Have you ever wondered why companies run targeted advertisements? They are actually using Consumer Psychology in marketing to reach the right audience and improve customer experience. As a marketer or a business owner designing branding strategies, messaging, products or services that derive results, it becomes crucial that you develop a deep understanding of the psychological aspects that impact your customer behaviour. In this blog, we will delve into every aspect of the usage of consumer psychology in marketing. However, it is important that you use this information in an ethical way. Now, let’s begin:

What is Consumer Psychology In Marketing?

Let’s begin by understanding the fundamental question, “What is Consumer Psychology?” It is the ability to understand the customer’s choices and the factors that impact those choices. Four basics contribute to building a person’s psychology: Motivation and needs, Perception and attention, attitudes and beliefs, and Memory and learning. Let us understand them in brief:

• Motivation and needs: To develop an effective marketing strategy, it is crucial first to understand the motive behind purchasing a product, which forms the motivation of the customer.
• Perception and attention: Perception refers to the ability of the person to comprehend the data around them. It is important that you, as a marketer, understand your consumer perception. 
• Attitudes and beliefs: Attitudes and beliefs are a major part of psychology. Understanding and respecting your customers’ beliefs is a must. While developing an effective marketing strategy, make sure you address your customers’ beliefs respectfully. 
• Memory and learning: Understanding how your audience learns and retains information is critical to recalling your ads. When developing a marketing strategy, ensure you factor this into it. 

Application Of Consumer Psychology In Marketing

As we already understand, what is consumer psychology? And how is it important in marketing? Let’s now understand its application:

Segmentation and Targeting

Consumer psychology in marketing is widely used by various marketers to create segments for their targeted campaigns. If you are a marketer who has not done this yet, then it is high time you prepare a segment for your targeted ads by understanding and analysing your customer behaviour. 

Branding and Messaging

Remember, we have mentioned that consumer behaviour is a byproduct of their psychology. Perception plays a huge role in forming someone’s psychology. Make sure that while using consumer psychology in marketing campaigns of your company, you incorporate necessary information that shapes the perception of your company the way you want. 

Pricing and Promotions

Always develop your pricing and promotional strategies after completely understanding your customers’ psychology. Psychology plays a huge role in buying decisions; for example, with two products, one with a price tag of INR 100 and another with a price tag of INR 99, the latter has more chances of being sold. Even though pricing is almost similar, the latter impacts the consumer deeply. That’s why you must drive your prices properly before launching your product. 

Product Design and Packaging

You might not have considered this point, but packaging and design significantly impact customer behaviour. Products that are designed and packed well are most likely to sell more. Remember the last time you went to a store? What kind of product left a lasting impact on you: a product with a well-crafted design and strong packaging or one with dull packaging or design?  Satisfying consumer psychology in marketing your product design and packaging can reap significant benefits.

Also, learn about the marketing strategy for generation alpha.

Challenges And Ethical Considerations

Using consumer psychology in marketing can give you multi-bagger returns, but you should consider certain limitations and ethical considerations before using it. 

Privacy concerns

To analyse customer behaviour, you require a huge amount of data about customers, which raises concerns about data privacy and data protection. However, marketers should be careful and transparent about how they collect, what type of data they collect, how they use it, etc. This will help establish a good image of you and improve the public’s trust in you. 

Manipulation

We often get confused about manipulation and influence, but there is a fine difference between the two. When we try to persuade someone to buy our product, we are actually influencing them. But when we try to create a false sense of urgency by using misleading information, we are actually manipulating them. When you use consumer psychology in marketing, you must always try to influence your targeted customers. 

Cultural sensitivity

Cultural sensitivity is the biggest hindrance for any marketer or company. If they overlook any of the vital aspects related to consumer psychology relating to cultural beliefs, it might make the entire campaign look insensitive. 

Over-Reliance on data

We are heavily dependent on the data to analyse consumer behaviour; any discrepancy in the data might result in the failure of a campaign or in provocative advertisements that damage the company’s image. 

Case Study

To give a deeper understanding of how consumer psychology in marketing works and how you can leverage it in building your effective ad campaign. We have brought business case studies of a few companies that have used these principles and increased their sales by any time:

Remember the “Share a Coke” ad Coca-Cola made? That was a wonderful move played by the Coca-Cola marketing team, influencing people to share their empty Coke bottle with their near and dear ones. They asked their consumers to scrap out the Coca-Cola logo and put down the first names of their loved ones. This promotional strategy worked out wonders for them. How? The answer is simple: they understood their consumer’s needs, and by studying their customer behaviour, they realised people’s desire for social interaction. Hence, they capitalised on this desire by just adding a simple line, “Share a Coke,” and they were able to achieve momentous customer engagement and boost sales. 

Similarly, Apple’s emphasis on product design and user experience is frequently cited as contributing to the company’s success. By using insights from consumer psychology in marketing its products, Apple has connected with customers and fostered brand loyalty by understanding their preferences for simplicity and use.

Ending Note

Consumer psychology in marketing is an effective way of improving brand presence and sales. However, as we have mentioned multiple times in the above sections, using consumer psychology in marketing is a responsible job and shouldn’t be done to manipulate or exploit someone. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who discovered consumer psychology?

Walter Dill Scott discovered the consumer psychology.

When did consumer psychology start?

It was in 1950 when the term scientific advertising was used, which later became consumer psychology.

What are the 4 consumer psychological factors?

Motivation, perception, learning, and attitude or belief system are the 4 factors that contribute to consumer psychology.

Who is the famous consumer psychologist? 

Kit Yarrow is the famous author of Decoding the New Consumer Mind and is also a famous consumer psychologist.

Who is the father of business psychology? 

Hugo Munsterberg is the father of business psychology. 

The post Comprehensive Guide On Consumer Psychology In Marketing appeared first on Trade Flock.