You may already know what list segmentation is, but are you utilizing it to build your reputation for your business? Let’s cover a few basics to ensure you’re getting the best possible results from your lists.

What is List Segmentation?

List segmentation is the process of dividing your prospect/customer list (or database) into distinct groups of buyers. By doing this, you can improve your marketing efforts through the targeting of a highly applicable message to a defined audience.

It’s important to know that your customers are not all the same. Most businesses don’t serve just one type of customer. There are usually several types of customers for any given business and there is definitely never a one-size-fits-all customer.

For example, if you own a catering company, you might do business with an event planner for a big corporation, as well as a bride-to-be for a small wedding. These are two very different types of customers who have very different needs.

So, if you were doing any kind of marketing to these two customers, a broad message wouldn’t be as effective as sending each audience a targeted message that spoke to their particular issues and needs.

The overall intent of list segmentation is to:

• Identify groups of similar customers and potential customers
• Prioritize the groups by their needs
• Target more closely based on known behavior patterns
• Respond with appropriate marketing strategies that fulfill the needs of each chosen segment
• Improve your reputation by effectively communicating with segments
• Increase response to direct marketing campaigns

In today’s market, customers expect you to know exactly who they are and communicate with them accordingly. List segmentation helps you tailor your message so it’s more relevant. And if your message is always relevant to your customer, your reputation will improve. Over time, your audience will start to realize that every time they get an email or direct mail piece, they know the content will be valuable to them.

Ways to Segment Audiences:

• Demographics: gender, age, occupations, etc.
• Geography: city, state, zip code
• Buying Behavior: product usage, attitudes, responses
• Psychographics: lifestyle, values, personality

According to the Direct Marketing Association, about 60% of a direct marketing campaign’s effectiveness is driven by the accuracy and quality of the mailing list.

Call us today if you are interested in our list and mailing services. We would love to discuss the success we’ve had with other clients and how we can best serve you.