Our digital lives are bombarded with ads trying to sell us something. And while some of these ads are for products or services that we may actually need or want, many of them are for things that we don’t really need. But that doesn’t stop us from wanting them. Why? Because advertisers are experts at using psychological tricks to make us want what they’re selling.
Psychological tactics are everywhere in marketing. From the colors on a website to the phrasing of a call-to-action, marketers use psychological tactics to influence consumer behavior.
Many of these tactics are based on well-studied principles of human psychology. By understanding these principles, you can use them to your advantage to redefine your marketing strategy.
Clustering
One psychological tactic that you can use to redefine your marketing strategy is clustering. Clustering is a technique that is used to group similar items together. When you use clustering in your marketing, you can group your products or services together to boost its appeal to your target audience.
For example, as a food seller, you could cluster your products together by type, such as grouping all of your breakfast foods together. This would make it easier for your target audience to find the products they are looking for and would make your marketing more effective.
The Decoy Effect
The decoy effect is a phenomenon that occurs when people are influenced by the presence of a third option. When people see two options, they will usually choose the option that is most appealing to them. However, when a third option is introduced, it can influence their decision-making.
For example, if you were selling two different products, and one product was significantly cheaper than the other, you would expect people to choose the cheaper product. However, if you introduced a third, more expensive product, people would be more likely to choose the middle-priced product.
That happens because the more expensive product would make the middle-priced product seem like a better deal. The decoy effect can be used to your advantage in marketing by introducing a third option that makes your other products seem more appealing.
Mere Exposure Theory
The mere exposure theory is the idea that people are more likely to prefer things that they are familiar with. You can use it in marketing by making sure that your target audience is exposed to your products or services.
To illustrate it with an example, if you have a new product, you could make sure that it is featured prominently on your website or in your advertising. This would increase the chance that people would be familiar with it and would be more likely to purchase it.
Fear of Missing Out
Also known as FOMO, the fear of missing out is the anxious feeling that comes from thinking you are missing out on something important.
This feeling is often used in marketing to create a sense of urgency. For example, you may see a sale that is only available for a limited time. Or you may receive an offer that expires soon.
FOMO is a powerful psychological tactic because it can override our rational thoughts. We may purchase something even if we don’t really need it, just to avoid the feeling of missing out.
Loss Aversion
Loss aversion is the psychological principle that we feel the pain of loss more strongly than we feel the pleasure of gain.
In other words, we are more motivated to avoid losses than we are to seek gains.
This principle is often used in marketing by offering a money-back guarantee. By removing the risk of loss, marketers can increase the likelihood of a purchase.
Reciprocity
Reciprocity is the principle that we feel obligated to return favors that someone has done for us.
For example, if someone gives us a gift, we feel obligated to return the favor. Or if someone does us a favor, we feel obligated to do something for them in return.
This principle is often used in marketing by offering free gifts. By giving something for free, marketers create a feeling of obligation in the recipient. The recipient then feels obligated to return the favor, usually in the form of a purchase.
Scarcity
Scarcity is the perception that there is not enough of something to go around. And when we perceive that something is scarce, we value it more highly.
Marketers use scarcity to their advantage by creating a sense of urgency and scarcity around their products. They do this by using phrases like “limited time only” or “while supplies last.”
Creating a sense of scarcity can be an effective marketing tactic because it makes us believe that we need to act now before it’s too late. And when we believe we need to act now, we’re more likely to make a purchase.
However, there is a downside to using scarcity as a marketing tactic. If used too often or in a dishonest way, it can backfire and make customers feel like they’re being Manipulated.
That’s why it’s important for marketers to use scarcity ethically and sparingly. When used ethically, scarcity can be an effective way to increase sales and conversions.
The Framing Effect
It occurs as a cognitive bias when people interpret information based on how it is presented to them. For example, people may judge an event to be more or less risky based on whether it is described as a gain or a loss. Also, you may be inclined to make a decision about a product or service based on the order of information that you receive. For instance, you may choose product “A” if you receive more information on it than product “B”.
The framing effect is a well-documented phenomenon in psychology and has been shown to influence a wide range of judgments and decisions, from financial to medical to political.
Some Examples of the Framing Effect in Marketing
- On a website, a banner headline might read, “You’ll lose 10 pounds in 10 days!” versus “You can gain 2 pounds in 10 days!” Even though the metric is the same (weight loss/gain over time), the framing of that information can impact people’s perceptions and subsequent decisions.
