Businesses use these 7 psychological facts to earn more

It's been a while since psychology is used in the world of shopping and business, although this is a less academic version than the one that takes place in universities.

This does not mean that the different marketing techniques that businesses use to influence customer purchases have not been studied, although there is always the question of whether this type of tricks exceeds the limits of ethics.

Tricks and psychological effects used by stores

Be that as it may, the reality is that stores, businesses and establishments open to the public use different techniques so that you end up spending much more money than you had in mind. These are some principles of psychology that stores and businesses use without us realizing it, and that can greatly influence our purchasing decisions.

1. The purchase of shame

Medium or large stores and supermarkets they tend to ensure that there are always a good number of empty carts and baskets near the entrance, not only because they are highly sought after objects, but also because they want everyone to take one.

Many people feel a certain embarrassment when going through the checkout with only one product in their basket or cart, so that they will have to buy some other product so that it does not seem that they have hoarded that container in a way unjustified.

2. Creating a watertight compartment

In supermarkets and department stores there are usually two significant absences: windows and clocks.

The fact of not having these elements means that the shopping space is left without references to the outside world, which which makes customers forget about the passage of time and that life continues to happen beyond the walls of the store. That way, you'll be more likely to keep hanging around checking out the products that are on display for sale.

3. foot in the door

This is one persuasion technique which is also used in purchasing processes. It consists in that, when the client has already chosen what he wants to buy and starts the process that will end in the payment, he is offered an "extra" for a little more money.

The chances that customers will accept this deal will be higher than if this deal were offered. package of products from the beginning, because the buyer has already been psyched up about the fact that he is going to spend money and, although At a point you come to believe that you are spending a little more than you should, buying that "extra" will help you reduce the cognitive dissonance of having bought something without being entirely sure if it is worth it.

Somehow, continue buying is a way to justify the previous purchase, is a way of showing that the previous dilemma did not exist. Of course, if this extra offer is also a discount on another product (or is perceived as such), the cost valuation will also make this extra purchase look attractive.

4. The mirrors

Supermarkets use all kinds of tricks to make the average shopper who walks through their doors stay a little longer inside the premises. One of them is quite simple, and consists of placing mirrors.

It is clear that most people do not stand in front of a mirror staring at themselves, but even if it is almost automatically, they will tend to stay closer to them for longer, looking at each other out of the corner of their eye or walking more slow.

5. The social proof

Some outlets and brands use a principle called social proof to sell more. The concept of "social proof" means a show of marketing force to show that a product is succeeding in the market. It involves showing the consumer the success and social impact that a certain product is having on the target audience, although some of this "impact" may be fictitious or imagined.

The dark side of social proof, for example, could be hiring bots and all kinds of fake profiles to make them follow certain Twitter or Youtube accounts, or create a scarcity deliberate release of a product on the day of its launch so that queues form at certain stores where it is available.

6. The least necessary items are at the entrance

And those who require a greater frequency of purchase, in the areas furthest away from this. The goal is clear: make everyone walk past as many shelves as possible as many times as possible.

7. The first floor, always for women

in clothing stores, the men's section is always at the furthest point from the entrance. This is so because the women who accompany the men to these stores are usually a more impulsive type of shopper than the men. This means that women accompanying men are often tempted to buy something they saw on their way to the men's flat.

If you have been interested in this article, you can also read: “The 12 psychological tricks that supermarkets use to make you spend more money”