Segmentation

Dividing customers into groups based on shared characteristics for targeted marketing.

1 min readLast updated Apr 2026
Reviewed by Golden Digital·Operator-reviewed ecommerce reference

Dividing customers into groups based on shared characteristics for targeted marketing.

Why It Matters

Segmented campaigns achieve 760% higher revenue than one-size-fits-all messaging by delivering relevant content to each group.

Practical Example

Scenario

A supplement brand segments their email list into 'Active Athletes,' 'Weight Management,' and 'General Wellness.'

Calculation

Generic blast: 18% open, 1.2% CTR. Segmented: 28% open, 3.5% CTR

Result

192% higher click-through rate, 3x more traffic per email sent, significantly higher conversion

Pro Tips

  • 1Start with behavioral segments (purchase frequency, recency) before demographic ones
  • 2Create segments that are actionable—if you can't message them differently, don't segment
  • 3Review and update segments quarterly as customer behaviors evolve

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Creating too many micro-segments that are impossible to maintain
Segmenting by demographics alone without behavioral validation
Putting customers in mutually exclusive segments when they belong in multiple

Frequently asked questions

Start with: VIPs (top 10% by spend), At-Risk (previously active, now dormant), New Customers (first 90 days), and Repeat Buyers. Build from there based on your product.

Use purchase data (product categories, frequency, AOV) and email engagement (opens, clicks). Even basic Shopify + Klaviyo provides enough for meaningful segmentation.

Put it to work

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