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consumer behavior

Having In-Depth Research on Consumers’ Values Yields Tremendous Benefits

  • ARF Knowledge at Hand, CMO Brief

In decades past, demographic characteristics were considered the strongest predictors of consumers’ values, attitudes and purchasing behavior. Over time, however, they have grown to become weak predictors and correlates. In this Knowledge at Hand report, Dr. Horst Stipp, EVP at the ARF, summarizes the latest and most impactful research to date on consumer values and how researching them carefully can help shape effective business strategies and impactful ad messages.

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Top Topics at AxS 2024

Our analysis of the presentations during this year’s AUDIENCExSCIENCE conference shows which issues are marketers’ current priorities. 

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Making Prosocial/Cause-Related Ads More Effective

Last year, we reported on an analysis which found that many advertisements with prosocial and cause-related messages are not as effective as surveys on consumer attitudes suggest. This urged researchers to explore how to make such ad messages more effective. Several new studies provide insights on this issue.    Read more »

How to Use Machine Learning to Speed Up the Product Design Process

  • MSI

Aesthetic design significantly affects consumer evaluation of products. Nowhere perhaps is this truer than for the automotive category. However, in this industry, development cycles can be lengthy. As a result, mid-generation “facelifts” periodically occur to maintain appeal. However, this process can be expensive. Recent breakthroughs in machine learning may help speed up the process in an efficient and scalable manner. Not only is this option cost-effective, but it is customizable. For those who wish to infuse nature-inspired elements into an aesthetic design, deep machine learning offers many advantages.

Segmentation Perils

These researchers identify frequently made mistakes when creating consumer segments to target certain groups. Still, they think that well-executed segmentations can help improve messaging and communication with customers.

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Brands and the Polygamous Consumer

Ehrenberg-Bass researchers argue that marketers need to accept that most brands share customers with several of their rivals and are not likely to achieve complete loyalty from their buyers. They offer recommendations for strategies that promote brand growth in a “polygamous multi-brand loyalty market” which runs counter to prevailing theories about how to grow brands.

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Inside the Journal of Advertising Research: Sonic Branding, ASMR Engagement, and Who Wins in Activist Messaging?

  • JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

At this Insights Studio, researchers in Europe, the U.K. and the U.S. presented work in relatively new fields that have high-impact potential for the advertising industry. Starting with a forthcoming paper on sonic branding, the authors described their ground-breaking framework for measuring the implicit effects of sonic branding using music to manipulate visual scenes in video, film and TV. Next, a deep dive into autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR)—a sensory-inducing device in ads—included strategies for helping brands collaborate with successful ASMR influencers. Lastly, a preview of an article to be published in the March Prosocial Advertising Special Issue showed how brand activism influences attitudes and purchase intentions, revealing a credibility gap between established activist brands and brands emerging in that space. Taking questions from Paul and from attendees, panelists in the concluding Q&A explored links between sonic branding and ASMR, the demographics of ASMR followers, ways for emergent activist brands to close the credibility gap with established activist brands, and future research possibilities.

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Drug Injury Advertising Can Lead to Adverse Outcomes for Patients

  • MSI

Although direct to consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical ads are highly regulated to avoid over-prescribing and misleading claims, legal commercials about consumers rights soliciting drug injury lawsuits face far fewer regulations. The researcher who wrote this Marketing Science Institute (MSI) working paper also found that exposure to drug injury lawsuit ads can result in patients filling fewer prescriptions and experiencing more adverse health outcomes.

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