Chat with us, powered by LiveChat Select two websites from the list below, analyzing them from the standpoint of transferring information. In Unit IV, we analyzed websites for their ability to - EssayAbode

Select two websites from the list below, analyzing them from the standpoint of transferring information. In Unit IV, we analyzed websites for their ability to

Select two websites from the list below, analyzing them from the standpoint of transferring information. In Unit IV, we analyzed websites for their ability to persuade; in this unit, we are analyzing for the efficiency in providing information to the consumer. Keep in mind that the end goal of both is to influence the target market. Include criteria discussed in the lesson and throughout this course in your evaluation.

Furniture from Ikea.com
Electronics from Amazon.com
Laptops from HP.com
Backpacks from REI.com
Apparel from Macys.com
Running shoes from Nike.com
Cosmetics from Sephora.com
Private dressing from Stitchfix.com
Ensure that you respond to the questions below.
Using website functionality discussed in the lesson, compare functionality attributes of each of the two websites you selected. How are consumers using these websites in their decision-making process?
In your opinion, are these websites effective at reaching and providing necessary information in order to persuade the customer? Include your rationale.
Explain how marketers might make these websites more efficient in relaying information to the consumer.
Your response should be double-spaced and should be a minimum of three pages in length. References should include each of the websites plus a minimum of two additional credible references. All sources used must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations and be cited per APA guidelines

MAR 3211, Consumer Behavior 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VIII Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Discuss how the field of marketing is influenced by the actions of consumers. 1.1 Describe how marketers within a company might revise their website to encourage additional

sales.

8. Analyze how consumers evaluate product selections. 8.1 Explain how consumers are using websites in their consumer decision-making process.

Course/Unit

Learning Outcomes Learning Activity

1.1

Unit Lesson PowerPoint Presentation Cook (2013) video Olokundun, Amaihian, Adegbuyi, and Mosunmola (2017) article Zauner, Koller, and Fink (2012) article Case Study

8.1

Unit Lesson PowerPoint Cook (2013) video Olokundun, Amaihian, Adegbuyi, and Mosunmola (2017) article Peterson and Merino (2003) article Wells (2017) article Zauner, Koller, and Fink (2012) article Case Study

Reading Assignment In order to access the following resources, click the links below. Click here to access the Unit VIII PowerPoint presentation. (Click here to access a PDF version of the presentation.) Cook, N. (Producer). (2013). Analyzing consumer behavior (Segment 10 of 15) [Video]. In The age of big

data. Films on Demand. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPla ylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=55683&loid=246605

Click here to access a transcript for the video above. Read pp. 192–202 in the article below. Olokundun, M., Amaihian, A., Adegbuyi, O., & Mosunmola, A. (2017). The overriding influence of social media

as the key driver of cinematic movie sales. International Journal of Information, Business and Management, 9(1), 192–204. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://search.proquest.com.library resources.columbiasouthern.edu/abicomplete/docview/1854287409/88DDA321D2E249F8PQ/7?acco untid=33337

Read pp. 99–105 and 115–117 in the article below.

UNIT VIII STUDY GUIDE Networked Consumer Behavior

MAR 3211, Consumer Behavior 2

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title

Peterson, R. A., & Merino, M. C. (2003). Consumer information search behavior and the internet. Psychology & Marketing, 20(2), 99–121. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://search.proquest.com.library resources.columbiasouthern.edu/docview/227744452?accountid=33337

Wells, C. (2017, January 16). Luxury fashion designers struggle to adapt to digital era; exclusive brands look

for ways to combine the best of yesterday with what drives consumers today. Wall Street Journal. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://search.proquest.com.library resources.columbiasouthern.edu/docview/1858558603?accountid=33337

Read pp. 681–685 and 688–689 in the article below. Zauner, A., Koller, M., & Fink, M. (2012). Sponsoring, brand value and social media. RAE: Revista De

Administração De Empresas, 52(6), 681–691. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://search.proquest.com.library resources.columbiasouthern.edu/docview/1210598438?accountid=33337

