Reader Profile Research

A reader profile is basically a profile regarding information about the average reader of the magazine. This usually includes facts about the reader, focusing on factors such as social class, gender, age and style etc. A reader profile helps you find out exactly what the reader likes and wants to see in the magazine, so you can adapt it to suit them, making the magazine sell more. I looked at an existing reader profile for the magazine XXL. XXL have an editorial mission which is to take a mature and intelligent approach to hip hop, with an emphasis on the music and lifestyle that are at the heart and soul of the culture. The magazine keeps up with the pace of hip-hop's dynamic energy and targets the trendsetter who lives for urban music. As the culture continues to evolve, XXL is there to deliver the most progressive view of the music and the culture surrounding it. XXL magazine attracts 78% men and 22% women, readers have an average age of 29 and the majority of readers belong to the African-American ethnicity. As most of the readers are African-American males which mainly have an interest in hip-hop and are associated with the culture. This makes the magazine desirable because they want to keep up with the latest music, trends and news regarding hip-hop and this is shown through the magazine, making people want to buy it. My reader will be similar to the reader of XXL magazine but they also like R&B music, meaning that there will be a more even ratio of men to women and a younger average age of around 24. The purpose of a reader profile is to show the specific details of the reader, making it easier to aim the magazine at a specific group of people. A reader profile will help to sell my product because it makes it easier to direct the magazine to a certain target market meaning that the information will be more of what they are interested in so more people will be attracted the magazine, and buy it.