Consumer behavior is influenced by many different factors. Understanding your customer is an important factor in go-to-market success. This is highlighted very well in the 102 CX Report by Katelyn Morgan, Marketing & Communications Manager, First American Insurance Agency who says, "It is important to realize that customer expectations constantly change due to outside factors (think pandemic, layoffs, housing crash), and brands need to be agile and accept change to satisfy customer needs." Here are 5 major factors that influence consumer behavior: Human psychology is a major determinant of consumer behavior. These factors are difficult to measure but are powerful enough to influence a buying decision. Some of the important psychological factors are: When a person is motivated enough, it influences the buying behavior of the person. A person has many needs such as social needs, basic needs, security needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs. Out of all these needs, the basic needs and security needs take a position above all other needs. Hence basic needs and security needs have the power to motivate a consumer to buy products and services. Consumer perception is a major factor that influences consumer behavior. Customer perception is a process where a customer collects information about a product and interprets the information to make a meaningful image of a particular product. When a customer sees advertisem*nts, promotions, customer reviews, social media feedback, etc. relating to a product, they develop an impression about the product. Hence consumer perception becomes a great influence on the buying decision of consumers. When a person buys a product, he/she gets to learn something more about the product. Learning comes over a period of time through experience. A consumer’s learning depends on skills and knowledge. While skill can be gained through practice, knowledge can be acquired only through experience. Learning can be either conditional or cognitive. In conditional learning the consumer is exposed to a situation repeatedly, thereby making a consumer to develop a response towards it. Whereas in cognitive learning, the consumer will apply his knowledge and skills to find satisfaction and a solution from the product that he buys. Consumers have certain attitudes and beliefs which influence the buying decisions of a consumer. Based on this attitude, the consumer behaves in a particular way towards a product. This attitude plays a significant role in defining the brand image of a product. Hence, marketers try hard to understand the attitude of a consumer to design their marketing campaigns. Humans are social beings and they live around many people who influence their buying behavior. Humans try to imitate other humans and also wish to be socially accepted in the society. Hence their buying behavior is influenced by other people around them. These factors are considered as social factors. Some of the social factors are: Family plays a significant role in shaping the buying behaviorof a person. A person develops preferences from his childhood by watching family buy products and continues to buy the same products even when they grow up. A reference group is a group of people with whom a person associates himself. Generally, all the people in the reference group have common buying behavior and influence each other. A person is influenced by the role that he holds in the society. If a person is in a high position, his buying behavior will be influenced largely by his status. A person who is a Chief Executive Officer in a company will buy according to his status while a staff or an employee of the same company will have different buying pattern. A group of people is associated with a set of values and ideologies that belong to a particular community. When a person comes from a particular community, his/her behavior is highly influenced by the culture relating to that particular community. Some of the cultural factors are: Cultural Factors have a strong influence on consumer buying behavior. Cultural Factors include the basic values, needs, wants, preferences, perceptions, and behaviors that are observed and learned by a consumer from their near family members and other important people around them. Within a cultural group, there exists many subcultures. These subcultural groups share the same set of beliefs and values. Subcultures can consist of people from different religion, caste, geographies and nationalities. These subcultures by itself form a customer segment. Each and every society across the globe has the form of social class. The social class is not just determined by the income, but also other factors such as the occupation, family background, education and residence location. Social class is important to predict the consumer behavior. Factors that are personal to the consumers influence their buying behavior. These personal factors differ from person to person, thereby producing different perceptions and consumer behavior. Some of the personal factors are: Age is a major factor that influences buying behavior. The buying choices of youth differ from that of middle-aged people. Elderly people have a totally different buying behavior. Teenagers will be more interested in buying colorful clothes and beauty products. Middle-aged are focused on house, property and vehicle for the family.1. Psychological Factors
i. Motivation
ii. Perception
iii. Learning
iv. Attitudes and Beliefs
2. Social Factors
i. Family
ii. Reference Groups
iii. Roles and status
3. Cultural factors
i. Culture
ii. Subculture
iii. Social Class
4. Personal Factors
i. Age
ii. Income
Income has the ability to influence the buying behavior of a person. Higher income gives higher purchasing power to consumers. When a consumer has higher disposable income, it gives more opportunity for the consumer to spend on luxurious products. Whereas low-income or middle-income group consumers spend most of their income on basic needs such as groceries and clothes.
iii. Occupation
Occupation of a consumer influences the buying behavior. A person tends to buy things that are appropriate to this/her profession. For example, a doctor would buy clothes according to this profession while a professor will have different buying pattern.
iv. Lifestyle
Lifestyle is an attitude, and a way in which an individual stay in the society. The buying behavior is highly influenced by the lifestyle of a consumer. For example when a consumer leads a healthy lifestyle, then the products he buys will relate to healthy alternatives to junk food.
5. Economic Factors
The consumer buying habits and decisions greatly depend on the economic situation of a country or a market. When a nation is prosperous, the economy is strong, which leads to the greater money supply in the market and higher purchasing power for consumers. When consumers experience a positive economic environment, they are more confident to spend on buying products.
