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Three eco-conscious audiences for Earth Day

Published: April 18, 2023 by Experian Marketing Services

As Earth Day approaches, it’s the perfect opportunity for marketers to explore innovative ways to engage with eco-conscious customers. With a strong and growing interest in sustainable business practices worldwide, green audiences are becoming increasingly influential. In addition to being good for the planet, engaging these customers is great for any brand or organization striving to become more eco-friendly and socially responsible. By taking advantage of this timely event and using appropriate tools, you can create personalized campaigns that will both promote your brand and increase customer loyalty.

Eco-conscious audiences

In this blog post, we’ll cover three eco-conscious audiences to target this Earth Day:

  1. Solar energy
  2. GreenAwareTM
  3. Electric vehicles

Solar energy

Our first eco-conscious audience is Solar energy. Consumers in this audience show an inclination toward harnessing the power of the sun as a clean, renewable energy source. Our audience data can provide valuable insights into the Solar energy consumer base, including their age, education level, occupation, household income, and communication preferences. Let’s explore these metrics to better understand how to reach this group effectively.

Age and living situation

Consumers in our Solar energy audience are more likely to live in a home with two or more adults and are between the ages of 45-74.

consumers in the eco-conscious solar energy audience are more likely to be between ages 45-74

Education level and occupation

Consumers in our Solar energy audience are more likely to have graduated from college or graduate school and work in management-level occupations.

consumers in the eco-conscious solar energy audience are more likely to work in management-level occupations

Household income

Consumers in our Solar energy audience have household incomes of more than $75,000 and their homes are valued at over $550,000.

consumers in the eco-conscious solar energy audience have household incomes of more than $75,000

Preferred engagement channels

Consumers in our Solar energy audience are most receptive to ads served through digital channels like digital newspapers and email.

consumers in the eco-conscious solar energy audience are most receptive to ads through streaming tv and digital newspaper

Solar energy audience pairings

Consumers in our Solar energy audience also belong to three of our Mosaic® USA groups:

  1. Power Elite
  2. Flourishing Families
  3. Booming with Confidence

Our consumer segmentation portal of 126 million households and 650 lifestyle and interest attributes empowers marketers like you to precisely target your ideal audience and communicate with them on a personal level. Mosaic’s data segments the U.S. into 19 overarching groups and 71 underlying types, giving you the insights needed to anticipate the behavior, attitudes, and preferences of your most profitable customers and communicate with them on their preferred channels, with messaging that resonates.

GreenAware

Our second eco-conscious audience is GreenAware.

GreenAware segments the 126 million U.S. households within Experian Marketing Data into four distinct groups. Each group differs in their attitudes and behaviors toward purchasing products that are environmentally safe and working with companies that are eco-conscious. We created these groups using an enhanced application of traditional statistical clustering techniques based on environmentally relevant measurements in Simmons’ National Consumer Study.

Based on the distinctive mindset of consumers toward the environment, you can learn how environmental concerns fit into their lives through four major consumer segments:

  1. Eco-Friendly Enthusiasts
  2. Sustainable Spectators
  3. Passive Greenies
  4. Eco Critics

Let’s dive deeper into each group to understand their unique perspective on the environment and how this impacts their attitudes and behaviors.

Eco-Friendly Enthusiasts

This eco-conscious segment prioritizes a green lifestyle and takes pride in avoiding products that harm the planet. With traditional and liberal values, they embrace optimism and prioritize family. With their children out of the house, they take the time for some well-deserved rejuvenation and are committed to a healthy lifestyle. Some members of this group are transitioning into retirement and welcoming a new chapter in their life.

  • Mature adults and retirees
  • College graduate or more
  • Above average income
  • May be married or single
  • Typically own their homes

Sustainable Spectators

This segment aspires to be more sustainable, but they struggle with translating their green ideas into action. They have a soft spot for a cozy home. While their love for interior design and taking care of their own space is evident, they’re always looking for new experiences and opportunities to learn. Staying healthy and active is a top priority for this group, so it’s no surprise that they’re always looking for ways to stay fit and feel their best.

