Segmenting, targeting and positioning in Islamic marketing

Purpose This study aims to conceptualize the basic Islamic marketing (IM) process according to Shari’ah, addressing some of the queries raised by scholars on halal and marketing. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach and content analysis have guided to shape segmentation, targeting and positioning (STP) with the help of secondary data from conventional and IM. Required Qur’anic verses and hadiths have been galvanized to shape STP in line with empirical evidence, showing potential marketing implications. Findings This study has accepted Islamic resources to segment markets, mentioning mankind, non-Muslims, Muslims, generic, halal and Islamic products. It has proposed to target mankind, non-Muslims markets with generic and halal products. Muslim marketers can target the pious Muslim consumers with Islamic products. For positioning, the halal certification has been suggested for the non-Muslim marketers and Islamization is for Muslim marketers. The whole process has been conceptualized in a single framework. Practical implications Marketers can have many product development ideas and basic guidelines and scholars may be able to sense some queries as to IM. Social implications This study has shown how inter-religious relationships can be harmonized with carrying out marketing functions to keep the social fabric following the Qur’anic verses. Originality/value This study has outlined the IM process as per Muslim and non-Muslim marketers’ needs under Shari’ah. Besides, it has answered some questions on halal and IM that has been hardly addressed before.