How Big Data is Affecting Your Holiday Shopping Habits

When the holidays start, shopping starts to pick up. But you might not realize that there are certain things that affect your holiday habits. It helps to know what these are so you can make the best decisions. That way, when you are buying gifts you are not just spending money. Instead, you are doing it in a way that will get great gifts but also not break the bank:

Discounts 

A lot of companies run discounts during the holidays. The whole reason behind this is usually to get you in the door in the first place. After all, who doesn’t love a good deal? This applies to both online stores and physical retail stores.

Beware that once you find your item, you might be tempted to run around the store and look for other things. This can easily add up if you’re not careful. Before you know it, you might find yourself spending more than you originally planned.

To fight back against this, keep in mind that if you did not plan to buy the item in the first place, then it is not a good deal. Just because it is on sale does not mean you need it. So save the money for the other purchases you already planned.

Colors and Emotion 

You might not have realized that each color a company uses in their branding is for a certain purpose. For instance, blue and green are comfort building colors. Red and pink are more exciting and get people emotional. This is subtle, but it is a level you need to be aware of.

Another reason they do it is to keep you on their sites longer. This increases their organic rankings. They are forming the way you shop in order to boost their other revenue streams as well.

Repetition

The more you are exposed to an idea, the more likely you are to think that it is true. However, beware of falling into this trap. Just because a lot of people are repeating it does not mean you should believe it without verification. If so, you might start out knowing that something is not true, only to end up believing it in the end. Another thing to understand is that social proof is powerful.

They will often have testimonials or reviews planted everywhere. This is designed to increase your confidence in the company. If a lot of people are buying it, then it must be great, right? Not always. So shop with care, even if a lot of people say it’s great.

Security

The network visibility of a company is an important part of their approach to security. It tells you how much they value the privacy of your data. If they have security logos and safe checkouts, then this is influencing your buying, but in a good way.

The Timing

People are usually more willing to open up their wallets during the holidays. This is simply something that has been proven time and time again. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you only need to shop during one time of year. Get your gifts whenever you find a good one you love.

If you want to have a great holiday shopping experience, you need to arm yourself with knowledge. The more you know, the more you can do. It is as simple as that. However, you need the right information. Knowing what to do to get the best deal will help you have more peace of mind that you are shopping with a good strategy. Then, the price tags might just be lower when you find a good deal.