Marketing success can sometimes come in the most unlikely of combinations — reminiscent of a great chef crafting a delicious dish from ingredients rarely used together. In advertising, this type of outside-the-box thinking can give you a competitive advantage over peers who are operating within the normal limits. In this blog post, we will explore how both financial and non-financial advertisers can use consumer financial marketing data in their ad campaigns to connect with the right consumers. This type of strategic thinking will make campaigns more effective, resonate more deeply with audiences, and turn your chicken into coq au vin.
Background on Financial Audiences
FMCG Direct, a Deluxe company, in partnership with Experian, has developed financial audiences that deeply understand consumer financial behavior. These audiences are not just static lists of potential customers but are constantly updated to provide a multi-dimensional view of consumer financial habits, including investing, borrowing, credit card preferences, and more. Central to this effort are Consumer Financial Insights®, Financial Personalities® and ConsumerSpend® models. These tools are built utilizing a combination of FMCG Direct, a Deluxe company in-depth consumer research, sophisticated clustering techniques, and Experian’s extensive consumer marketing data.
FMCG Direct, a Deluxe company financial audience segments
The Financial Personalities® segments categorize consumers based on their financial behaviors and preferences, dividing them into distinct categories such as insurance, credit card usage, and investment habits. This allows for a targeted approach considering each consumer’s unique financial behavior and potential needs.
Meanwhile, Consumer Financial Insights® segments offer a detailed and tiered view of a consumer’s economic status, including insights into household deposits, investable assets, net assets, and the likelihood of mortgage refinancing, all categorized into specific tiers to reflect varying levels of wealth and investment.
Lastly, ConsumerSpend® segments provide a look at how and where a household allocates their disposable income. Broken up by nine unique categories, marketers can better understand where people are spending their money each year.
These predictive segments are built through extensive research, surveying over 25,000 consumer households across the United States. Each household’s financial profile encompasses a wide array of data points, such as total household assets, deposit balances, and investable assets.
The result? A granular understanding of consumer financial behaviors, which marketers can use to tailor their financial services offerings. However, the potential applications of these insights extend far beyond the confines of financial products and services.
Here are some ideas to help you get started.
Advertising campaigns for travel and leisure
Launch campaigns that precisely cater to different consumer segments’ unique financial personalities and spending behaviors.
- Credit Card Financial Personality: Launch digital ads for luxury travel experiences tailored to consumers known for extensive credit card usage in travel, capitalizing on their affinity for high-end leisure activities.
- Deposits (Bank) Financial Personality: Implement advertising campaigns for budget-friendly travel options tailored to consumers with modest bank deposits and prudent spending habits. These ads could highlight affordable vacation packages, discount travel deals, and value travel bundles, catering to those prioritizing cost efficiency and practical travel solutions.
Ideas focusing on home improvement and decor
Craft advertising campaigns aimed at audiences with modest net worth, using insights into their financial profiles to promote accessible and essential products and services.
- Net Asset Score (Lower Tiers): Develop ad campaigns for cost-effective home improvement services and budget-friendly home appliance options, targeting consumers whose net asset scores indicate more modest financial resources. These ads should highlight the products’ durability and energy efficiency, appealing to the consumers’ need for long-term savings.
- Discretionary Spend – Home Furnishing: Design ad campaigns for upscale home furnishing collections, targeting audiences with significant discretionary spending power. These ads should spotlight your home furnishings’ premium quality, sophisticated design, and superior craftsmanship, appealing to consumers’ tastes for luxury and exclusivity.
Campaigns for consumers in entertainment
Execute targeted advertising campaigns designed for consumers with high disposable income, utilizing insights from their net asset and investable asset scores.
- Net Asset Score (Higher Tiers): Launch advertising campaigns for premium entertainment experiences, including exclusive concert seats, backstage passes, and custom festival packages. Target consumers whose net asset scores suggest significant disposable income to ensure your promotions reach the most likely attendees.
- Discretionary Spend — Entertainment: Design advertising campaigns for high-profile music and entertainment events, focusing on individuals known for their significant expenditures on entertainment. Create promotions that resonate with their lifestyle, emphasizing the connection between a vibrant social life and exclusive entertainment opportunities.
