So much controversy had been brewing in the business world as to the reason why consumers often settle for certain goods and services in the market with various scholars expressing their views on the subject matter from individual points of view.
This state of affairs influenced Martin Lindstrom’s decision to try and bring the various reasons why people buy into perspective.
In his two hundred and fifty four page book; Buy-ology: Truth and lies about why we buy, Martin puts this highly speculated issue under sharp scrutiny to come up with the much sort after answers which had been very elusive.
He also seeks to explain the rational with which purchasing decision making is always done beyond any reasonable doubt.
The introductory phase of this book basically poses mind boggling questions mainly concerning the reasons which propel individuals to buy certain products as opposed to their alternatives in the market.
Martin tries to draw the audience’s attention to some shocking revelations which he had come across during his three year marketing research study that coasted a whooping three million dollars.
Basing his arguments on the research findings that were arrived at after critically analyzing responses from two thousand individuals from all over the world, he was able to cast so much skepticism on the reasons which for a long time have been believed to actuate purchasing interests.
He also focuses a considerable amount of energy substantiating weather sex can effectively influence an individual’s decision to buy an item or not. In a rather shocking revelation, he point out that sex can indeed trigger a prospective buyer’s urge to go for an item.
He backs his argument which insists that an individual’s sub conscience may to a large extent be influence to purchase a product by the mere sight of an attractive lady posing suggestively by citing the increasing marketing trend of using skimpily dressed ladies to promote consumer products, he argues that this case scenario is as such since it has proved to be a viable one by producing the desired result of enhancing sales.
Another striking revelation which has been captured quite tentatively is the spiritualization of certain behaviors among consumer groups. Citing the case of drinking Corona with Lime, he puts emphasis on the notion held by marketers which dictates that creating trends and rituals in consumer behavior would also influence their purchasing preferences ultimately.
With respect to this state of affairs, he mentions that companies from all over the globe have hence invested heavily in trying to ensure that their brands become house hold names.
He also argues that advertising greatly influences decision making among prospective buyers since if done in an appropriate manner by highlighting the advantages and benefits of these products, consumption is generally swayed towards the product in focus.
With that in mind, marketers have over the years come up with various methods of advertisements which vary from the use of billboards to visual media in televisions.
He also mentions the fact that despite the government’s ban on subliminal advertising, this very elusive practice is still with us and its perpetrators have continuously exercised extreme caution so as to avoid being caught on the wrong side of the law. All these effort are put to enhance the consumption of the products in question.
The norms in advertising and marketing in general dictate a lot of emphasis on the satisfaction of the sense of sight or rather appeasing the eyes with utter disregard to the other senses. In retrospect, he points out that the other senses like those of smell, touch and even sound can also be quite handy in advertisements since these senses can also play an important role in arousing certain desires in prospective buyers.
Depending on the product in question, he emphasizes that capitalizing on its most appropriate sense while carrying out its advertisement would greatly enhance its sales since the prospective buyers are treated to a one on one experience with the product even before purchasing it.
Despite the fact that this book sheds light on most of the truths and lies about why people buy certain products, it however contradicts some of the widely accepted phenomena on marketing, purchasing and advertising in general.
While he emphasizes on the fact that sex sells and hence the use of attractive women to enhance sales is considered viable, this situation clashes with my view of the world since this method would target a particular market group which would be mainly constituted of young and middle aged male consumers.
Female and elderly prospective consumers may not be influenced by this antic and hence it would not influence the consumption of the said products as expressed in this book.
Taking into account the nicely elaborated instances where he explains how consumers more often than not respond quite positively to well known brands like Nokia, Calvin Klein and even Ford just to mention a few, I would attest to the fact that consumers are mesmerized by renown trademark labels that they do not question the quality and authenticity of products from these labels.
It is however not true to say that the sales of a certain commodity depends on the marketer’s seduction prowess since some commodities often gain a vast repute hence despite the competitor’s marketing abilities, swaying the consumer’s preference to their favor would be next to impossible.
My views especially on shopping has been changed since from a general view which relates one’s urge to buy certain products with his or her needs, the book has pointed out a whole knew dimension on this theory emphasizing the fact that shopping psychology is basically interest based and that an individual may settle for a certain product not because he or she needs the product but because it interests them.
An evident contributor to impulse buying, this observation is however very accurate and hence introduces a whole new notion in purchasing.
Advertising being pointed out as a key contributor towards the improvement of the sales of commodities can also be adequately affirmed from my point of view. This is since advertising helps create awareness among prospective consumers and hence encourages them to try out the commodities in question.
This book also addresses the important aspect of winning a consumer’s loyalty. This is the most important aim of marketing since by so doing, a marketer is guaranteed that their products will be in business for a long time by ultimately winning the consumer’s mind and finances.
In conclusion, it is however important to reiterate the fact that this book is quite factual and objective. Based on daily life experiences, the book explores all the possible avenues to drive its intended agenda home.
The book is also quite engaging since it takes its audience down memory lane and enables them to reflect and relate the instances mentioned in the book with those that happen in real life.
I would hence recommend this book to marketers so as to assist them in their daily routine of devising new techniques in the marketing field. Eventually, I would give this book a six out of ten.
References
Lindstrom, M. and Paco, Underhill. (2010). Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy. San Fransisco: Broadway Books.