Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Advertising Practice test

In marketing, what do you call the group of consumers with shared characteristics?

1. Market segment

2. Consumer profile

3. Target group

4. Buyer persona

The correct answer is: Market segment

The term that describes a group of consumers who share specific characteristics is called a market segment. This concept is fundamental in marketing as it allows businesses to identify and target groups of potential customers based on common traits such as demographics, interests, or purchasing behavior. By defining a market segment, companies can tailor their marketing strategies to meet the specific needs and preferences of that group, making their efforts more effective. While the other options relate to concepts in marketing, they do not specifically denote a group of consumers with shared characteristics in the same way that market segment does. A consumer profile provides detailed insights into an individual consumer's behaviors and preferences rather than a larger grouped characteristic. Target group refers to a specific segment a business aims to reach but doesn't inherently imply a focus entirely on shared characteristics. Buyer persona is a semi-fictional representation of an ideal customer, which, while informative, serves more as a detailed guide than a classification of a group based on shared traits. Thus, market segment is the most accurate terminology for identifying a group of consumers sharing particular characteristics.