As you can see by understanding and utilizing the nuances of financial data, advertisers can create highly targeted, relevant, and effective campaigns across various sectors. This approach exemplifies the innovative spirit of audience usage, proving that with a bit of creativity, data applications are as limitless as our imagination.
Financial Personalities and Consumer Financial Insight audiences and their in-platform names
Find these syndicated audiences in your demand and supply-side platform of choice.
- Insurance financial personality – Audiences to help understand a consumer’s behavior and confidence in their ability to find the right life insurance.
- Financial Personalities > Insurance Financial Personality
- Financial Personalities > Insurance Financial Personality
- Credit card personality– Used to identify consumers based on their credit card usage and behaviors.
- Financial Personalities > Credit Card Financial Personality
- Financial Personalities > Credit Card Financial Personality
- Deposits financial personality– These audiences include consumers who are likely to look for bank offers based on their spending behaviors.
- Financial Personalities > Deposits Financial Personality
- Financial Personalities > Deposits Financial Personality
- Investments financial personality– Audiences to help understand a consumer’s comfort and behaviors with making financial investments.
- Financial Personalities > Investments Financial Personality
- Financial Personalities > Investments Financial Personality
- Home equity financial personality– Audiences to help understand a consumer’s home equity circumstances and behaviors.
- Financial Personalities > Home Equity Financial Personality
- Financial Personalities > Home Equity Financial Personality
- Mortgage financial personality– Audiences to help understand a consumer’s behavior and preferences with mortgages.
- Financial Personalities > Mortgage Financial Personality
- Financial Personalities > Mortgage Financial Personality
- Investable assets (FLA/Fair Lending Friendly)*– Audiences that include consumers who have available investable assets in seven total tiers with Tier 1 being the highest, and Tier 7 being the lowest.
- Consumer Financial Insights > Investable Assets
- Consumer Financial Insights > Investable Assets
- Net asset score (FLA/Fair Lending Friendly)– Predict a consumers likely net asset score ranging from less than $25,000 to over $5,000,000.
- Consumer Financial Insights > Net Assets Score (Net Worth)
- Consumer Financial Insights > Net Assets Score (Net Worth)
- Discretionary spend– Predicts the annual discretionary spend for the category listed in the audience.
- Consumer Financial Insights > Discretionary Spend – Travel
- Consumer Financial Insights > Discretionary Spend – Jewelry
- Consumer Financial Insights > Discretionary Spend – Home Furnishings
- Consumer Financial Insights > Discretionary Spend – Entertainment
- Consumer Financial Insights > Discretionary Spend – Electronics
- Consumer Financial Insights > Discretionary Spend – Education
- Consumer Financial Insights > Discretionary Spend – Donations
- Consumer Financial Insights > Discretionary Spend – Dining Out
- Consumer Financial Insights > Discretionary Spend – Total
- Consumer Financial Insights > Discretionary Spend – Clothing/Apparel
- Household deposits/balances (FLA/Fair Lending Friendly)– Audiences that include households that have bank deposits balance in six total tiers with Tier 1 being the highest, and Tier 6 being the lowest.
- Consumer Financial Insights > Household Deposits/Balances
- Consumer Financial Insights > Household Deposits/Balances
- Investment Balances (FLA/ Fair Lending Friendly)– Audiences that include consumers who have an investment balance in six total tiers with Tier 1 being the highest, and Tier 6 being the lowest.
- Consumer Financial Insights > Investment Balances
- Consumer Financial Insights > Investment Balances
- Mortgage refinance (FLA/Fair Lending Friendly)– Predicts the likelihood the consumer is to refinance their mortgage.
- Consumer Financial Insights > Mortgage Refinance
- Consumer Financial Insights > Mortgage Refinance
Footnote
* “Fair Lending Friendly” indicates data fields that Experian has made available without use of certain demographic attributes that may increase the likelihood of discriminatory practices prohibited by the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) and Equal Credit Opportunity Act (“ECOA”). These excluded attributes include, but may not be limited to, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, disability, handicap, family status, ancestry, sexual orientation, unfavorable military discharge, and gender. Experian’s provision of Fair Lending Friendly indicators does not constitute legal advice or otherwise assures your compliance with the FHA, ECOA, or any other applicable laws. Clients should seek legal advice with respect to your use of data in connection with lending decisions or application and compliance with applicable laws.
