SHOP SOCIAL Emerging Social Media Trends & Their Effects on Consumer Behaviors Never Shop Alone Social shopping involves using social media tools to enhance the shopping experience. It’s a leading trend among consumers, and it’s multi-platform, multi-cultural, and multi-functional. It occurs at all stages of the buying cycle and happens during online and in-store shopping excursions. This phenomenon is poised to change significantly the way people consume. “Behind every purchase is an experience that creates a brand advocate or enemy, and social media is now the battleground where shoppers take sides,” said Geoff Galat, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for Tealeaf Technology, Inc. Share mechanisms make recommendations easily accessible and influence purchase decisions. Pre- and post-purchase sharing, via photo/video uploads and text updates, creates community hubs around personal shopping behaviors and preferences. Friendships form over similar purchase interests, and shoppers support each other’s consumer lifestyle in likes, tweets, and comments. So naturally, the question emerges: Where does your brand fit in? But before we jump ahead, there are some really important people we’d like you to meet… SHOP SOCIAL 1
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Shop Social 2011 - A whitepaper analyzing the trends around social shopping in 2011
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SHOP SOCIAL Emerging Social Media Trends & Their Effects on Consumer Behaviors
Never Shop AloneSocial shopping involves using social media tools to
enhance the shopping experience. It’s a leading trend
among consumers, and it’s multi-platform, multi-cultural,
and multi-functional. It occurs at all stages of the buying
cycle and happens during online and in-store shopping
excursions.
This phenomenon is poised to change significantly the
way people consume. “Behind every purchase is an
experience that creates a brand advocate or enemy, and
social media is now the battleground where shoppers
take sides,” said Geoff Galat, Vice President of Worldwide
Marketing for Tealeaf Technology, Inc. Share mechanisms
make recommendations easily accessible and influence
purchase decisions. Pre- and post-purchase sharing,
via photo/video uploads and text updates, creates
community hubs around personal shopping behaviors
and preferences. Friendships form over similar purchase
interests, and shoppers support each other’s consumer
lifestyle in likes, tweets, and comments. So naturally, the
question emerges: Where does your brand fit in?
But before we jump ahead, there are some really
important people we’d like you to meet…
SHOP SOCIAL 1
The New ‘Social’ ConsumersSocial shopping introduces a bold new way to shop and
an equally bold and new consumer. At present, Millenials
and Gen Xers are the most active social shoppers, but
they are also the earliest adopters and most prolific users
of social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Location-
Based Applications, etc. As a larger and more diverse
audience adopts these platforms, social shopping culture
will likely spread throughout all age groups.
Understanding social media platforms and how they
are used during the purchase cycle is the first step to
becoming the social brand social shoppers are seeking.
Armed with the right knowledge and digital-social skills,
brands can effectively reach, engage, and build genuine
relationships with social shoppers.
This report explores the emerging trends of social
shopping, examining the most active platforms and taking
an elemental look at the users that make them chatter and
buzz. Get ready for a crash course in social shopping and
walk away knowing how to shop, shout, find, and support
like a seasoned social shopper.
“Why wouldn’t you share a good deal?”
“Picture sharing isa big deal for me.”
“When I get a good deal, I feel GREAT.”
“I kinda feel entitled to deals online at this point.”
“I share the information probably more than not.”
“I’m an impulse shopper & with social media I’m shopping even more...”
“Should I get it, or should I get it in a different color?”
2SHOP SOCIAL
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The Experiment On Cyber Monday, November 29, 2010, Flightpath
launched a multi-media research project called
ShopSocial 2010. We interviewed a handful of social
shoppers and asked them to tell us how social media
tools and trends influence their shopping behaviors.
We created a microsite, a YouTube channel, and ran a
contest to encourage user-generated submissions.
The goal of our research project was simply exploration.
We isolated an emerging consumer and wanted to take a
closer, more intimate look at their lifestyle. The following
sections present the qualitative and quantitative data
gathered from the experiment and present analysis,
theories, and predictions garnered from the research
project.
SHOP SOCIAL
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Jerry Groupon devoteeActively recommends deal/products to friends
“I’m shopping or looking for a deal, everyday.”
The ShoppersLeveraging our own internal social networks led us
to four candidates who live and work in New York City.
Arie Author of KMPblog.com
Shops on recommendation
“I actually put my trust on Twitter.”
Christine Author Tineey.comPurchase sharer via photos & videos
“Shopping is a daily routine.”
Kelly Editor of MASQUE Magazine Reputable source of content & recommendations
“I’m a Twitter girl.”
“Deals and sales are coming to me now…”
“When I think of social shopping, I think of me.”
“I kinda feel entitled to deals online at this point.”
“I’ll see how many I can get and buy it right there.”
SHOP SOCIAL
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The SetupFlightpath asked each social shopper to come in for a
video interview. The shoppers knew ahead of time that
they’d be filmed talking about social media and shopping,
but they did not know what questions they’d be asked.
We asked each candidate a series of ten questions and
some additional questions based on their responses.
The interviews lasted between 15 – 30 minutes, and
Flightpath edited each one down to a short montage
of the highlights. We posted the videos on the YouTube
channel, http://www.youtube.com/shopsocial, with a call
to action for other social shoppers to submit their videos
and join the conversation.
Flightpath added three additional video interviews to
the playlist throughout the campaign from internal staff
members noted for their social shopping.
SHOP SOCIAL
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RESULTS
Popularity among the videos varied:*Views recorded on 1/3/2011.
