By changing the way we review the market and having an innovative approach to market segmentation, we are more likely to uncover market insights and define our target markets in an unique manner. This will lead to a competitive advantage through our understanding of the marketplace.
If our company and our competitors all defined our target markets in the exact same manner, over time we would form the same view of their needs, and end up competing “head-to-head”. This is not ideal, as differentiation is a necessity in marketing success.
10 = the marketer is more likely to build a more sustainable and profitable brand because the brand is clearly focused as the marketer understands who IS and who ISN’T in their target market – leading to greater connection and engagement and long-term brand advocates.
5 = based upon the various above points, through better understanding, better target market selection, and better design of our marketing – all these elements will lead to improved profitability and competitive strength for our firm.
Splitting the overall market into smaller groups helps managers have a much greater understanding of the marketplace, as they gain knowledge of differing consumer needs within the same market. It is then easier to develop a marketing mix is based upon the needs of a precise market.
It can be easier to compete against existing firms by focusing upon a smaller, more defined, group of consumers
A firm could adopt a “ generic market segmentation ” approach, such as age segments, but this is unlikely to lead to a competitive advantage. As marketers, we are seeking to understand the market in deeper and more innovative ways that our competitors.
There are several important reasons why market segmentation needs to be done carefully. Some of the reasons are outlined below. Better matching of customer needs – Customer needs differ. Creating separate offers for each segment makes sense and provides customers with a better solution. Enhanced profits for business – Customers have different ...
Better opportunities for growth – Market segmentation can build sales. For example, customers can be encouraged to “trade-up” after being introduced to a particular product with an introductory, lower-priced product
Target marketing communications – Businesses need to deliver their marketing message to a relevant customer audience. If the target market is too broad, there is a strong risk that. (1) the key customers are missed and. (2) the cost of communicating to customers becomes too high / unprofitable.
They are, therefore, different in how sensitive they are to price. By segmenting markets, businesses can raise average prices and subsequently enhance profits.
Thus marketers who successfully carry out market segmentation and adapt their products to the needs of one or more smaller segments stand to gain in terms of increased profit margins and reduced competitive pressures. There are several important reasons why market segmentation needs to be done carefully. Some of the reasons are outlined below.
Retain more customers – Customer circumstances change, for example they grow older, form families, change jobs or get promoted, change their buying patterns. By marketing products that appeal to customers at different stages of their life (“life-cycle”), a business can retain customers who might otherwise switch to competing products and brands
Segmentation involves subdividing markets, channels or customers into groups with different needs, to deliver tailored propositions which meet these needs as precisely as possible.
Market segmentation is breaking the overall market down into smaller segments, which is a basic marketing strategy. The purpose is to be able to segment customer types into those with similar demographic characteristics like age, income, and other cultural similarities. The goal is to find a “niche” where there are customers with the greatest propensity to consume the company’s products. This allows marketers to target these specific customer types with the most effective utilization of their marketing and promotional tools.
The basic criteria for segmenting a market are customer needs. To find the needs of customers in a market, it is necessary to undertake market research.
Behavioural segmentation divides customers into groups based on the way they respond to, use or know of a product.
Targeting is once a segment has been identified how do you reach them. What are their media habits, how do they get new information?
It is widely thought in marketing that than segmentation is an art, not a science.
Segmentation is most often applied to markets, but it is equally relevant to distribution channels and customers. However, similar principles of how to segment apply to all three.