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• Google Analytics Privacy Issues : Is It Really That Bad ?

  2 juin 2022, par Erin

  If you find yourself asking : “What’s the deal with Google Analytics privacy ?”, you probably have some second thoughts. 

  Your hunch is right. Google Analytics (GA) is a popular web analytics tool, but it’s far from being perfect when it comes to respecting users’ privacy. 

  This post helps you understand tremendous Google Analytics privacy concerns users, consumers and regulators expressed over the years.

  In this blog, we’ll cover :

  What Does Google Analytics Collect About Users ? 

  To understand Google Analytics privacy issues, you need to know how Google treats web users’ data. 

  By default, Google Analytics collects the following information : 

  • Session statistics — duration, page(s) viewed, etc. 
  • Referring website details — a link you came through or keyword used. 
  • Approximate geolocation — country, city. 
  • Browser and device information — mobile vs desktop, OS usage, etc. 

  Google obtains web analytics data about users via two means : an on-site Google Analytics tracking code and cookies.

  A cookie is a unique identifier (ID) assigned to each user visiting a web property. Each cookie stores two data items : unique user ID and website name. 

  With the help of cookies, web analytics solutions can recognise returning visitors and track their actions across the website(s).

  

  • First party cookies are generated by one website and collect user behaviour data from said website only. 
  • Third-party cookies are generated by a third-party website object (for example, an ad) and can track user behaviour data across multiple websites. 

  As it’s easy to imagine, third-party cookies are a goldmine for companies selling online ads. Essentially, they allow ad platforms to continue watching how the user navigates the web after clicking a certain link. 

  Yet, people have little clue as to which data they are sharing and how it is being used. Also, user consent to tracking across websites is only marginally guaranteed by existing Google Analytics controls. 

  Why Third-Party Cookie Data Collection By GA Is Problematic 

  Cookies can transmit personally identifiable information (PII) such as name, log in details, IP address, saved payment method and so on. Some of these details can end up with advertisers without consumers’ direct knowledge or consent.

  Regulatory frameworks such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) emerged as a response to uncontrolled user behaviour tracking.

  Under regulatory pressure, Big Tech companies had to adapt their data collection process.

  Apple was the first to implement by-default third-party blocking in the Safari browser. Then added a tracking consent mechanism for iPhone users starting from iOS 15.2 and later. 

  Google, too, said it would drop third-party cookie usage after The European Commission and UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched antitrust investigations into its activity. 

  To shake off the data watchdogs, Google released a Privacy Sandbox — a set of progressive tech, operational and compliance changes for ensuring greater consumer privacy. 

  Google’s biggest promise : deprecate third-party cookies usage for all web and mobile products. 

  Originally, Google promised to drop third-party cookies by 2022, but that didn’t happen. Instead, Google delayed cookie tracking depreciation for Chrome until the second half of 2023. 

  Why did they push back on this despite hefty fines from regulators ?

  Because online ads make Google a lot of money.

  In 2021, Alphabet Inc (parent company of Google), made $256.7 billion in revenue, of which $209.49 billion came from selling advertising. 

  Lax Google Analytics privacy enforcement — and its wide usage by website owners — help Google make those billions from collecting and selling user data. 

  How Google Uses Collected Google Analytics Data for Advertising 

  Over 28 million websites (or roughly 85% of the Internet) have Google Analytics tracking codes installed. 

  Even if one day we get a Google Analytics version without cookies, it still won’t address all the privacy concerns regulators and consumers have. 

  Over the years, Google has accumulated an extensive collection of user data. The company’s engineers used it to build state-of-the-art deep learning models, now employed to build advanced user profiles. 

  Deep learning is the process of training a machine to recognise data patterns. Then this “knowledge” is used to produce highly-accurate predictive insights. The more data you have for model training — the better its future accuracy will be. 

  Google has amassed huge deposits of data from its collection of products — GA, YouTube, Gmail, Google Docs and Google Maps among others. Now they are using this data to build a third-party cookies-less alternative mechanism for modelling people’s preferences, habits, lifestyles, etc. 