  • Established and mid-life adults
  • College graduate or more
  • High income
  • Typically married
  • Likely to own their homes

Passive Greenies

This is the largest and one of the most youthful groups. Known for their love of exploration and self-discovery, they may not have fully embraced eco-conscious behaviors yet, but they are eager to stay current with the latest technology and trends. With their incredible ability to multitask, they’re always on-the-go, and constantly seek the next best thing.

  • Mainly young adults and diverse
  • Education ranges from high school through some college
  • Below average income
  • More likely to be single or divorced
  • Typically rent

Eco Critics

This group is not likely to be eco-conscious and may have negative attitudes about the environment. They are confident, driven, and focused on their personal growth. They crave instant gratification, seeking out quick and easy solutions to their everyday decisions. They place a high value on entertainment, their social life, and carefully curate their image.

  • Young and established adults
  • Education ranges from high school through post-graduate studies
  • High income
  • Married or single
  • Typically own their homes

Let’s take a look at how the GreenAware segments stack up against each other in terms of age, household income, education level, and media preference. How do they compare? Let’s find out.

Age

Consumers in the Eco-Friendly Enthusiasts segment are the oldest of the four GreenAware segments – about half of the consumers are 65 or older. Eco Critics are the youngest segment, with over half of consumers in this group between ages 25-44.

consumers in the "eco-friendly enthusiasts" audience are the oldest of the eco-conscious audience segments

Household income

Sustainable Spectators and Eco Critics are the wealthiest GreenAware segments. The average household income of consumers in these segments is above $100,000. Passive Greenies have the lowest household income, with a majority below $50,000.

sustainable spectators and eco critic consumers are the wealthiest of the eco-conscious audiences

Education level and occupation

Passive Greenies are more likely to work Blue Collar jobs and have the lowest level of education. As the wealthiest segments, Sustainable Spectators and Eco Critics have the highest levels of college degrees and work in management, business, and financial operations. Eco-Friendly Enthusiasts are the most likely to be retired and out of the workforce.

graph of eco-conscious audiences and the highest education level they have finished

Preferred engagement channels

  • Streaming TV is the preferred engagement channel for all GreenAware segments.
  • Eco-Friendly Enthusiasts prefer digital channels like digital newspapers, mobile SMS, and email. They also engage with traditional channels like direct mail and newspaper.
  • Passive Greenies have a high preference for digital display, mobile SMS, digital video, broadcast cable TV, and radio.
  • Eco Critics have a high preference for digital channels like digital newspapers, mobile SMS, and digital display.
  • Sustainable Spectators strongly prefer digital newspapers. They don’t show as strong of a preference for mobile SMS and digital display as Eco Critics and Passive Greenies.
graph of the eco-conscious audiences' preferred engagement channels

GreenAware audience pairings

Six of our Mosaic groups have at least one GreenAware segment with 10% or more of the population. For more precise targeting, below are suggested Mosaic audiences you can pair with each GreenAware segment:

Eco-Friendly EnthusiastsSustainable SpectatorsPassive GreeniesEco Critics
Booming with ConfidencePower EliteSingles and StartersPower Elite
Autumn YearsBooming with ConfidenceGolden Year GuardiansSuburban Style
Golden Year GuardiansSingles and Starters

Electric vehicles

Our third eco-conscious audience is electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are having a major moment in the automotive industry. This is no surprise given that new EV models are being released and an increasing number of charging stations are popping up around the country. As EVs become more prominent, it’s essential to stay up to date on relevant trends to make informed decisions about what lies ahead.

The demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is on the rise

Consumers are embracing the EV revolution, showing their desire for a cleaner, greener future. Automotive marketers are increasingly looking to reach in-market EV shoppers and current alternative fuel vehicle owners due to the growing availability of electric vehicles, improved infrastructure, and rising popularity. In 2022, EVs charged up the market and accounted for a remarkable 6% of new retail registrations.

