Can purchasing data assist in targeting media spend?

Describes with examples from Superpanel/mediaSPAN data the benefits of basing media planning on purchasing behaviour, derived from single-source data, rather than demographics.

Can purchasing data assist in targeting media spend?

What does purchase behavior tell us that demographics do not?

Tracy Waring and Lisa Pollard

Current practice in TV planning and buying usually involves defining the media target audience in terms of demographic characteristics, largely because information on the viewing behaviour of demographic sub-groups is readily available from BARB data. The viewing behaviour of the sub-group is then contrasted with that of one of the main audience categories used as a trading 'currency' in the purchase of airtime. However, the advertising strategy, as distinct from the media brief, usually starts...

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