Market Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning

Study the market, its structure, identify attitudes and behaviours of consumers, this is the first step of marketing. Among the range of behaviours and characteristics of potential buyers, it is necessary to identify homogeneous groups or segments of customers, assess their importance and possible development.

segmenting customer groups. The psychographic segment variables include people with similar personalities, values, and lifestyles. The last of the segmentation bases of the U.S. consumer markets would be behavioral segments. These are actions a person takes in purchasing and using products and services. Some of these segment variables include outlet type, direct, product features, usage rate, user status and awareness/intentions. Once the segmentation of the market is developed, the second step is to group products to be sold into categories. One can then develop a market-product grid and estimate the size of the markets. A market-product grid is a framework to relate the market segments of potential buyers to products offered or potential marketing actions by an organization. 3 Steps four and five consist of using the segmentation will help to develop the target markets, which in turn will then lead to successful marketing actions. Successful segmentation depends on

(1)Geographic segmentation is based on geographic location, such as region, state, or city. (2)Demographic segmentation are statistics that describe the population such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, income, education, occupation, social class, life cycle state, and house hold size. (3)Psychographic segmentation are linked closely with demographic includes lifestyles, values, attitudes, interests, and opinions. (4)Behavioral segmentation used to identify clusters of consumers who seek the same product benefits or who use or consume the product in similar fashion (Lascu & Clow, 2012).

In order to market the product into the market successfully, marketers need to have some marketing strategy to enter the desired market and make profit. Market segmentation is the process of dividing a market into subsets of consumers with common needs or characteristics (Schiffman et al., 2011). Understanding the market size and segmentation is valuable, but the keys to effective targeting is to know just how valuable specific consumer groups are, and being able to quantify the impact of consumer trends ( Berry, 1999).

What is Market Segmentation? According to Investopedia (n.d), market segmentation is a term used in marketing that refers to the aggregating of a potential buyer into groups, or segments, that share common needs and would respond similarly to a particular action in marketing. By utilizing market segmentation it enables Victoria’s Secret to target different categories of consumers who recognize the full value of certain products and services differently from one another. Furthermore, market segmentation is an extension of market research for the purposes of identifying targeted groups of consumers in order to tailor products and branding in a way that it is attractive to that group. There are three general criteria used to identify different market segments: homogeneity, distinction and reaction (Investopedia, n.d).

The segmentation has been done on the basis of buying behavior of the customers. Knowledge of segment buying behavior can help redirect marketing resources for profit gain.

As every customer has unique needs and expectations towards certain products, the ultimate goal of market segmentation is to organize customers into groups which allows targeting of customers with similar needs of and response to the products. The key is to minimize differentiation within each segment

Market segmentation is usually regarded as one of the main elements of marketing, with benefit segmentation commonly referred to as the most meaningful form of segmentation. Even though the importance of segmentation is broadly accepted, limited research, do exist about cosmetic medical products (Mohr, Sengupta, & Slater 2010, 79). There are very few real examples of segmentation studies available. This article has focused on Johnson and Johnson products marketing strategy globally. The spread of global culture is normally facilitated by the rise of global capitalism, the proliferation of transitional corporations, homogenization of global consumption, and widespread aspiration for material possessions. International market researchers have discussed the breadth of convergence of cultural values across countries.

Market segmentation strategy involves dividing the market into different groups and how a market is segmented is based on certain variables. A Company must identify the parts of the market it can serve best in order to reach their specific target market as well as to achieve the maximum profitability. According to Prof. Dr. Christian Schuhart, several criteria used for different market segmentation include: demographical, socio-economical, psychographic and observable behavior segmentation.

Market segmentation is the key strategic concept in marketing today (Michael N. Tuma, 2011). It is shows as the attempt to distinguish 'homogeneous groups of customers who can be targeted in the same manner because they have similar needs and preferences'. (Wedel & Kamakura, 2002). Good market segmentations helps in understanding the

Market segmentation is an approach used by a company to select their target market and provide data for a marketing plan. “Market segmentation consist of a two-step process; naming broad product markets and segmenting these broad products-markets in order to select target markets and develop suitable marketing mixes” (Perreault, Cannon, & McCarthy, 2014, p.97). There are 4 categories pertaining to market segmentation; behavioral, geographic, demographic, and behavioral.

The world is made up of different people, therefore segmentation provides consumers products that fulfil their individual needs. Martin (2011) states that companies have to try different segmentation variables either alone or in combination because often the best choices arise from using various strategies. There are few ways to segment a market, therefore, companies must think innovatively and be willing to re-segment if needed.

‘Market segmentation represents an effort to identify and catergorise groups of customers and countries according to common characteristics’ (Keegan and Green 2016, p.228). For any business, it is crucial that they segment their market accordingly or they will risk forgoing sales opportunities. Fahy and Jobber (2015) identify the objective of market segmentation as distinguishing groups of customers with similar requirements so

“A task force concluded, the past segmentation did not fully address the emerging shift in customer needs” “(Xiameter Case Study). Dow Corning had to thus try different segmentation variables, alone and in combination to find the best way to view the market structure. (Kotler et al, 2008).

The process of communicating the value of a product or service to customers, for the main purpose of selling that product or service is known as marketing. The science of choosing target markets through market segmentation and analysis, and understanding consumer behavior while providing superior customer value to the customers is termed as Marketing Management. It can be looked at as one of the most important of the organizational functions and a set of processes for creating, communicating and delivering the value to their customers or potential customers, and a customer relationship management that benefits the organization in a variety of ways.