  Their latest model is called Google Topics. 

  This comes only after Google’s failed attempt to replace cookie-based training with Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC) model. But the solution wasn’t offering enough user transparency and user controls among other issues.

  

  Google Topics promises to limit the granularity of data advertisers get about users. 

  But it’s still a web user surveillance method. With Google Topics, the company will continue collecting user data via Chrome (and likely other Google products) — and share it with advertisers. 

  Because as we said before : Google is in the business of profiting off consumers’ data. 

  Two Major Ways Google Takes Advantage of Customer Data

  Every bit of data Google collects across its ecosystem of products can be used in two ways :

  • For ad targeting and personalisation 
  • To improve Google’s products 

  The latter also helps the former. 

  Advanced Ad Personalisation and Targeting

  GA provides the company with ample data on users’ 

  • Recent and frequent searches 
  • Location history
  • Visited websites
  • Used apps 
  • Videos and ads viewed 
  • Personal data like age or gender 

  The company’s privacy policy explicitly states that :
  

  

  Google also admits to using collected data to “measure the effectiveness of advertising” and “personalise content and ads you see on Google.” 

  But there are no further elaborations on how exactly customers’ data is used — and what you can do to prevent it from being shared with third parties. 

  In some cases, Google also “forgets” to inform users about its in-product tracking.

  Journalists from CNBC and The New York Times independently concluded that Google monitors users’ Gmail activity. In particular, the company scans your inbox for recent purchases, trips, flights and bills notifications. 

  While Google says that this information isn’t sold to advertisers (directly), they still may use the “saved information about your orders in other Google services”. 

  Once again, this means you have little control or knowledge of subsequent data usage. 

  Improving Product Usability 

  Google has many “arms” to collect different data points — from user’s search history to frequently-travelled physical routes. 

  They also reserve the right to use these insights for improving existing products. 

  Here’s what it means : by combining different types of data points obtained from various products, Google can pierce a detailed picture of a person’s life. Even if such user profile data is anonymised, it is still alarmingly accurate. 

  Douglas Schmidt, a computer science researcher at Vanderbilt University, well summarised the matter : 

  “[Google’s] business model is to collect as much data about you as possible and cross-correlate it so they can try to link your online persona with your offline persona. This tracking is just absolutely essential to their business. ‘Surveillance capitalism’ is a perfect phrase for it.”

  Google Data Collection Obsession Is Backed Into Its Business Model 

  OK, but Google offers some privacy controls to users ? Yes. Google only sees and uses the information you voluntarily enter or permit them to access. 

  But as the Washington Post correspondent points out :

  “[Big Tech] companies get to set all the rules, as long as they run those rules by consumers in convoluted terms of service that even those capable of decoding the legalistic language rarely bother to read. Other mechanisms for notice and consent, such as opt-outs and opt-ins, create similar problems. Control for the consumer is mostly an illusion.”

  Google openly claims to be “one of many ad networks that personalise ads based on your activity online”. 

  The wrinkle is that they have more data than all other advertising networks (arguably combined). This helps Google sell high-precision targeting and contextually personalised ads for billions of dollars annually.

  Given that Google has stakes in so many products — it’s really hard to de-Google your business and minimise tracking and data collection from the company.
  

  They are also creating a monopoly on data collection and ownership. This fact makes regulators concerned. The 2021 antitrust lawsuit from the European Commission says : 

  “The formal investigation will notably examine whether Google is distorting competition by restricting access by third parties to user data for advertising purposes on websites and apps while reserving such data for its own use.”

  In other words : By using consumer data to its unfair advantage, Google allegedly shuts off competition.

  But that’s not the only matter worrying regulators and consumers alike. Over the years, Google also received numerous other lawsuits for breaching people’s privacy, over and over again. 

  Here’s a timeline : 

  • 2019 : UK citizens issued a class action suit against Google for imposing cookies to override users’ privacy settings in the Safari browser. 
  • 2020 : US citizens pushed for a $5 billion class-action suit for tracking their activity through browsers set in “private” mode.
  • 2022 : Another class-action lawsuit in the US for deceptive privacy controls and unconsented location data tracking by Google mobile apps. 
  • 2022 : Google reached a $100 million class-action settlement for breaching Illinois biometrics privacy laws in Google Photos. 

