- What are the audience's needs associated with your document topic?
• Customization- What specific needs/interests should you the writer address relating to the specific audience?
• Expectations- What does the audience expect to learn from your document? The audience should walk away having their initial questions answered and explained.

source:wikihow.com