Market segmentation is a strategic process in marketing, used to divide a broad consommateur[3] or business market into subsets of consumers, known as segments. These segments have common needs, interests, or priorities and can thus be grouped together. This process enables companies to identify and further define high-yield segments, adapt marketing programs for different segments, and ultimately achieve competitive advantage[1] through tailored offerings. Its effectiveness lies in the assumption that each segment is unique and requires a bespoke marketing mix[2]. Market segmentation has a rich history, evolving from basic demographic techniques to more comprehensive and nuanced strategies, such as hyper-segmentation. A critical aspect of this strategy is the S-T-P approach, which stands for Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning. This approach simplifies the segmentation process, guiding marketers in identifying potential markets, focusing on their unique needs, and positioning their product or service offerings accordingly.
Au marketing, market segmentation is the process of dividing a broad consumer or business market, normally consisting of existing and potential customers, into sub-groups of consumers (known as segments) based on shared characteristics.
In dividing or segmenting markets, researchers typically look for common characteristics such as shared needs, common interests, similar lifestyles, or even similar demographic profiles. The overall aim of segmentation is to identify high yield segments – that is, those segments that are likely to be the most profitable or that have growth potential – so that these can be selected for special attention (i.e. become target markets). Many different ways to segment a market have been identified. Commerce interentreprises (B2B) sellers might segment the market into different types of businesses ou countries, while business-to-consumer (B2C) sellers might segment the market into demographic segments, such as lifestyle, behavior, or socioeconomic status.
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Market segmentation assumes that different market segments require different marketing programs – that is, different offers, prices, promotions, distribution, or some combination of marketing variables. Market segmentation is not only designed to identify the most profitable segments, but also to develop profiles of key segments to better understand their needs and purchase motivations. Insights from segmentation analysis are subsequently used to support marketing strategy development and planning. Many marketers use the S-T-P approach; Segmentation → Targeting → Positioning to provide the framework for marketing planning objectives. That is, a market is segmented, one or more segments are selected for targeting, and products or services are positioned in a way that resonates with the selected target market or markets.