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MGeneralUpdated 2 Nov 2026

Market targeting

Process of selecting specific market segments to focus marketing efforts on.

Definition

Market targeting is the process of selecting specific market segments to focus marketing efforts on. Founders reach for it when a vague conversation needs a shared, specific meaning. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.

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In the room

How the word shows up in a real conversation.

In a Monday review, someone writes Market targeting on the board and restates it: “Process of selecting specific market segments to focus marketing efforts on.” The next move is a test, a cut, or a double-down — not another debate about the word.

Common mistake

Using Market targeting as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.

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