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The political winds in the United States shifted sharply to the right earlier this month with Republicans making gains across the board. While political party affiliation was a strong indication of a candidate's success in the election, we wondered: Can the political leaning of a TV show's audience determine the success of the program? The answer is yes. Experian Simmons examined the political party registrations of viewers of over 700 television programs measured in the Spring 2010 Simmons National Consumer study. We found that registered Republicans and Democrats, indeed, have different preferences in entertainment programs. But especially noticeable was the preponderance of highly rated Nielsen programs at the top of the Republican list. Not all shows that skew Republican are ratings darlings, of course, but programmers should take note of this fact if ratings are their foremost goal. Republicans: When looking at programs on broadcast TV, we see that Republicans tend to gravitate towards reality shows that center on some sort of competition. In fact, Republicans are 32% more likely to watch The Amazing Race on CBS than the average American adult. They're also 24% more likely to watch American Idol on Fox and 18% more likely to watch America's Got Talent on NBC. The Simmons data provides some evidence that it's the competitive angle of these shows that is attracting Republicans. Specifically, Republicans are fully 29% more likely than the average adult to watch the results show of Dancing with the Stars on ABC and just 17% more likely to watch the non-results episodes of the same show. Republicans tend to gravitate towards reality shows that center on some sort of competition. When it comes to cable entertainment programs, Republicans tend to prefer lifestyle programs on HGTV and TLC. Republicans are also found in high concentrations among many adventure/documentary show audiences, like Ice Road Truckers on History and Deadliest Catch on Discovery. And finally, big families are big draws for Republicans with 18 Kids and Counting and Jon & Kate Plus 8, both on TLC, attracting more than average concentrations of Republican viewers. Top indexing Republican NETWORK programs (non-news, non-music) Republican Index Top indexing Republican CABLE programs (non-news, non-music) Republican Index THE AMAZING RACE (CBS) 132 PROPERTY VIRGINS (HGTV) 125 DANCING WITH THE STARS RESULTS SHOW(ABC) 129 MODERN MARVELS (HISTORY) 121 MODERN FAMILY (ABC) 124 COLOR SPLASH (HGTV) 120 AMERICAN IDOL (FOX) 122 UNSELLABLES (HGTV) 120 V (ABC) 122 LEVERAGE (TNT) 118 THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS) 119 18 KIDS AND COUNTING (TLC) 116 THE GOOD WIFE (CBS) 119 DEAR GENEVIEVE (HGTV) 116 THE MENTALIST (CBS) 119 WHAT NOT TO WEAR (TLC) 116 AMERICA'S GOT TALENT (NBC) 118 DINERS, DRIVE-INS & DIVES (FOOD NETWORK) 115 SURVIVOR (CBS) 118 HOUSE HUNTERS (HGTV) 115 DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC) 117 INCOME PROPERTY (HGTV) 114 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) 116 OPERATION REPO (TRU TV) 114 NCIS (CBS) 115 WHITE COLLAR (USA) 114 HUMAN TARGET (FOX) 114 ICE ROAD TRUCKERS (HISTORY) 112 LIE TO ME (FOX) 114 PAWN STARS (HISTORY) 112 THE BACHELOR (ABC) 114 SAY YES TO THE DRESS (TLC) 111 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW (PBS) 113 DIRTY JOBS (DISCOVERY) 110 CASTLE (ABC) 113 MYTHBUSTERS (DISCOVERY) 109 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS) 113 JON & KATE PLUS 8 (TLC) 106 THE BACHELORETTE (ABC) 113 AMERICAN LOGGERS (DISCOVERY) 105 EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION (ABC) 112 IN PLAIN SIGHT (USA) 104 NCIS: LOS ANGELES (CBS) 112 THROWDOWN WITH BOBBY FLAY (FOOD NETWORK) 104 TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS) 112 DEADLIEST CATCH (DISCOVERY) 103 FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (NBC) 111 MAN VS. 