Target Audience
It is important to have a target audience when you want to promote something. It is better to focus on a smaller audience that already has an interest in what you are trying to promote. In my case, a Vlog (hopefully) I will narrow my focus to people that are already interested in theme parks culture. This way my marketing ideas will be more effective and more cost-effective, as you are only marketing to a set number of people. To choose my target audience, I can look at the demographics and psychographics of that group of people and select the ones that I think will want to watch my vlog.
My idea is to make a vlog at Alton Towers with animated segments with statistics and facts. If I don’t go to Alton Towers, my product will only have animated parts with the statistics and ride facts. It will just be a top 10 roller coasters at Alton Towers video. My target audience for my product is thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies aged 18-24, both male and female, as there are also female roller coaster enthusiasts out there and not just male ones. As proven in this Vice article, that talks about 3 roller coaster enthusiasts whose favourite theme park is Thorpe Park in the UK:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/dp5qxw/coaster-geeks-uk-thorpe-park
The Vice service my idea is aimed towards is Vice Media, and it is targeted towards late teens or persons in their twenties, so my idea would fit in nicely as my target audience is 18-24-year-olds.
Vice Media:
Vice media overall is a general presence online, as a news platform that is not typically mainstream media. They touch on the subject’s head on that other stereotypical news companies such as the BBC News and Channel 4 News wouldn’t dare touch on. Vice exists on many platforms, such as YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, & many more. Their place within vice is up there, and after the main vice company (the founding magazine company) is the most popular/well-known platform of theirs as of this day and age.
Mainly focusing on an older age bracket between 20-35. As mostly Vice media is surrounding the way they produce their content, via social media platforms, i.e. YouTube, Twitter and others, so their videos are posted on YouTube with content that isn’t targeted towards teens or any younger. Their audience for this branding is mainly older, as a younger audience wouldn’t tune into this kind of thing. Why? Vice Media is the type of brand that doesn’t cater to PG, and just “tells it like it is, no-nonsense.”
Also, as I will be using mainly Youtube to promote my Vlog Vice Media is best for this as Youtube is a media platform.
Coaster Enthusiast Target Audience:
There are many YouTube channels made by roller coaster enthusiasts, such as Coaster Studios, which create a wide variety of content of roller coasters and theme parks in the world.
There is also Theme Park Worldwide who upload loads of different theme park content, like vlogs, on-ride and off-ride videos.
Coaster Studios:
Theme park worldwide:
Demographics and psychographics of Coaster enthusiasts:
Gender:
It is stereotypically known that coaster enthusiasts are male. But there are also female coaster enthusiasts. However, there are more males than females that are interested in rollercoasters. This could be because it’s an excuse to hang out with other boys and show off in front of them. It could become a competition between them all who is the bravest.
Age:
Typically 18-24, this age range is the most popular for a coaster enthusiast, as this is the age that people are more likely to be interested in such activities. They are young, free and often have no worries or commitments. Older adults typically have young families and will ride family type rides at theme parks with their children. As adults get even older 50+ their interests are different once again, they have probably been there and done all the crazy stuff in their youth and are looking for other ways of escapism.
Personality:
Thrill Seekers often have the same personalities, which are high-sensation seeking personalities. They crave exotic and intense experiences even when physical or social risks are involved. Their stress levels are often lower than someone that prefers to sit down and read a book for a hobby. They can be more resilient, calm and fearless when faced with danger. These people like to try out new things and often want to be one of the first to experience something different and new. They love to have fun and are always looking for a buzz, a new exciting experience that may carry a risk. Also, they mostly can be spontaneous, as they are always game for anything.
Interests:
People who like Theme parks can also have varied interests, from photography, art, attending music festivals to gaming. They like to share their experiences enthusiastically on various social media platforms, like FB, YT, and Instagram. They enjoy travelling, especially planning holidays around Theme Parks and Coasters.
Values:
They value friendships, have good work effects, and value adventure and new experiences
Vice target audience:
Vice is the major media company that makes all the content on its social media platforms. I think my idea fits into Vice because Vice’s audience is mostly male 63% and most coaster enthusiasts are male. However, Vice’s age range is 44% 25-34 and my target audience is 18-24, so there is an age difference. This could be an issue, however, as the 18-24 bracket shows 39% interest, so this isn’t that much lower. The audience seeks knowledge and craves experiences that are perfect as they would love to experience the roller coasters shown in the vlog. They also like to seek knowledge and my vlog will have information about the rides and they would like to know about them. The audience likes to influence others who are social and creative so they could talk to friends etc and get other people to visit the park and experience these rides. They like to pay for value so they can get the best experience in the parks. Perhaps it could be a way to broaden the age range and widen the interests of people in the 25-34 age group. Entice more people to ride roller coasters, bring more revenue to the parks.
To summarise, I think that I have chosen the best Vice business line Vice Media to advertise my vlog on as I am aiming for an age range that uses social media so they are more likely to see it.
I have identified my target audience as being young Generation Z 18-24-year-olds. I have researched on the internet the age range of people that enjoy coasters and this is the result that I have found. This age group seems to have no fear, love speed, experience a natural high and seek adventure.
I think my vlog will work well for this age group, as they will be interested in seeing Alton Towers and its coasters.