The YouTube channel received traffic and content views:
Quantitative
148
87
76 46 39
59
102
61
ShopSocial 2010 resulted in a surplus of qualitative data about new consumer habits and behaviors growing from social media tools and platforms:
- How social media influences online shopping
- What/how platforms are used to shop socially
- How social shopping affects purchases
- What do consumers expect from brands in social media
- How shoppers bond/interact over shared consumers interests
- How consumers define “social shopping”
1,963 564YouTube
Channel ViewsYouTube
Upload Views
SHOP SOCIAL
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DiscoveriesSocial shoppers expect a fast response on Twitter, whether
it’s from their own followers, using hashtags to connect
with the larger Twitterverse, or communicating directly
with brands. They actively seek out recommendations,
and they aren’t shy about voicing their own opinions
about shopping experiences.
People really enjoy the interaction they receive from a
brand or business, and they reported that this kind of
attention makes them feel appreciated and increases
brand affinity.
TwitterThe majority of participants in ShopSocial 2010 indicated
that Twitter was their favorite platform for social shopping.
Speed of response time emerged as the most attractive
feature of using Twitter as a shopping tool.
Get real-time recommendations from friends about purchases- Does this color look good on me?
- Should I eat here?
- Is this deal really worth it?
Share recommendations with friends Participate in promotions - RT special deals/offers
- Enter contests
- Special offers from companies
Interact with brands on a one-on-one level- Praise/complain about a product or service
- Ask questions about product or service
- Offer suggestions for improvement
- Create a social “human” connection
SOCIAL SHOPPERS USE TWITTER TO
SHOP SOCIAL
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DiscoveriesFacebook connections tend to be close: family, friends,
colleagues, classmates, etc. This cultivates a more
intimate environment that influences social shopping
behaviors and interactions. People will wait longer for
purchase feedback from their network on Facebook.
Brand promotions on Facebook were less popular
because they were usually more time-consuming and
took longer to conclude. People were more cautious
about “spamming” friends and family with share posts
associated with contests.
Facebook Holiday Trend: People dropped their gift
wish-lists hints via Facebook status updates for friends
and family to see. Several social-savvy retailers took
note of this behavior and encouraged customers to
check Facebook feeds and or make those wishes visible.
FacebookFacebook proved to be a stronger medium to find
purchase recommendations. Since Facebook is not as
fast-paced as Twitter, the value of an intended purchase
tends to be higher. Social shoppers reported that it’s
typical to ask for something like a car recommendation
and patiently wait for feedback from their network.
Sharing purchases and purchase aspirations- Photos of recent purchases
- Links to products one wants to buy or is going to buy
Asking for after-purchase opinions- What do you think of this?
- Does this look good on me?
Joining brand communities- Responding to brand updates
- Engaging in conversations with other community members
- Using @username to mention brand/ person and start conversations
SHOPPING BEHAVIORS THAT OCCUR ON FACEBOOK TEND TO BE OUTGOING AND OPEN
SHOP SOCIAL
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DiscoveriesSocial shoppers will forward daily deals, even if they don’t
purchase them, if they think they’re relevant to a friend.
This type of recommendation is a critical part of social
shopping and one of the most influential. The majority
of the candidates reported that a direct forward from a
friend significantly increased their likelihood to purchase
if they liked the product/service. Social-network forwards
often lead to group-buying coupon purchases. Friends
are highly likely to purchase a daily deal just to share
the experience. Our shoppers voiced appreciation of the
Groupon one-click purchasing model on mobile devices:
iPhone, Android, Blackberry, etc.
GrouponThe pioneer of group-buying websites, Groupon, offers
large discounts (typically 50% or more) on goods and
services through geo-targeted, daily emails. Groupon
and other similar sites, LivingSocial, Gilt City, etc., were
a significant part of our candidates social shopping
routines.
Reviewing daily deals- Usually local business product/ services offerings
Purchasing deals that interest them Forwarding/recommending deals to friends Researching new companies
SOCIAL SHOPPERS SPEND TIME DAILY ON GROUP-BUYING/COUPONING SITES
SHOP SOCIAL
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DiscoveriesLocation-based apps were the least popular form of
social shopping among the candidates. However, they
spoke of positive experiences when using the apps and
receiving discount codes, coupons, and other offers.
Remembering to check in at a location was one of the
most difficult tasks for our shoppers, and some reported
discouragement at checking in for a deal that had recently
sold out. On the positive side, shoppers reported feeling
special or appreciated when they received a discount
offer for frequenting a business location.
Location-Based AppsMobile, location-based applications like Foursquare,
Scvngr, Shopkick, and Facebook Places offer yet another
opportunity for social shopping. Checking in at various
physical locations in a city is a key ritual in a digital native’s
lifestyle. Most location-based apps offer incentive for
checking in at check-out—discount on purchase, points,
and other rewards:
Social shoppers adjust behaviors to take advantage of location-based offers- Checking in at certain locations
- Shopping at a store to take advantage of special sale or promotion
Social shoppers are privy to certain deals because they are “regulars”- Frequent check-ins result in special deals/savings
Social shoppers spread the word to their social network about savings, deals, sales, etc., when they check in
LOCATION-BASED APPS
SHOP SOCIAL
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Who Are Social Shoppers?
ResourcefulSocial shoppers are extremely resourceful consumers.
They scour the vast corners of the internet to unearth cool
new products and special deals. They hop on social plat-
forms to shop by following other users and friends’ links
to products of interest. They interact with brands through
their social media feeds, influencing when and how they
shop with that brand. And they shop the old-fashioned
way—going to the brick-and-mortar stores in their area,
often after getting wind of a good deal or sale online.
OutgoingSocial shoppers are not shy. They make their voices
heard when it comes to customer service issues. They of-
ten have one-on-one contact with brands via social media
conversations. They broadcast the latest discount infor-
mation to their network.
SocialSocial shoppers love to share the experience of shop-
ing, and they form friendships, online and offline, based
on this hobby. They support each other by engaging in