While Tesla continues to dominate the EV market, Ford, Chevrolet, and Hyundai are starting to compete, each holding more than 3% of the market share of new retail EV registrations.

graph showing the demand for electric vehicles by model

Geography

Where are we seeing the most new retail EV registrations? The top designated market areas (DMAs) for new retail EV registrations are mostly located in heavily populated, coastal cities like Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY.

graphic showing the top designated market areas for new retail EV registrations

The fastest growing DMAs, however, are in smaller cities like Tucson, AZ and Oklahoma City, OK.

Generational demographics

Gen X and Millennials make up the largest percentage of new retail EV buyers at 37.5% and 34.4%. Gen Z and the Silent generation represent the smallest shares at 5% and 2.1%. Boomers hover between Gen X and Millennials’ share and account for 20.6% of new EV retail purchases.

EV audience pairings

Our top five Mosaic groups for new EV buyers include:

  1. American Royalty
  2. Cosmopolitan Achievers
  3. Philanthropic Sophisticates
  4. Couples with Clout
  5. Fast Track Couples

How to target consumers in-market for electric vehicles

We offer 70+ audiences that are focused on likely buyers and owners of EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. We also offer a subset of 28 audiences focused on individual EV/PHEV vehicle models.

Below is how you can find a few of these audiences on-the-shelf of most trusted advertising platforms:

  • Autos, Cars, and Trucks > In Market-Fuel Type > Electric
  • Autos, Cars, and Trucks > In Market-Fuel Type > Used Electric
  • Autos, Cars, and Trucks > In-Market Make and Models > Tesla
  • Autos, Cars, and Trucks > In-Market Make and Models > Chevrolet Bolt EV

We can help you reach eco-conscious consumers

Earth Day is a great opportunity to get creative with your marketing efforts with our three eco-conscious audiences: Solar energy, GreenAware, and electric vehicles. To find out how you can add eco-conscious audiences to your marketing plan, contact us.


