The term for the audience for a marketing plan is the ____ market.

• A. niche market
• B. consumer market
• C. target market
• D. mass market

Answer: (C)

In marketing, you identify who the plan is aimed at—the specific group you want to persuade and serve. That group is the target market. Focusing on a target market helps you tailor products, messaging, pricing, and channels to meet the needs and preferences of that particular audience, making the plan more effective.

This is different from a broad, undifferentiated approach (mass market) that tries to reach everyone, which often lacks targeted appeal. It’s also distinct from a general consumer market, which describes buyers who purchase for personal use but doesn’t specify the particular segment the plan should prioritize. And while a niche market refers to a very narrow segment within a larger market, the term that best identifies the audience the marketing plan is built around is the target market.