Ah, FOMO …
It's a feeling we are all too familiar with — we have all been there. We want to go along with every outing and go to every party, just in case
something exciting happens and were are not there to see it.
You find it hard to say no to
any invitation and, before you know it, you find yourself at
someone's cat's birthday party throwing streamers, hoping it will all be over soon.
Thanks to social media, the amount of people who
struggle with FOMO has grown
exponentially, which is why marketers jumped on the
bandwagon — giving us one of the greatest marketing tactics in modern society …
FOMO marketing.
Don't miss out! Alrika Möller from media update is unveiling the truth about FOMO marketing.
A basic definition
If you have ever bought something because it is a
limited edition or available for a
limited time only, you have experienced FOMO marketing
at its finest.
You see,
FOMO marketing is a tactic that
convinces consumers that they will be
missing out if they don't purchase that thing, go to that event or have that experience. This concept has existed since the marketing
origin story. The only difference now is that social media gave it a
cool name that can
confuse boomers.
There are many ways to evoke this
specific brand of fear in consumers. Here are some of our favourites.
Market bundles and combinations
Everyone loves a good bundle. You feel like you are
getting more for less. If consumers see a bundle, they will feel the need to
jump on that opportunity and be one of the "smart people" that
saves money.
Combinations can be a set combination, or you can market a
new combination of products or services for customers to try out. This
piques interest, and everyone wants to be
ahead of the curve or one of the first to try something. Otherwise,
you are missing out.
Choose your language wisely
Using phrases like "
don't miss out" or "
this is your chance" can be a
FOMO trigger that will definitely make people feel like they are
missing out if they don't make that purchase.
Language choices play a
massive part in motivating people to make
impulse decisions.
Make use of User Generated Content (UGC)
UGC is the
biggest marketing trend right now.
Getting the public involved is a great way of
evoking emotional responses or convincing people they need something that they
didn't know existed 10 minutes ago.
By using UGC as a marketing tool, you can show normal and the
not-so-normal people, called celebrities and influencers, using and enjoying your brand or products.
Nothing makes people want something like seeing everyone else using it online.
Create urgency
It is the
oldest trick in the book, but the moment I see a
flash sale or
limited-time special, I cannot pull myself away. The
shopaholic in me cannot ignore these kinds of specials.
The FOMO hits hard.
Time-specific offers are
major FOMO triggers as people know they won't get this chance or price again, making them more susceptible to impulse decisions. When we
add a time constraint to a normal online browsing or shopping day,
all logic goes out the window.
Consider limited editions
This one naturally links to the previous one but adds
a little flair.
A limited edition is not only for a limited time only, there is literally a
limited amount. Nobody wants to be the person who didn't get the one thing everyone else got to try or buy. What if this is the best flavour or product of this brand yet, and
you missed it?
Limited editions can also link to a
current event or
pop culture moment. Everyone created a limited edition
something pink when the Barbie movie came out, and sports and drinks brands
never miss out on using a major sporting event — like a
World Cup — for their benefit.
These limited-edition products and offers create an emotional response of
excitement, which leads to the
fear that you will miss out big time.
Remember, if you're not using FOMO marketing,
you might be missing out … but hey, at least you won't feel it (
or will you?).
Have you ever experienced FOMO due to a brand or product's marketing? Let us know in the comments section below.
*Image courtesy of Canva