  Separately, Google has a very complex history with GDPR compliance. 

  How Google Analytics Contributes to the Web Privacy Problem 

  Google Analytics is the key puzzle piece that supports Google’s data-driven business model. 

  If Google was to release a privacy-focused Google Analytics alternative, it’d lose access to valuable web users’ data and a big portion of digital ad revenues. 

  Remember : Google collects more data than it shares with web analytics users and advertisers. But they keep a lot of it for personal usage — and keep looking for ways to share this intel with advertisers (in a way that keeps regulators off their tail).

  For Google Analytics to become truly ethical and privacy-focused, Google would need to change their entire revenue model — which is something they are unlikely to do.

  Where does this leave Google Analytics users ? 

  In a slippery territory. By proxy, companies using GA are complicit with Google’s shady data collection and usage practice. They become part of the problem.

  In fact, Google Analytics usage opens a business to two types of risks : 

  • Reputational. 77% of global consumers say that transparency around how data is collected and used is important to them when interacting with different brands. That’s why data breaches and data misuse by brands lead to major public outrages on social media and boycotts in some cases. 
  • Legal. EU regulators are on a continuous crusade against Google Analytics 4 (GA4) as it is in breach of GDPR. French and Austrian watchdogs ruled the “service” illegal. Since Google Analytics is not GDPR compliant, it opens any business using it to lawsuits (which is already happening).

  But there’s a way out.

  Choose a Privacy-Friendly Google Analytics Alternative 

  Google Analytics is a popular web analytics service, but not the only one available. You have alternatives such as Matomo. 

  Our guiding principle is : respecting privacy.

  Unlike Google Analytics, we leave data ownership 100% in users’ hands. Matomo lets you implement privacy-centred controls for user data collection.

  Plus, you can self-host Matomo On-Premise or choose Matomo Cloud with data securely stored in the EU and in compliance with GDPR.

  The best part ? You can try our ethical alternative to Google Analytics for free. No credit card required ! Start your free 21-day trial now. 

  21 day free trial. No credit card required.

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• Fintech Content Marketing : 10 Best Practices & Growth Strategies

  24 juillet 2024, par Erin

  Content marketing is an effective strategy for growth and building trust. This is especially true in the fintech industry, where competition is intense and trust is crucial. Content marketing helps you strengthen customer relationships, engage your audience, and differentiate yourself from competitors.

  To get the most out of your fintech content marketing, you need to develop the right strategy.

  In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about content marketing for fintech companies so you can expand your reach and grow your business.

  What is fintech content marketing ?

  Fintech content marketing is creating content around financial topics on the internet to attract, engage, and convert audiences.

  Fintech companies can use a content strategy to drive leads by creating educational content.

  

  While financial content is important, it’s easy for it to feel boring, unrelatable, or confusing. But, when done right, fintech companies can educate their audiences with great content marketing that helps their audience understand financial topics in-depth.

  Fintech companies can create written, audio, or video content to inform their audiences about financial topics they’re interested in.

  From there, each piece of content can then be distributed to different mediums :

  • Blogs
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Other websites
  • Apps
  • And more

  Once content is distributed, fintech companies can then analyse how effective the content is by tracking web analytics data like search engine traffic, social media engagement, and new customers.

  7 reasons fintech companies need content marketing

  Before we dive into fintech content marketing best practices, let’s recap why fintech companies need to lean into content to grow their business.

  Here are seven reasons your financial company needs to deploy a robust content strategy :

  

  1. Reach new audiences

  If you want to grow your fintech company, you need to find new customers. Creating content is a proven path to marketing yourself online and attracting a larger audience.

  By using search engine optimisation (SEO), social media marketing, and YouTube, you can expand your audience and grow your customer base.

  With content marketing, you can find new audiences without needing a massive budget, making scaling easier.