Unit Lesson To say that the Internet has greatly changed the way consumers search, interpret, and digest information is certainly an understatement of great magnitude. We can easily access a company and its competitor’s websites for information. Additionally, review sites and blogs provide us with valuable consumer insights into products, services, and respective customer service levels. Because of advances in digital metrics, companies can now move beyond just product and service information to targeting specific consumers with specific information that is relevant and pertinent to them personally. From a theoretical standpoint, consumers are looking at the evaluative criteria that will solve the problem and identify multiple alternatives along with the performance level of each of the alternatives. Evaluative criteria might involve the qualities of performance, delivery, pricing, or any criteria that will influence the decision. Identifying alternatives involves a set of potential resolutions to the problem and the associated disadvantages and advantages of each potential alternative. Things that aid in this process are consumer memory of past searches and personal experiences. Additionally, these may include reference groups such as family, friends, peer groups, opinion leaders, and other sources personally associated with the consumer. Independent agencies, such as federal and state agencies, consumer groups, and the like, provide yet another influencing force. Marketing sources typically found on websites, review sites, consumer blogs, traditional advertising, other marketing sources, or even sales associates provide impactful sources of information. Magazines such as Consumer Reports, which has been used by consumers for many years, are now found digitally online, making the comparative shopping experience even easier and faster. In today’s technology-oriented society, online information is no longer an extra but, instead, is expected by consumers. No matter the size of the company, a website is mandatory to conduct everyday business. Ease of use and speed at which information can be acquired are absolute requirements. Anything short of an efficient website will deter potential customers and sales. Online information also can boost offline sales. Through the accumulation of comprehensive and influencing online information, customers may be inclined to visit their local brick-and-mortar store. Consumers perceive online information as credible and valuable and, in many cases, as more valuable than commercials viewed on television that are sometimes viewed as manipulative. Finally, a well-established website can reduce the necessity of additional salesperson expenditures. The hiring of salespeople is an expensive venture. While personalized face-to-face discussions have significant value, the website can provide a solid introduction or closing to a salesperson’s efforts. To maintain frequent and ongoing traffic, websites need to contain relevant and frequently updated content. This could include product-related news features, updates on products and services, and positive reviews. Websites that encourage consumer engagement through clicking, responses, and other activities also promote additional interest. Website functionality was documented as one of the most important factors in securing consumer sales. The top component of website functionality is detailed product information. Other factors that contribute to website functionality are solid search capabilities, live help options, better navigation, accessible contact information, efficient check-out/purchasing process, offerings that meet individual needs, and increasingly better access via other digital modes (mobile and social media). Fast and efficient are key components. Online privacy is an ongoing concern to consumers as well. Websites that provide opt-out

MAR 3211, Consumer Behavior 3

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title

options and a statement to consumers regarding the company’s use of their private information will also increase trust and reduce privacy concerns, which ultimately could increase sales and brand equity with the company. Companies also typically offer opt-in e-mail updates, which are only partially effective as consumers tend to opt out to avoid a volume of e-mails. Important concepts within the online search functions include behavioral targeting and search engine optimization (SEO). Behavioral targeting tracks consumers’ click patterns on websites that ultimately determine where and when banner advertisements will appear on the consumers’ computers. This suggests that consumers will be exposed to products and services that they are actually interested in versus those that they have no interest in viewing or buying. This, of course, implies that the consumer’s browsing activity does reflect not only their interests but also their buying interests. An example of this might be if you began looking at yachts online. Understanding that you cannot afford to buy a yacht, you now would be bombarded with banner advertisements on yachts. The disconnect here is between desires or wants versus needs and actual buying potential. Another online search function of SEO involves techniques that ensure a company’s webpages are not only accessible to the consumer but also increase the probability that the consumer will actually find these webpages. This technique suggests that as the consumer searches for a specific product or service, a list of webpages with the key search words will be listed. Studies have shown that customers tend to only look at the first page of webpages; thus, it is important for companies to be prioritized on that first page. Obviously, the top five sites on the list are incredibly valuable because this represents a significant amount of traffic driven to the website pages of these companies. Companies need to put important category-defining keywords in their URLs in order to obtain these prestigious positions. Google’s AdWords is a common method used by many companies. This provides companies with the ability to pay for sponsored listings for specific search terms. The use of mobile devices, particularly cell phones, has increased significantly over the years. When asked, most people have stated that if they forgot their cell phones at home, they would return home to retrieve it. With this in mind, information searches using mobile devices have also increased. The fact that our cell phones are conveniently located in our pockets at all times inherently leads to an increase in information searches on cell phones. Look at these categories of cell phone information-users below.

