Advertising is usually directed at a specific segment of the population… the target audience. When you see an ad that isn’t very appealing, it may be because it wasn’t directed toward you. An ad for diapers, for instance, may not be relevant to young adults. They are not part of the target audience, so the ad is not meant to be directed toward them.

There are two types of target audiences, consumers and business.

Consumer advertising is most of what you experience through mass media- TV, radio, newspapers and magazines.

Business Advertising is a bit more specialized. It focuses on business
publications, professional journals, trade shows, direct-mail and other media that isn’t usually seen by the mass media.