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Not all customers are the same, so why waste your budget marketing to them like they are? McKinsey research shows that 71% of consumers want personalized shopping experiences, and 76% get frustrated when they don’t have them. That’s where demographic segmentation comes in. But what is demographic segmentation, exactly? We define it as a process that helps you categorize your audience into meaningful demographic groups so you can reach the right people with impactful custom messages. Businesses across industries are partnering with Experian to power smarter decisions and better results through solutions like demographic segmentation — but what does this look like in action? This article breaks down five real-world demographic segmentation examples, showing how businesses have worked with us to drive measurable success so you can see exactly how it can work for you. What is demographic segmentation?   Demographic segmentation involves dividing your audience into smaller, more specific groups based on shared demographics like income, education, gender, job, family status, and more to gain a more granular understanding of your brand’s target segments. The better you know your audience, the better you speak to their unique needs — and the more effective your campaigns will be, as you’ll be able to target each segment with highly personalized content that resonates. For instance, a company might market a new tech gadget to young adults in one way while promoting the same product to families with young children in a completely different way, ensuring the message speaks to each group’s lifestyle and priorities. Demographic segmentation attributes Some of the most common attributes used in demographic segmentation include: Age Each age group has different wants and needs. A new video game might catch the eye of teenagers, while a retirement plan is more likely to appeal to someone in their 50s or 60s. Gender Gender impacts preference for certain products, from fashion to gadgets, so knowing who you’re talking to helps make your marketing more relevant. Income Someone with a higher income might be more likely to purchase premium products, while someone on a budget will respond better to discounts or value-based offers. Education The level of education a person has can influence what kind of messaging will resonate with them, whether it’s complex or more straightforward. Occupation A marketing message targeting busy professionals might differ from one aimed at students or retirees. Occupation can tell you what’s important to a person in terms of their needs and lifestyle. Family Status A family with young kids likely has different priorities than a single person or a couple without children. You can adapt your messaging to be more relevant to what matters most to them, like convenience or value. Benefits of using demographic segmentation Demographic segmentation offers several valuable benefits for marketers. Here’s why it’s one of the most commonly used and effective ways to target audiences: Improved targeting and personalization: Demographic segmentation powers highly customized campaigns so you can cater to different income levels, family structures, job types, and so forth. B2C brands can provide offers based on factors like age, income, and gender, while B2B brands can target by occupation to reach decision-makers. Better product and service development: Understanding which demographics use your product or service is a great way to inform future improvements. Higher engagement: With highly customized content, you can speak directly to specific demographic groups and increase engagement. Cost efficiency: As you target the most relevant segments, you optimize your spending around the most likely buyers and will see better returns. Increased conversion and retention: Relevant, targeted messaging leads to higher conversion rates, and when people feel understood, they’ll want to keep coming back. Clearer customer insights: Demographic data provides precise, actionable insights for refining your marketing strategy. Simplicity and effectiveness: Demographic insights are immediately actionable and easy to implement, which gives you a great starting point for focused campaigns. When to use other segmentation types While demographic segmentation provides valuable consumer insights, there are times when other approaches may offer a more effective strategy: Your business provides location-dependent services. If you strictly serve a local area, geographic segmentation would be more effective in targeting customers based on location. Your business offers hobby-centric products or services. Psychographic segmentation (based on interests, lifestyle, or values) may be more relevant than demographics alone for products related to specific interests or hobbies. You have access to detailed behavioral data. If you collect data on customer behavior (like browsing history or purchase patterns), behavioral segmentation would allow for more personalized targeting than demographics. You\’re selling high-end luxury products. While income is a useful demographic variable, psychographic factors like values, aspirations, and lifestyle better capture the desires of luxury consumers. Your target audience shares similar behaviors, regardless of demographic factors. Behavioral or psychographic segmentation might offer more insight if your customers engage with your product or service based on shared behaviors rather than demographic traits. Your product or service targets specific needs or pain points. Segmenting by need or issue rather than traditional demographic variables would likely yield better results if you\’re offering a solution to a particular problem (like a health-related product). How our customers are using demographic segmentation to produce tangible results               Demographic segmentation is about knowing your audience and using data to create marketing strategies that drive measurable outcomes. Let’s look at some real-world use cases from brands like yours that have been successful in this effort, working with Experian to translate demographic insights into significant business growth. Use case #1: Identifying customer spending potential to boost growth for a retail chain Objective A large retail chain wanted to understand the spending potential of each customer in their stores. Their goal was to uncover and maximize untapped spending potential. Solution Experian conducted an analysis to identify the top demographic factors that drove spending in the retail store the previous year. Our consultants found the four key drivers were: Age Income Family structure (household composition) Location/region Results By combining these attributes to create segments, we uncovered two valuable annual estimates: Potential spend: A conservative estimate of how much a customer could spend if they reached the top 20% of spenders within their specific demographic segment (based on data from the