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On cable, we see high concentrations of registered Democrats tuning into character-driven dramas, like Dexter and United States of Tara, both on Showtime. Democrats also flock in disproportionate numbers to cable reality shows. But unlike the competitive reality shows favored by Republicans, Democrats prefer observational reality shows where they get to peer into the lives of celebrities or unique and extraordinary people. Top indexing Democrat NETWORK programs (non-news, non-music) Democrat Index Top indexing Democrat CABLE programs (non-news, non-music) Democrat Index FLASHPOINT (CBS) 145 TYLER PERRY'S MEET THE BROWNS (TBS) 189 HOMETIME (PBS) 143 HOUSE OF PAYNE (TBS) 181 90210 (CW) 140 REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER (HBO) 165 WIFE SWAP (ABC) 136 SNAPPED (OXYGEN) 162 AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (CW) 135 SHERRI (LIFETIME) 153 NOVA (PBS) 133 HAWTHORNE (TNT) 153 LAW & ORDER (NBC) 132 LIVE FROM THE RED CARPET (E!) 149 SMALLVILLE (CW) 131 DEXTER (SHOWTIME) 147 WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? (NBC) 130 UGLY AMERICANS (COMEDY CENTRAL) 147 BROTHERS & SISTERS (ABC) 127 KOURTNEY & KHLOE TAKE MIAMI (E!) 146 PRIVATE PRACTICE (ABC) 127 TODDLERS & TIARAS (TLC) 145 MEDIUM (CBS) 126 UNITED STATES OF TARA (SHOWTIME) 144 TRUE BEAUTY (ABC) 126 MEET THE NATIVES (TRAVEL CHANNEL) 144 AMERICA'S MOST WANTED (FOX) 126 BRIDEZILLAS (WE TV) 143 30 ROCK (NBC) 126 TOP CHEF MASTERS (BRAVO) 142 VICTORY GARDEN (PBS) 126 WOMEN BEHIND BARS (WE TV) 142 THE GOOD WIFE (CBS) 124 THE BOONDOCKS: ADULT SWIM(CARTOON NETWRK) 142 ONE TREE HILL (CW) 124 TABATHA'S SALON TAKEOVER (BRAVO) 140 NEW YANKEE WORKSHOP (PBS) 122 DOWN HOME WITH THE NEELYS (FOOD NETWORK) 140 LAW & ORDER: SVU (NBC) 122 BAD GIRLS CLUB (OXYGEN) 138 MASTERPIECE (PBS) 122 SCARE TACTICS (SYFY) 136 COMMUNITY (NBC) 122 MILLION DOLLAR LISTING (BRAVO) 135 BIG BROTHER (CBS) 121 MODELS OF THE RUNWAY (LIFETIME) 135 GOSSIP GIRL (CW) 120 TORI & DEAN: HOME SWEET HOLLYWOOD (OXYGEN) 133 FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (NBC) 119 DESTINATION TRUTH (SYFY) 132 For more information about the in-depth consumer behaviors, attitudes, lifestyles, brands and media measured in the Simmons National Consumer Study, visit our website.
Frugal living seems to have become a more common trademark of the American consumer in the last couple of years. Since the beginning of 2008, 20% less and 35% less US adults report to have purchased merchandise at the upscale stores Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s respectively. By contrast, 8% more and 62% more US adults report to have purchased merchandise at Marshall’s and Ross Stores, respectively. Discount stores appear to be weathering the recession better than some of their full-price counterparts, as they carry first-quality designer merchandise at competitive prices, often advertised at up to 70% below department store prices. However, many of these designer discount retailers would be in a difficult position without the existence of department stores, since the designer discount business model is primarily based on purchasing close-outs from the very department stores that they compete against. Discount stores appear to be weathering the recession better than some of their full-price counterparts Since the beginning of 2008, an average 54% of US adults shop around a lot to take advantage of specials and bargains. Also, from January 2008 to August 2009, 7% more US adults tend to hold out on buying things until the go on sale and 13% more head right for the clearance rack when they enter a store. In conclusion, the past 2.5 years have seen the American consumer become a more serious discount shopper – a trend that is likely to continue in this current, uncertain economic environment.