How to Stop Impulse Buying
- Karla Stamps
- Apr 25, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 3, 2024
Despite our best efforts to resist its influence, advertising shapes our preferences, perceptions, and ultimately, our purchasing decisions.
Whether we realize it or not, we're constantly being nudged towards certain products and brands by the advertising machine.
Advertising is an over 200 BILLION dollar a year industry - depending on the reporting source. Some experts say it’s closer to 300 BILLION.
That’s a LOT of money being spent in an effort to get more of your money!
The advertising industry has mastered the art of persuasion by tapping into our subconscious desires and emotions through these psychological strategies:
Emotional Appeal: Ever shed a tear during a heartwarming commercial or felt a surge of excitement watching an action-packed ad? That's no coincidence. Advertisers leverage emotions like joy, sadness, fear, and nostalgia to forge connections with consumers. By associating their brand with positive feelings, they aim to create lasting impressions that influence purchasing decisions.
Social Proof: We humans are social creatures, wired to seek validation from others. That's why testimonials, user reviews, and endorsements from influencers hold so much sway in advertising. When we see people like us endorsing a product, we're more inclined to believe its claims and follow suit.
Scarcity and Urgency: Ever noticed phrases like "limited time offer" or "while supplies last" in ads? That's no accident. By creating a sense of scarcity or urgency, advertisers trigger our fear of missing out (FOMO) and prompt us to act quickly before the opportunity slips away. Whether it's a flash sale or a one-day-only deal, the fear of regret often pushes us to make impulse purchases.
The Power of Storytelling: Remember those captivating Nike commercials that inspire us to "just do it"? Or the Coca-Cola ads that transport us to a world of happiness and togetherness? Storytelling is a potent tool in advertising because it engages our imagination and taps into universal themes that resonate with audiences. By crafting compelling narratives, advertisers make their brands memorable and relatable.
Subliminal Messaging: While controversial, the concept of subliminal messaging has long intrigued advertisers seeking to influence consumers' subconscious minds. Although its effectiveness is debated, subtle cues and symbols hidden within ads can purportedly sway our perceptions and behaviors without our conscious awareness.
But here's the million-dollar question: does advertising actually work?
The answer is a resounding yes.
Here are 3 Ways to Immune Yourself to Advertising and Impulse Buying:
Always make a list before going to any kind of store. And stick to what’s on the list once you get there!
When shopping online and you have an impulse to buy something you don't absolutely need, put the item on a wish list rather than in the cart. If the website doesn’t have the wish list feature, put the item in the cart and log off. Wait at least one week before going back to the site. Odds are, you won’t even remember exactly what’s waiting on the list or in the cart. And even if you do, the urgency to buy the item will likely be gone. My Amazon wish list has HUNDREDS of items on it lol
Start viewing commercials and ads online as the enemy. haha The whole purpose of an ad is to get you to spend your money. Develop a superpower to resist the temptation to buy what they want you to buy!
Take Action Today!
Come up with a new saying that you'll use when tempted to buy something you don't absolutely NEED.
My favorite is, "I'll pass." That puts me in control.
Noticing the forces that are trying to work against your financial best interests is the first step to developing a Superpower against impulse buying!
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