<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Market segmentation is the activity 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 some type of 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). </P> <P> Many different ways to segment a market have been identified . Business - to - business (B2B) sellers might segment the market into different types of businesses or countries . While business to consumer (B2C) sellers might segment the market into demographic segments, lifestyle segments, behavioural segments or any other meaningful segment . </P>

By definition the members of a market segment have