  2. Engage current audience

  While content can be a powerful method to reach new customers, it isn’t the only thing it’s good for.

  If you want to grow your business, another way to leverage your content is to keep your current audience engaged.

  You can create financial content to educate, inform, and add value to your current audience who already knows you. Repurposing content between the different platforms your audience is on keeps them engaged with you and your brand.

  It’s a simple way to capture and keep the attention of your audience, build trust, and convert more prospects into customers.

  3. Build relationships with customers

  You should leverage content marketing in various spaces, such as social media, your website, a blog, or even YouTube. Creating content on different channels allows you to build relationships with your customers on autopilot.

  The general rule in marketing is that the more touch points you have with your customers, the more you’ll sell. Creating more content means you always have new opportunities to increase those touchpoints, build deeper relationships, and sell more.

  4. Grow authority in a space

  If you want people to trust you and your financial tech, you need to be seen as an authority. How can someone trust that your app or web platform will help them with their finances if they don’t trust you’re a financial expert ?

  You should use informative content to become a thought leader in your space. You can post content on social media or your own platforms.

  You can also spread your authority by leveraging other brands’ or influencers’ audiences through guest blog posting and guest podcasting.

  5. Drive new leads

  Content marketing isn’t just a fun hobby for businesses. It’s one of the smartest ways to drive new leads.

  You should be crafting content for your top-of-funnel marketing strategy to attract potential customers.

  Creating content consistently is a great way to bring in new audience members into your funnel.

  Once you grow your top-of-funnel audience, you can convert them into leads by getting them to join your email list or trial your financial software.

  One tip to get more out of your content strategy is creating evergreen content to continually drive leads. For example, create “set-it-and-forget it” blog posts or YouTube videos that will continue working for you daily to attract new audience members searching for helpful financial information. Then, provide a call to action on that content to join your email list (by leveraging a lead magnet).

  6. Convert prospects to customers

  When you have a continual flow of new top-of-funnel prospects, you always have a fresh cycle of prospects you can convert into customers.

  Content is primarily used to attract new audience members and engage your current audience at the top of your funnel. But it can also be used to convert your audience into customers.

  Try mixing up your content types to drive conversions :

  • Educational
  • Entertaining
  • Promotional

  Don’t just show off educational content.

  You should also mix in “authority” content by displaying case studies of user success stories and calling to action to sign up for a free trial or request a demo.

  7. Lower Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

  On the business side, if you want a marketing strategy that will keep expenses low long term, you’ll want to invest more in content.

  Content marketing has a great return on investment (ROI) for your time and effort.

  Why ?

  Because the customer acquisition costs (CAC) are so low.

  You can create content that can bring in leads for months if not years.

  If you only use Google or Facebook ads to drive new leads, you always have to “pay-to-play.” When you turn the advertising tap off, your leads dry up.

  But, with blogs and videos, you can create content that can bring in organic customers on repeat. It’s like a snowball effect that keeps going long after you’ve completed the initial work.

  10 fintech content marketing best practices

  Here are ten best practices to establish a strong content marketing strategy as a fintech company :

  

  1. Set SMART goals

  A good content strategy starts with goal-setting. You’ll never get there if you don’t know where you’re going.

  To make sure your fintech content marketing strategy is a success, you need to set SMART goals :

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Relevant
  • Time-bound

  For example, you might set a goal to reach 20,000 blog visits in one year and convert blog visits at a rate of 3%.

  Setting clear content goals will streamline operations, so you stay consistent and get the most out of your efforts.

  3. Be transparent

  Transparency is crucial for fintech companies, as they handle sensitive financial data and, in many cases, monetary transactions.

  It’s essential for you to be open and clear about your products, services, and data practices. By being honest about privacy and security measures, fintechs can build and maintain trust with their customers.

  This transparency not only helps in establishing credibility but also ensures customers feel confident about how their financial information is managed and protected.

  

  4. Take an education-first approach

  Content isn’t just about “hooking” or entertaining your audience. That’s just one aspect of a content strategy.

  The best approach to building authority and converting leads from your content is to take an education-first approach.

