Market Segmentation
Market segmentation is a process of dividing a market into distinct parts, or segments, which can then be targeted differently. Market segmentation, then, is the process of dividing a market into smaller groups, or segmenting, of consumers that have common needs or characteristics. Market segmentation can create customer loyalty and higher sales, profit margins and return on investment, by focusing specifically on smaller sets of customers with similar product needs or preferences, marketing communications and service needs.
Market segmentation can have many different forms and often involves multiple elements. It can involve segmenting a market into customers with similar demographics, such as age, income, gender, education level, location and culture. It can also target customers by lifestyle, such as health-consciousness, buying habits and even their hobbies.
Another aspect of market segmentation can be to segment the customer base by usage and benefit groups. This means segmenting based on the customer’s motivation for buying a certain product or service, such as convenience, value, quality and lifestyle. Companies can also use customer segmentation to hone their customer service and marketing efforts. For example, a company may target customers who purchase a variety of products, as they are likely to be current customers and will return when in need of something else.
Geographic segmentation can be used to identify geographic areas that have a market for the product or service and can provide opportunities for market entry, expansion or customer service. It can also be used to identify where the customer population’s physical location may be and how demographics can impact customer profiles and demands.
Psychographic segmentation focuses on the shared characteristics, behaviors and attitudes of the identified customer segment. It looks at customer values, beliefs, lifestyle and behaviors and can be used to gain insights into customer lifestyle and commitments and motivations. Companies may look at psychographic segmentation to understand the customer’s customer experience and gain an understanding of what customers are looking for related to their product/service.
Lastly, behavior segmentation considers the customer’s history of actions and is focused on understanding the customer’s patterns of purchasing and non-purchasing behaviors. It can be used to assess the customer’s loyalty and engagement, as well as the customer’s buying preferences and channel preferences.
Market segmentation can be a powerful tool that grants companies insight into customer buying and behaviors. With an understanding of who the customer is and how to best reach them, companies can better target their products and services and create customer loyalty.