Friday, December 20, 2013

Important Facts Relating To The Use Of Behavioral Segmentation In Marketing

By Harriett Crosby


Behavioral segmentation is a key advertisement strategy that involves the categorization of large markets into smaller units. The smaller units are easier to manage and satisfy. The creation of the segments depends on the various behaviors of customers as relates to the use of various goods and services. The patterns of responses of customers as related to changes in the market are studied and this is used in marking important decisions related to production. The popularity of this strategy has grown over the years due to its numerous advantages.

There is sharp contrast between market segmentation and mass marketing. The latter is the traditional method of advertisement that approached the market as a unit. The disadvantage of doing this is that some customers will not have their needs fully met and this reduces the cells of the business in the end. Segmenting is more customer-centered and rewards the users well.

There various types of behaviors frequently used in the creation of segments. Occasional buying refers to the act of buying goods or demanding for services at given times and at no other time. For example, the demand for Christian gifts tends to be particularly high at the time of Easter and Christmas. Similarly, cakes and chocolates sell highly during festivities. The business needs to recognize the presence of these buyers and to plan accordingly.

It is also to create segments that are sought by customers when using various goods or services. Different customers may have the same or different reasons for using products. This is especially common for goods that have multiple uses. There is a need to understand the groups that demand the product for each of the available benefits. The product may be modified in a manner to suit a group or groups of consumers.

Brand loyalty varies from one customer to another. The business needs to be aware of this fact. The pool of customers can be divided into groups depending on their level of loyalty. The most loyal group can be rewarded for supporting the business and this will often encourage those that are not so loyal to improve in loyalty. Reasons for and against loyalty should be found out from the various groups of customers and appropriate steps to change the situation undertaken.

The market can also be broken into segments based on the different usage rates of products among customers. The main groups here would be the heavy, moderate and the lesser users. Heavy users may welcome a decision to repackage products in a manner that helps them get more from a smaller package.

The usage rate segments created can then be used in making important business decisions. The heavy users should be identified and preferably rewarded as a way of encouraging continued usage. Such reward programs are usually achieved through the use of discounts that are directly proportional to the amount of goods used. Such a move will encourage the moderate and the light users to increase their usage rates.

There are several other criteria that are available today besides behavioral segmentation. These include demographic, psychographic and geographic segmentation. Demographic categories are centered on factors such as age, gender, income and so on. Geographic subdivision is based on the different geographical locations of the potential customers. Psychographic segmentation is uses customer attitudes as the basis for categorization.




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