  Remember above, when we touched on understanding your ICP ? You need to know your ICP’s interests and pain points inside and out and then map your product’s strengths to those that are relevant.

  Always start with your ICP, then build the content strategy around them based on your product.

  Find connections and identify how your product can address the ICP’s interests and pain points.

  For example, let’s say your ICPs are Gen Z consumers. They’re interested in independence and saving for future goals. Their pain points might include lack of investment knowledge and managing student debts and other loans.

  Let’s say your product is a personal finance app. Some of your benefits might be budget tracking and beginner-friendly investment options. You could create a content strategy around budgeting in your 20s and investing for beginners.

  Content strategies will vary widely based on your ICP. For instance, content for a fintech company targeting those approaching retirement will need a different focus compared to that aimed at younger consumers.

  Remember : practical, step-by-step, value-driven content performs best regarding conversions.

  5. Leverage the right tools

  If you’re going to succeed with content, you need to lean on the right tools.

  Here are a few types of tools you should consider (and recommendations) :

  • Project management (i.e., Asana)
  • Content management system (i.e., WordPress)
  • Content scheduling (i.e., Hootsuite)
  • Design (i.e., Canva)
  • SEO (i.e., Ahrefs)
  • Web analytics (i.e., Matomo)

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  6. Promote your content on different platforms

  You’ll want to promote your fintech content marketing strategy on different channels and platforms to get the most out of your fintech content marketing strategy.

  Start with one core platform before you pick a few platforms to promote your content. You should leverage at least one social media platform.

  Then, create a blog and an email newsletter to ensure you create multiple touchpoints.

  Here are some tips on how to pick the right platform :

  • Consider age range (i.e. TikTok for a younger audience, Facebook for an older audience)
  • Consider your preferred content type (YouTube for long-form video, X for short-form written content
  • Consider your competition (i.e. go where competitive fintech companies already are)

  7. Track results 

  How do you know if you’re on pace to reach the SMART goals you set earlier ?

  By tracking your results. 

  You should dive into your data regularly to ensure your content is working. Make sure to track social media, email marketing, and web results.

  Keep a close eye on your website KPIs and track your conversions to ensure a return on investment (ROI). For more detailed guidance on monitoring your website’s performance, check out our blog on how to check website traffic as accurately as possible.

  Remember, a data-driven approach is the best way to stay on track with your content goals.

  8. Establish a content leader

  Your content marketing needs a leader. You should establish someone on your marketing team to oversee your content plan. 

  They should ensure they collaborate well with different teams, understand social media and SEO, and know how to manage projects.

  Most of all, don’t forget that they’re in charge of tracking your data and reporting to higher-ups, so they should be comfortable with web analytics and know how to track performance well.

  9. Optimise for SEO

  It’s not enough to create a weekly blog post. You could craft the most valuable content on your website, but nobody will find it online if it isn’t optimised for SEO.

  Your content leader should analyse SEO data using a tool like Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyse different keywords to target in your content. 

  A web analytics tool like Matomo can then be used to track results. Matomo offers traditional web analytics, including pageviews, bounce rate, and sources of traffic, alongside features like heatmaps, session recordings, and A/B testing.

  These advanced features provide deeper insights into how users interact with your site and content, helping you pinpoint areas for improvement. Improving the user experience based on these insights can then positively impact your Google rankings.

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  10. Stay compliant

  Fintech is a highly regulated industry. Keeping this in mind, you need to ensure you take the necessary steps to ensure you remain compliant with all applicable laws and regulations.

  Non-compliance can result in severe penalties.

  Given these high standards, it’s crucial to ensure that user data remains private and secure. Matomo helps with this by providing a compliant web analytics solution that respects user privacy. With Matomo, you can confidently manage compliance and build trust with your customers while also reliably tracking the performance of your content marketing.

  

  Drive your content marketing strategy with Matomo

  Leaning into content marketing can be one of the best ways your fintech company can attract, engage, convert, and retain your audience.

  By creating high-quality content for your audience on social media, YouTube, and your website, you can establish your brand as an authority to grow your business for years to come.

