What is User Segmentation? A Complete Guide For 2023

January 4, 2023
by
Ammar Mazhar
What is User Segmentation? A Complete Guide For 2023

Table of contents

Think of a business without segmented users as a ship, out at sea, without any navigation system onboard. So, what will happen to such a ship? It will eventually get lost, only to be found a few years later in a deep marine trench with rusty relics as its only remembrance.

Does user segmentation release you from mere guesswork and provide solid, actionable information you can use to make decisions? Absolutely. But how does it work?

Today, you will find out how by reading this guide we have compiled for you. 

Let's dig in!

What is user segmentation?

User segmentation is the process of dividing users into groups based on shared characteristics or behaviors. This can be done for various reasons, such as personalizing marketing campaigns, improving user experience, or identifying and targeting specific user groups for product development.

User segmentation can be done manually, using tools such as spreadsheets and surveys, or it can be automated using data analysis software and machine learning algorithms.

Why does user segmentation matter?

As User segmentation is the process of dividing users into different groups or segments based on specific characteristics or behaviors, it allows businesses to tailor their products, services, and marketing efforts to specific groups of users in a more targeted and effective way.

For example, if a company sells clothing, it may segment its users based on age, gender, location, and income level. This can help the company better understand the needs and preferences of its different user segments and develop targeted marketing campaigns and product offerings that are more likely to appeal to each segment.

In addition to improving the effectiveness of marketing and product development efforts, user segmentation can help businesses understand their customers better and identify opportunities for growth and expansion. By analyzing data on user segments, businesses can learn more about their most valuable customers' characteristics and behaviors and use this information to inform their business strategy.

Overall, user segmentation is essential for businesses that want to understand their users better and create more effective products, services, and marketing campaigns.

9 User segmentation types and examples

Here are nine types of user segmentations and some examples that can help you understand the concept.

Infographic: 9 User segmentation types and examples

1. Geographic segmentation

Geographic segmentation involves dividing users into groups based on location, such as by country, region, or city. This type of segmentation can be helpful for businesses with a physical presence or selling products or services specific to certain areas or countries. 

For example, a clothing retailer might segment its users based on geographic location to create targeted marketing campaigns more relevant to users in different regions.

2. Firmographic segmentation

Firmographic segmentation involves dividing users into different groups based on the characteristics of their organization or company, such as industry, size, or revenue. This type of segmentation can be helpful for B2B companies that sell products or services to other businesses, as it can help them to identify potential customers and tailor their marketing efforts accordingly.

For example, a software company might segment its users based on firmographic characteristics to target marketing campaigns to specific industries or company sizes.

3. Technographic segmentation

Technographic segmentation is a type of segmentation strategy that divides users into groups based on their technology-related characteristics or behaviors. This type of segmentation can be helpful for businesses that sell technology products or services or rely on technology in their operations. 

For example, a cloud computing company might segment its users based on technographic characteristics such as the type of hardware they use or the software they have installed to create targeted marketing campaigns more relevant to their needs.

4. Value-based segmentation

The value-based segmentation divides users into different groups based on their values or priorities. This type of segmentation can be helpful for businesses that want to appeal to users motivated by specific values or ideals, such as environmental sustainability or social responsibility. 

For example, a company that sells eco-friendly products might segment its users based on their values to create marketing campaigns more likely to appeal to environmentally-conscious consumers.

5. Behavioral segmentation

Behavioral segmentation, as it’s evident from the word, divides users into different groups based on their behaviors or actions. This type of segmentation can be helpful for businesses that want to understand how their users interact with their products or services and to tailor their marketing efforts accordingly. 

For example, a retail company might segment its users based on their shopping habits, such as how often they make purchases or what products they tend to buy, to create targeted marketing campaigns that are more likely to drive sales.

6. Demographic segmentation

Demographic segmentation divides users into different groups based on demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, income level, education level, and marital status. This type of segmentation can be helpful for businesses that want to understand the needs and preferences of different demographic groups and tailor their products, services, and marketing efforts accordingly.

For example, a company that sells fashion clothing may use demographic segmentation to divide its users into different age groups and offer other products and marketing campaigns to each group. A company that sells financial services may use demographic segmentation to divide its users based on income level and provide different products and services to each group.

7. Cultural segmentation

Cultural segmentation is a type of user segmentation that divides users into different groups based on cultural characteristics, such as nationality, ethnicity, religion, language, and values. This type of segmentation can be helpful for businesses that want to understand the needs and preferences of different cultural groups and tailor their products, services, and marketing efforts accordingly.