highest spenders). Unrealized spend: The difference between a customer\’s annual potential spend and their current spend. An estimate of how much more they could be spending each year. These demographic segments provided the marketing strategy the retail chain used to target $1.1 billion in unrealized spend. This revealed how much additional revenue could be captured by targeting the right customers with tailored marketing and offers through demographic segmentation. Use case #2: Helping a financial institution identify regional DE&I opportunities Objective A large financial institution needed help identifying regional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) opportunities. They wanted to better prioritize their outreach to underserved communities in the Los Angeles area. Solution Experian\’s Custom Analytics team provided the data and insights to pinpoint specific areas needing attention. We used three key indices to analyze the region: Income index: Measured each underserved economic group by comparing the percentage of low-to-moderate income consumers against the entire L.A. area. Ethnicity index: Measured the percentage of consumers by ethnicity, such as African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and others, against the entire L.A. area. Credit index: Identified potential credit disparities by looking at the average FICO score and the percentage of customers with credit accounts against the entire L.A. area. Results Our client received an analytics dashboard to track and report these metrics, providing clear, traceable data to prioritize DE&I outreach. This dashboard helped them measure progress toward more inclusive practices. Use case #3: Segmenting a health supplement ambassador program for enhanced engagement Objective A health supplement company wanted to identify specific segments within their ambassador program to provide better support and increase engagement. Solution Experian’s Custom Analytics team developed tailored customer segments to address specific needs and behaviors. These segments included: Young and independent: Younger, lower-income singles or starter households who are just beginning to establish their own lives. Families with ends to meet: Young and middle-aged families with kids who are budget-conscious, often using coupons and enjoying fast food. High-end families: Middle-aged families with kids and high incomes, financially secure big spenders who also give to charities. Empty nesters: Older households with no kids who focus on cooking at home and may have more disposable income. Results Segmenting at registration allowed for more effective communication and engagement with prospects. Customized messaging, guided by customer demographics and purchasing behaviors, improved acquisition and retention by helping the right messages reach the appropriate individuals through their preferred channels. Use case #4: Comparing customer bases: Insights for a retailer across two cities Objective A national retailer with locations in two major cities (their home base city and a recent expansion city) wanted to understand how different their customer base was in each city. They aimed to uncover key demographic and behavioral differences to refine their marketing strategies and ensure each location received the most relevant messaging and promotions. Solution Experian’s Custom Analytics team analyzed each city’s customers across a wide range of characteristics:. Demographics: The expansion city had a younger population with more families, while the home base city had an older and more established customer base. Purchasing behavior: Customers in the expansion city spent more per transaction than those in the home base city. Preferred marketing approach: Customers in the home base city were likelier to be Brand Loyalists, responding well to familiar, trust-driven messaging. Shoppers in the expansion city were Savvy Researchers who responded better to value-based content and product comparisons. Results Using these insights, the retailer tailored its marketing approach to align with each location’s customer base: Home base city: Focused on maintaining loyalty by emphasizing brand trust and highlighting long-term customer benefits. Expansion city: Positioned marketing to appeal to younger, family-focused consumers to showcase high-value purchases and competitive pricing These adjustments led to improved engagement and higher sales in both cities. Use case #5: Optimizing direct mail to help a nationwide retailer maximize impact on a limited budget Objective Facing a shrinking marketing budget, a nationwide retailer needed to refine their direct mail strategy to reach the right customers while reducing costs. Solution Experian’s Custom Analytics team developed a comprehensive dashboard summarizing two dozen recent direct mail campaigns, which allowed the retailer to: Understand the demographic composition of high-response customers across different regions. Identify key patterns in response rates, helping them pinpoint the most receptive audiences. Discover that the Power Elite Mosaic Group representing affluent, high-spending households comprised only 17% of their mailed audience but accounted for 47% of responses. Results With these insights, the retailer restructured their direct mail strategy to target the highest-performing segments. Changes like these led to a 30% reduction in mailing costs while retaining 92% of sales, proving that strategic segmentation can drive efficiency without sacrificing revenue. Explore demographic segmentation with Experian’s Analytics Consulting team Now that we’ve provided a demographic segmentation definition and given you some real-world demographic segmentation examples, it’s time to get a deeper understanding of your audience. Our experienced consultants utilize Experian Marketing Data to create the demographic segments you need to enhance targeting and uncover hidden opportunities. Key features Expertise and experience: Our consultants bring a wealth of analytic knowledge and industry expertise, so you can utilize the latest techniques and best practices. Customized solutions: We provide tailored, custom solutions like demographic segmentation to address your specific needs and challenges. Data-driven insights: Our expertise in Experian Marketing Data quickly delivers valuable insights to optimize operations and identify new opportunities. Industry perspective: As external experts, our consultants offer the unbiased perspective necessary to see beyond internal biases and make objective decisions. Competitive advantage: Utilizing our analytic consultants gives your business a competitive edge by understanding market trends, customer behavior, and potential risks faster than your competitors. Connect with us today to see how our data and expertise can improve  your targeting, personalization, and campaign performance. Connect with us Latest posts

Apr 17,2025 by Erik Lund, Lead Consultant

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