  But remember, you need to make sure you’re only using privacy-friendly, compliant tools to protect your audience’s data.

  Thankfully, Matomo has you covered.

  As a privacy-friendly web analytics tool, Matomo ensures that your website data is tracked and stored in compliance with privacy laws.

  Trusted by over 1 million websites, it offers reliable data without sampling, guaranteeing accuracy. Matomo is designed to be fully compliant with privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA, while also providing advanced features like heatmaps, session recordings, and A/B testing to help you track and enhance your website’s performance.

  Request a demo to see how Matomo can benefit your fintech business now.

  Try Matomo for Free

  21 day free trial. No credit card required.

  
  

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• Top 5 Customer Segmentation Software in 2024

  12 mars 2024, par Erin

  In marketing, we all know the importance of reaching the right customer with the right message at the right time. That’s how you cut through the noise.

  For that, you need data on your customers — even though gathering the data is not enough. You can have all the data worldwide, but that raises an ethical responsibility and the need to make sense of it.

  Enter customer segmentation software — the answer to delivering personalised customer experiences at scale. 

  This article lists some of the best customer segmentation tools currently in the market. 

  We’ll also go over the benefits of using such tools and how you can choose the best one for your business.

  Let’s get started !

  What is customer segmentation software ?

  Customer segmentation software is a tool that helps businesses analyse customer data and group them based on common characteristics like age, income, and buying habits.

  The main goal of customer segmentation is to gain deeper insights into customer behaviours and preferences. This helps create targeted marketing and product strategies that fit each group and makes it easier to predict how customers will behave in the future.

  

  Benefits of a customer segmentation software

  Understanding your customers is the cornerstone of effective marketing, and customer segmentation software plays a pivotal role in this endeavour. 

  You can deliver more targeted and relevant marketing campaigns by dividing your audience into distinct groups based on shared characteristics. 

  Specifically, here are the main benefits of using customer segmentation tools :

  • Understand your audience better : The software helps businesses group customers with common traits to better understand their preferences and behaviour.
  • Make data-driven decisions : Base your business and marketing decisions on data analytics.
  • Aid product development : Insights from segmentation analytics can guide the creation of products that meet specific customer group needs.
  • Allocate your resources efficiently : Focusing on the customer segments that generate the most revenue leads to more effective and strategic use of your marketing resources.

  Best customer segmentation software in 2024 

  In this section, we go over the top customer segmentation tools in 2024. 

  We’ll look at these tools’ key features and pros and cons.

  1. Matomo

  

  Matomo is a comprehensive web analytics tool that merges traditional web analytics, such as tracking pageviews and visitor bounce rates, with more advanced web analytics features for tracking user behaviour. 

  With robust segmentation features, users can filter website traffic based on criteria such as location and device type, enabling them to analyse specific visitor groups and their behaviour. Users can create custom segments to analyse specific groups of visitors and their behaviour.

  Presenting as the ethical alternative to Google Analytics, Matomo emphasises transparency, 100% accurate data, and compliance with privacy laws.

  Key features

  • Heatmaps and Session Recordings : Matomo provides tools that allow businesses to understand website user interactions visually. This insight is crucial for optimising user experience and increasing conversions.
  • Form Analytics : This feature in Matomo tracks how users interact with website forms, helping businesses understand user behaviour in detail and improve form design and functionality.
  • User Flow Analysis : The tool tracks the journey of a website’s visitors, highlighting the paths taken and where users drop off. This is key for optimising website structure for better user experience and more conversions.
  • A/B Testing : Businesses can use Matomo to test different versions of web pages, determining which is more effective in driving conversions.
  • Conversion Funnels : This feature allows businesses to visualise and optimise the steps customers take toward conversion, identifying areas for improvement.

  Pros 

  • Affordability : With plans starting at $19 per month, Matomo is a cost-effective solution for CRO.
  • Free support : Matomo provides free email support to all Matomo Cloud users.
  • Open-source benefits : Being open-source, Matomo offers enhanced security, privacy, customisation options, and a supportive community.
  • Hosting options : Matomo is available either as a self-hosted solution or cloud-hosted.