- In a car ad, a salesperson might describe the monthly payment as $399/month instead of a one-time payment of $24,000. The latter frame would be more likely to dissuade potential customers from even considering the car.
- A study showed that people were more likely to donate to a charity when it was described as “saving lives” as opposed to “avoiding deaths.” The former frame is seen as a gain, while the latter is seen as a loss.
- A food company might run an ad with the headline, “95% fat free!” framed in a positive light, while omitting the less desirable part of the information, which is that the food is 5% fat.
The framing effect is a powerful tool that marketers can use to influence people’s perceptions and decisions. By understanding how the framing effect works, you can be more aware of its influence on your own judgments and decisions.
The Frequency Illusion
The frequency illusion is a psychological trick that marketers use to make their products and services seem more popular than they actually are. By creating a false sense of popularity, they can convince potential customers that everyone is using their product or service, so they should too.
The frequency illusion works by biasing our perception of how often we see something. When we see something often, we think it must be popular. This is why advertisers use celebrities in their commercials—we see the celebrity and think, “If they’re using this product, it must be good.”
It also explains why we think everyone is using the latest products and trends. We see them everywhere we look, so we assume that everyone is using them. In reality, however, only a small percentage of people are using the latest products and trends. The rest of us are just seeing them more because they’re new.
The frequency illusion is a powerful marketing tool, but it’s important to be aware of it. When we see something often, we automatically assume it’s popular. This can lead us to make purchase decisions that we wouldn’t make if we knew the truth about how popular the product actually is.
Verbatim Effect in Marketing
The psychological trick of the verbatim effect is commonly used in marketing. By repeating a company’s name or slogan over and over again, it helps to embed the company’s message into our subconscious mind. And, when we’re presented with a company’s product or service, our brain is more likely to automatically react positively towards it.
Why Does the Verbatim Effect Work?
Researchers believe that the verbatim effect works because of the way our memory works. When we hear something multiple times, our brain starts to store it in what’s called long-term memory. And, the more times we hear something, the stronger that memory becomes.
Think about it like this: if you hear a new word once, you might not remember it for very long. But, if you hear that same word multiple times, you’re more likely to remember it. The same thing happens with a company’s name or slogan.
The verbatim effect is also thought to work because of something called the mere-exposure effect. This is the idea that we tend to like things more the more we’re exposed to them. So, if we see a company’s name or logo multiple times, we’re more likely to have a positive reaction to it.
How can businesses use the verbatim effect?
One way is to use it in advertising. By repeating a company’s name or slogan multiple times in an ad, businesses can help to embed their message into our subconscious mind. And, when we see the company’s product or service, our brain is more likely to automatically react positively towards it.
Businesses can also use the verbatim effect by using it in branding. By repetition, businesses can help people to remember their company name and logo. And, if people see a company’s name and logo multiple times, they’re more likely to have a positive association with the company.
Finally, you can use the verbatim effect in customer service. By using a person’s name multiple times in a conversation, businesses can create a stronger connection with the customer. And, when customers feel like they have a strong connection with a company, they’re more likely to be loyal to that company.
The verbatim effect is a powerful psychological trick that businesses can use to their advantage. By repetition, businesses can help to embed their message into our subconscious mind. And, when we see the company’s product or service, our brain is more likely to automatically react positively towards it.
Conclusion
As a marketer, it’s crucial to always be ahead of the game and look for unique, innovative ways to improve your strategy. Business owners often experiments ways to improve their marketing strategy. You want to find new ways to reach your target audience and increase your conversion rate. Oftentimes, the best way to improve your marketing strategy is to change the way you think about marketing. By using these psychological tactics, you can redefine your marketing strategy and make it more effective.
Need a Marketing Plan That Puts You First? Get in Touch Today!
At Market Tactics, we offer comprehensive brand development and marketing services that are guaranteed to help you make a splash in your industry. Whether you’re looking to create a new marketing campaign or simply refine your existing one, our team of experts will work closely with you to ensure that your goals are met.
We’ll help you develop and execute a plan that will make your brand more visible and more valuable. We’re the leading digital marketing company, and we’ll make sure your brand is seen by the right people and gets the attention it deserves. Contact us today and let us show you what we can do.
