Reader Profile Research

Reader profile research is important because it gives the editors and writers at a magazines establishment an insight into their readership, magazine staff will want to know a variety of different variables of their readership to find out what it is their readership are interested in, so that they can tailor the content of their magazine to suit the target audience, as well as using plugs that will be of interest to the reader. variables can be anything, from music taste to fashion sense to age to sexuality, and even the political leanings of the readers.

For example, if a magazines readership are mostly young teenage girls in the ages from 11-14, then the use of colours in the magazine may me more “girly”. (pink, purple, yellow, a stereotype of “girl” colours) They will also use plugs that are of interest to young girls, and feature music that that readership group typically listen too.

Reader Profiles help the magazine staff decide on what their content should be focused on, who will want to have advertisements in the magazine, who should have featured interviews, plugs used to grab the audiences attention, use of colour schemes, fonts used, use of “jargon”. (this especially applies if the magazine content is that of a niche hobby/market)

Reader profile research is often taken annually so that the members of staff working for the magazine can identify changes in the readership, and address these changes. This helps magazines to keep a consistent readership and a following among certain social groups. It also helps with regards for advertising and content management.