  Cons

  • Cost for advanced features : Access to advanced features may incur additional costs for Matomo On-Premise users, although the On-Premise solution itself is free.
  • Technical knowledge required : The self-hosted version of Matomo requires technical knowledge for effective management.

  Try Matomo for Free

  Get the web insights you need, without compromising data accuracy.

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  2. Google Analytics 

  

  Google Analytics 4 (GA4) comprehensively understands website and app performance. It focuses on event-based data collection, allowing businesses to understand user interactions across platforms. 

  Similarly to Matomo, GA4 provides features that allow businesses to segment their audience based on various criteria such as demographics, behaviours, events, and more.

  Key features

  • Event-based tracking : GA4’s shift to an event-based model allows for a flexible and predictive analysis of user behaviour. This includes a detailed view of user interactions on websites and apps.
  • Machine Learning and Smarter Insights : GA4 uses machine learning to automatically detect trends, estimate purchase probabilities and provide marketing insights.
  • Google Ads integration : The integration with Google Ads in GA4 enables tracking customer interactions from first ad engagement, providing a holistic view of the customer experience across various platforms.
  • Customer-centric measurements : GA4 collects data as events, covering a wide range of user interactions and offering a comprehensive view of customer behaviour.
  • Pathing reports : GA4 introduces new pathing reports, allowing detailed user flow analysis through websites and apps.
  • Audiences and filters : GA4 allows the creation of audiences based on specific criteria and the application of filters to segment and refine data analysis.

  Pros 

  • Integration with various platforms, including Google Ads, enhances cross-platform user journey analysis.
  • GA4 has a clean reporting interface, making it easier for marketers to identify key trends and data irregularities.
  • Google Analytics has an active community with an abundance of educational resources available for users.

  Cons

  • Complexity for beginners : The wide range of features and new event-based model might overwhelm users new to analytics tools.
  • Dependence on machine learning : Reliance on machine learning for insights and predictions may require trust in the tool’s data processing and large volumes of traffic for accuracy.
  • Transition from UA to GA4 : Users familiar with Universal Analytics (UA) might find the transition to GA4 challenging due to differences in features and data models.

  3. HubSpot

  

  HubSpot is a marketing and sales software that helps businesses attract visitors and turn them into paying customers. 

  It supports various business processes, from social media posts to email marketing, sales, and customer service. HubSpot organises and tracks user interactions across different channels, providing a unified and efficient approach to customer relationship management (CRM) and customer segmentation.

  Businesses can leverage HubSpot’s customer segmentation through lists, workflows, and smart content.

  Key features

  • Integration capabilities : HubSpot offers over 1,000 integrations in its ecosystem, ensuring seamless connectivity across various marketing, sales, and service tools, which helps maintain data consistency and reduces manual efforts.
  • Segmentation and personalisation : HubSpot allows businesses to deliver personalised content and interactions based on customer behaviour and preferences, using its robust CRM features and advanced automation capabilities.

  Pros 

  • Comprehensive support : HubSpot offers a range of support options, including a knowledge base, real-time chat, and more.
  • User-friendly interface : The platform is designed for ease of use, ensuring a smooth experience even for less tech-savvy users.
  • Personalisation capabilities : HubSpot provides personalised marketing, sales and service experiences, leveraging customer data effectively.

  Cons

  • High price point : HubSpot can be expensive, especially as you scale up and require more advanced features.
  • Steep learning curve : For businesses new to such comprehensive platforms, there might be an initial learning curve to utilise its features effectively.

  4. Klaviyo

  

  Klaviyo is a marketing automation software primarily focused on email and SMS messaging for e-commerce businesses. It’s designed to personalise and optimise customer communication. 

  Klaviyo integrates with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, making it a go-to solution for online stores. Its strength lies in its ability to use customer data to deliver targeted and effective marketing campaigns.

