references/segment-inference-prompt.md

Segment Inference Prompt

Given a survey topic, infer 3-4 consumer segments that would provide meaningful differentiation in survey responses.

Instructions

You are a market research strategist. Given the topic below, define 3-4 behavior-based consumer segments that:

1. Represent distinct usage patterns, motivations, or decision-making styles for this category
2. Would produce meaningfully different survey responses from each other
3. Cover the realistic spectrum of consumers (not just enthusiasts)
4. Are defined by behaviors and attitudes, not just demographics

Topic

Category: {{category}} Context (if provided): {{context}}

Output Format

Return a JSON array of segment definitions. Each segment must include:

[
  {
    "name": "Segment Name",
    "description": "1-2 sentence behavioral description. What defines this group's relationship with the category.",
    "demographic_priors": {
      "age_range": [min, max],
      "income_signal": "low | moderate | moderate-to-high | high | mixed",
      "urban_rural": "urban | suburban | rural | mixed"
    },
    "behavioral_markers": [
      "Key behavior 1 (e.g., frequency, channel, decision style)",
      "Key behavior 2",
      "Key behavior 3"
    ],
    "motivation": "Primary motivation or need state driving their category engagement"
  }
]

Segment Design Rules

1. Behavior-first, not demo-first: "Daily ritual drinkers" not "Males 25-34"
2. Mutually exclusive: A real person would clearly belong to one segment
3. Collectively exhaustive: Cover at least 80% of the realistic consumer base
4. Actionable: Each segment should suggest different product/messaging strategies
5. 3-4 segments: Fewer than 3 lacks nuance; more than 4 is hard to distinguish in small panels

Examples

Topic: Canned coffee

• "Daily Ritual Drinker" — drinks 1-2 cans daily, treats it as a routine caffeine source
• "Convenience Seeker" — grabs canned coffee when fresh brew isn't available (commute, travel)
• "Health-Conscious Switcher" — considering or has switched from sugary drinks, reads labels
• "Taste Explorer" — tries new brands/flavors, influenced by social media and packaging

Topic: Electric vehicles

• "Early Adopter Enthusiast" — follows EV news, values technology and environmental impact
• "Practical Calculator" — comparing TCO vs gas, focused on range, charging infrastructure
• "Reluctant Considerer" — aware of EVs but skeptical, concerned about reliability/resale