• Mobirati: These are younger consumers who grew up with cell phones, and they use cell phones for all decision-making.

• Mobile professionals: These consumers use their cell phones for professional business use as valuable and efficient information sources.

• Social connectors: These consumers use their cell phones for social connectivity as their means of communication.

• Pragmatic: These are typically older consumers who learned to use cell phones beyond a communication tool; they use cell phones functionally, but this group represents the higher-income group.

• Basic planners: These are older consumers who are not really interested in mobility. They use cell phones for basic calling or emergencies.

Understandably, some consumers fall into several categories and others into a single category. Whatever the case, a company needs to understand exactly how its target market will search for information and utilize that method. For instance, if a company’s target market is elderly folks 85 years or older, spending money on Google AdWords to reposition the webpage based on web searches is not necessarily an effective method. Conversely, if a company’s target market is 18- to 25-year-olds, this might be an effective strategy. Consumers are also increasingly using applications (apps) on their mobile devices for their shopping needs. Consumers pull up apps before, during, and after shopping in a brick and mortar store. Generally, this decreases the control and effectiveness of the in-store salesperson. In order for consumers to use these apps, it needs to be easy, efficient, and information-laden. Without this, the consumer will quickly move on to the next app. Broadly speaking, there are multiple marketing strategies that can be employed with respect to consumer information gathering. These strategies are focused on the needs of the consumer and have been listed below.

MAR 3211, Consumer Behavior 4

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title

Take a look at this TED Talk by Johanna Blakley who discusses the impact of social media with respect to dismantling common stereotypes in the media (TED, 2012). Throughout this course, we have discussed the importance of understanding audiences, including the stereotypes that Johanna discusses in this talk. Click the link below to access the video. TED (Producer). (2012, December 19). TEDTalks: Johanna Blakley—Social media and the end of gender

[Video]. Films on Demand. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPla ylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=48598

Click here to access the transcript for the video above. Understanding how consumers search for information is important to marketers today as it represents yet another method for the marketer to understand the target market. Today’s consumers are the most empowered in history because they have quick and easy access to more information about products and services than ever before. Catherine Roe, head of consumer-packaged goods at Google, also presented a TED Talk about consumer behaviors that you may find interesting (TEDx Talks, 2012). It is available in the Suggested Readings section of this unit. In the video, she explains the significance of consumers now receiving their information through smartphones and tablets versus televisions and desktop computers (TEDx Talks, 2012).

The illustration shows information-gathering strategies.

Maintenance strategy: The company’s products are already purchased habitually by the customer; thus, the strategy is just to maintain his or her buying.

Disrupt strategy: The customer repeatedly purchases competitors’ products; thus, the company desires to disrupt this behavior by enticing the customer to buy its products..

Capture strategy: The customer makes purchasing decisions based on only a few criteria such as price and availability.

Intercept strategy: The customer does not usually consider this brand; thus, the company needs to attract the attention of the consumer.

Preference strategy: The company needs to more strongly influence the consumer.

Acceptance strategy: The company needs to ensure that their product is preferred over other products.

MAR 3211, Consumer Behavior 5

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title

References TED (Producer). (2012, December 19). TEDTalks: Johanna Blakley—Social media and the end of gender

[Video]. Films on Demand. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPla ylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=48598

TEDx Talks. (2012, May 25). Consumer behaviors: Catherine Roe at TEDxUChicago 2012 [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N6spwyBuvE Suggested Reading In order to access the following resource, click the link below. In this video, Catherine Roe, head of consumer-packaged goods at Google, explains the significance of consumers now receiving their information through smartphones and tablets versus televisions and desktop computers. TEDx Talks. (2012, May 25). Consumer behaviors: Catherine Roe at TEDxUChicago 2012 [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N6spwyBuvE Click here to access the transcript for the video above.

Related Tags

Academic APA Assignment Business Capstone College Conclusion Course Day Discussion Double Spaced Essay English Finance General Graduate History Information Justify Literature Management Market Masters Math Minimum MLA Nursing Organizational Outline Pages Paper Presentation Questions Questionnaire Reference Response Response School Subject Slides Sources Student Support Times New Roman Title Topics Word Write Writing