  Key features

  • Email marketing automation : Klaviyo allows users to send automated and personalised emails based on customer behaviour and preferences. This feature is crucial for e-commerce businesses in nurturing leads and maintaining customer engagement.
  • SMS marketing : It includes SMS messaging capabilities, enabling businesses to engage customers directly through text messages.
  • Segmentation and personalisation : Klaviyo offers advanced segmentation tools that enable businesses to categorise customers based on their behaviour, preferences and purchase history, facilitating highly targeted marketing efforts.
  • Integration with e-commerce platforms : Klaviyo integrates with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce, allowing easy data synchronisation and campaign management.

  Pros 

  • Enhanced e-commerce integration : Klaviyo’s deep integration with e-commerce platforms greatly benefits online retailers regarding ease of use and campaign effectiveness.
  • Advanced segmentation and personalisation : The platform’s strong segmentation capabilities enable businesses to tailor their marketing messages more effectively.
  • Robust automation features : Klaviyo’s automation tools are powerful and user-friendly, saving time and improving marketing efficiency.

  Cons

  • Cost : Klaviyo can be more expensive than other options in this list, particularly as you scale up and add more contacts.
  • Complexity for beginners : The platform’s wide range of features and advanced capabilities might overwhelm beginners or small businesses with simpler needs.

  5. UserGuiding

  

  UserGuiding is a no-code product adoption tool that lets businesses create in-app user walkthroughs, guides, and checklists to onboard, engage, and retain users.

  UserGuiding facilitates customer segmentation by enabling businesses to create segmented onboarding flows, analyse behavioural insights, deliver personalised guidance, and collect feedback tailored to different user segments.

  Key features

  • In-app walkthroughs, guides and checklists : UserGuiding has multiple features that can promote product adoption early in the user journey.
  • In-app messaging : UserGuiding offers in-app messaging to help users learn more about the product and various ways to get value.
  • User feedback : UserGuiding allows businesses to gather qualitative feedback to streamline the adoption journey for users.

  Pros 

  • User-friendly interface
  • Customisable onboarding checklists
  • Retention analytics

  Cons

  • Need for technical expertise to maximise all features
  • Limited customisation options for less tech-savvy users

  What to look for in a customer segmentation software 

  When choosing a customer segmentation software, choosing the right one for your specific business needs is important. 

  Here are a few factors to consider when choosing your customer segmentation tool :

  1. Ease of use : Select a tool with an intuitive interface that simplifies navigation. This enhances the user experience, making complex tasks more manageable. Additionally, responsive customer support is crucial. It ensures that issues are promptly resolved, contributing to a smoother operation.
  2. Scalability and flexibility : Your chosen tool should adjust to your needs. A flexible tool like Matomo can adjust to your growing requirements, offering capabilities that evolve as your business expands.
  3. Integration capabilities : The software should seamlessly integrate with your existing systems, such as CRM, marketing, and automation platforms. 
  4. Advanced analytics and reporting : Assess the software’s capability to analyse and interpret complex data sets, without relying on machine learning to fill data gaps. A robust tool should provide accurate insights and detailed reports, enabling you to make informed decisions based on real data.
  5. Privacy and security considerations : Data security is paramount in today’s digital landscape. Look for features like data encryption, security storage, and adherence to privacy standards like GDPR and CCPA compliance. 
  6. Reviews and recommendations : Before making a decision, consider the reputation of the software providers. Look for reviews and recommendations from other users, especially those in similar industries. This can provide real-world insights into the software’s performance and reliability.

  

  Leverage Matomo’s segmentation capabilities to deliver personalised experiences

  Segmentation is the best place to start if you want to deliver personalised customer experiences. There are several customer segmentation software in the market. But they’re not all the same.

  In this article, we reviewed the top segmentation tools — based on factors like their user base, features, and ethical data privacy considerations.

  Ideally, you want a tool to support your evolving business and segmentation needs. Not to mention one that cares about your customers’ privacy and ensures you stay compliant. 

  Enter Matomo at the top of the list. You can leverage Matomo’s accurate insights and comprehensive segmentation capabilities without compromising on privacy. Try it free for 21-days. No credit card required.

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