For example, a company that sells food products may use cultural segmentation to divide its users based on the type of cuisine they prefer and offer different products and marketing campaigns to each group. A company that sells travel services may use cultural segmentation to divide its users based on the types of destinations they are interested in and offer different packages and promotions to each group.

8. Occasional segmentation

Occasional user segmentation is a type of user segmentation that divides users into different groups based on their frequency of use or engagement with a product or service. Few users use a product or service infrequently or only in certain situations, whereas frequent users use the product or service more regularly.

For example, a SaaS company may segment its users based on engagement frequency and offer different pricing plans or perks to frequent users versus occasional users. A company that sells a product used only occasionally, such as a gardening tool, may segment its users based on their past purchase history and offer targeted promotions or discounts to users who last purchased a while ago.

9. Psychographic segmentation

Psychographic segmentation is a type of user segmentation that divides users into different groups based on their values, attitudes, interests, and lifestyles. This type of segmentation can be helpful for businesses that want to understand the needs and preferences of different user groups and tailor their products, services, and marketing efforts accordingly.

For example, a company that sells outdoor gear may use psychographic segmentation to divide its users based on their interests in outdoor activities and offer different products and marketing campaigns to each group. A company that sells personal care products may use psychographic segmentation to divide its users based on their values and lifestyles and offer different products and marketing campaigns to each group.

How user segmentation helps you grow your business?

User segmentation can help businesses to grow in several ways:

Infographic: How user segmentation helps you grow your business?

1. Delivers personalized onboarding

By segmenting users based on characteristics such as their location, industry, or values, businesses can create a more personalized onboarding experience for new users. This can improve the user's initial experience with the product or service and increase the likelihood of using it.

2. Boosts retention rates

After segmenting users based on their behaviors, businesses can identify users at risk of churning and take targeted actions to improve their retention. For example, a company may send targeted emails or in-app messages to users who have yet to use the product or offer special deals or incentives to encourage them to continue using it.

3. Helps in personalizing product experience

Businesses can create a more personalized product experience for each user segment by segmenting users based on their characteristics and behaviors. This can improve the user's overall satisfaction with the product and increase the likelihood of using it.

4. Makes your offer at the right time

By segmenting users based on their behaviors, businesses can identify the right time to make an offer to a user. For example, a company may send a special offer to a user who has shown interest in a particular product but has yet to make a purchase.

5. Helps in winning back old users

By segmenting users based on their behaviors, businesses can identify users who have stopped using the product or service and take targeted actions to win them back. For example, a company may send targeted or in-app messages to users who last used the product a while ago or offer special deals or incentives to encourage them to return.

How can you implement user segmentation?

Here are some steps you can follow to implement user segmentation:

Infographic: How can you implement user segmentation

1. Track individual behavior

To implement user segmentation, you must track individual user behavior and collect data on various characteristics and behaviors. This could include data on demographics, location, purchase history, frequency of use, engagement with the product or service, and other relevant factors. You can use tools such as analytics software, surveys, or customer feedback to collect this data.

2. Define user personas

Once you have collected data on individual user behavior, you can use this data to create user personas, which are fictionalized representations of your typical users. These personas should include information on the characteristics and behaviors of each user segment and can help you to better understand the needs and preferences of each segment.

3. Compare the segments

Once you have defined your user personas, you can compare the different segments to identify any differences or trends. This can help you better understand each segment's characteristics and behaviors and identify any opportunities for growth or improvement.

4. Experiment and measure impacts on segments

Once you have identified your user segments and understood their characteristics and behaviors, you can experiment with different strategies and tactics to see how they impact each segment. For example, you could test different marketing campaigns or product offerings to see which ones are most effective for each segment. You can then use analytics and other measurement tools to track the results of these experiments and measure the impact on each segment.

Conclusion

Overall, implementing user segmentation involves collecting and analyzing data on individual user behavior, defining user personas, comparing the different segments, and experimenting with different strategies to see which ones are most effective for each segment. 

And if you want a powerful tool that you can use to create hyper-segment your audience and create user personas, then look no further than AppFlows, a low-code email automation tool designed to create behavior-driven automations for your product.

By following these steps, you can create targeted marketing campaigns, product offerings, and other efforts that are more likely to appeal to your different user segments and help to grow your business.

Author Bio

Ammar Mazhar

Ammar Mazhar

Content writer by day and a book nerd by night, Ammar Mazhar has been writing for 3 years for B2B and B2C businesses. As a wordsmith, Ammar knows how to write SEO-optimized content that your users will find insightful, igniting results for your business.

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