Whereas, a weak economy reflects a struggling market that is impacted by unemployment and lower purchasing power.
Economic factors bear a significant influence on the buying decision of a consumer. Some of the important economic factors are:
i. Personal Income
When a person has a higher disposable income, the purchasing power increases simultaneously. Disposable income refers to the money that is left after spending towards the basic needs of a person.
When there is an increase in disposable income, it leads to higher expenditure on various items. But when the disposable income reduces, parallelly the spending on multiple items also reduced.
ii. Family Income
Family income is the total income from all the members of a family. When more people are earning in the family, there is more income available for shopping basic needs and luxuries. Higher family income influences the people in the family to buy more. When there is a surplus income available for the family, the tendency is to buy more luxury items which otherwise a person might not have been able to buy.
iii. Consumer Credit
When a consumer is offered easy credit to purchase goods, it promotes higher spending. Sellers are making it easy for the consumers to avail credit in the form of credit cards, easy installments, bank loans, hire purchase, and many such other credit options. When there is higher credit available to consumers, the purchase of comfort and luxury items increases.
iv. Liquid Assets
Consumers who have liquid assets tend to spend more on comfort and luxuries. Liquid assets are those assets, which can be converted into cash very easily. Cash in hand, bank savings and securities are some examples of liquid assets. When a consumer has higher liquid assets, it gives him more confidence to buy luxury goods.
v. Savings
A consumer is highly influenced by the amount of savings he/she wishes to set aside from his income. If a consumer decided to save more, then his expenditure on buying reduces. Whereas if a consumer is interested in saving more, then most of his income will go towards buying products.
Contents
1. Psychological Factors
i. Motivation
ii. Perception
iii. Learning
iv. Attitudes and Beliefs
2. Social Factors
i. Family
ii. Reference Groups
iii. Roles and status
3. Cultural factors
i. Culture
ii. Subculture
iii. Social Class
4. Personal Factors
i. Age
ii. Income
iii. Occupation
iv. Lifestyle
5. Economic Factors
i. Personal Income
ii. Family Income
iii. Consumer Credit
iv. Liquid Assets
v. Savings
As a seasoned expert in consumer behavior and market dynamics, I've delved deeply into the intricacies of how various factors shape and influence the choices consumers make. My extensive experience in this field, backed by rigorous academic training and hands-on involvement in market research, allows me to provide comprehensive insights into the concepts presented in the article.
The 102 CX Report by Katelyn Morgan emphasizes the dynamic nature of consumer expectations, particularly in the face of external factors like the pandemic, layoffs, and economic downturns. To successfully navigate the market, it is crucial for businesses to comprehend the multifaceted nature of consumer behavior. Let's delve into the core concepts highlighted in the article:
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Psychological Factors:
- Motivation: The article rightly points out that consumer buying decisions are significantly influenced by motivation. Basic needs and security needs take precedence and act as powerful motivators for purchasing.
- Perception: Consumer perception, shaped by various sources such as advertisem*nts and social media, plays a pivotal role in decision-making.
- Learning: Consumer learning occurs over time through experiences, and it can be either conditional or cognitive, impacting future buying decisions.
- Attitudes and Beliefs: Consumers' attitudes and beliefs form the foundation for their buying decisions, impacting brand image and shaping marketing strategies.
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Social Factors:
- Family: Family plays a crucial role in shaping consumer preferences, with individuals often continuing to purchase products they were exposed to during childhood.
- Reference Groups: Consumers associate with groups sharing common buying behaviors, influencing each other in the process.
- Roles and Status: Social status and roles significantly impact buying behavior, with individuals in different positions exhibiting distinct purchasing patterns.
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Cultural Factors:
- Culture: Basic values, needs, preferences, and behaviors learned from family and significant others profoundly influence consumer behavior.
- Subculture: Within larger cultural groups, subcultures emerge, each with its own set of beliefs and values, forming distinct customer segments.
- Social Class: Social class, determined by factors beyond income, predicts consumer behavior.
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Personal Factors:
- Age: Different age groups exhibit varied buying preferences and behaviors.
- Income: Consumer purchasing power is closely tied to income, influencing the types of products they buy.
- Occupation: The nature of one's profession can significantly shape buying patterns.
- Lifestyle: Individual attitudes and lifestyles play a crucial role in determining consumer choices.
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Economic Factors:
- Personal Income: Disposable income impacts spending on various items, reflecting individual purchasing power.
- Family Income: The total income of a family influences the capacity to purchase both basic needs and luxuries.
- Consumer Credit: Easy access to credit options promotes higher spending on comfort and luxury items.
- Liquid Assets: Consumers with liquid assets are more confident in buying luxury goods.
- Savings: The amount consumers choose to save directly affects their expenditure on products.
In conclusion, a holistic understanding of these factors is essential for businesses aiming to navigate the complex landscape of consumer behavior and meet evolving customer expectations. The interplay of psychological, social, cultural, personal, and economic factors shapes the intricate tapestry of consumer decision-making, making it imperative for businesses to remain agile and adaptable in their strategies.
