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5 factors which affect buyer behaviour

5 factors which affect buyer behaviour

There is no doubt that a number of factors may affect the buying decision of a customer. It is very important for marketing managers to understand how these factors work and impact on the decision-making of a customer. Why does a customer buy some particular products? Why does he/she prefer one product to another? A study of some factors will help the readers find answers to these questions.

As mentioned above, there are a number of factors that will impact on a customer’s buying decision. However, this article will on touch on the key 5 factors i.e. religion, culture, reference group, opinion leader, and life style.

Religion

Religions play an important role in consumer buying decision. For example, Muslims are forbidden to consume alcoholic products. They eat ‘Halal’ meat. Like Muslims, Jews eat ‘Kosher’ meat. However, Hindus do not eat beef as cows are revered in Hinduism.

Culture

Cultural influence is another factor to consider. For example, fashion in Europe is not the same as in Africa. Nigerians have their own fashion while Pakistanis have theirs. Buying food, clothes, and many other products and services may be well influenced by the cultural background of a customer.

Reference group

These are groups of people customers may consider to have been influenced by. These groups may include but not limited to an individual celebrity e.g. Maradona, David Beckham, Messi, Imran Khan, Brian Lara, Angelina Jolie, J. K. Rowling or a musical band or the consumer’s immediate family members.

Opinion leader

Opinion leaders are those whom a customer may respect and rely on due to their views based on their knowledge and expertise. It may be a friend who works in a library whom a customer may ask for feedback when it comes to buying a new book.

Life style

Life style also plays a big role in consumer decision-making. For example, when it comes to buying a watch, whether the customer will go for Rolex, Omega, Casio, Citizen or any other brand may be influenced by their life style.

Finally, factors affecting a customer decision-making are many. Although all the factors are important, they may not impact on the customer decision-making equally. For example, a customer may ask for an advice from an opinion leader to buy a computer. However, will the same customer usually ask for an advice to buy a pen? Perhaps, no.

Hope the article  ‘5 factors which affect buyer behaviour’ has been a useful read. You may also like:

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Last update: 15 September 2020

Further reading/references

Kotler et al. (2009) Marketing Management, 1st European Edition, Prentice Hall

Lancaster, G and Reynolds, P. (2004) Marketing. 1st Edition, New York: Palgrave Macmillan

 

Author: M Rahman

M Rahman writes extensively online and offline with an emphasis on business management, marketing, and tourism. He is a lecturer in Management and Marketing. He holds an MSc in Tourism & Hospitality from the University of Sunderland. Also, graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a BA in Business & Management Studies and completed a DTLLS (Diploma in Teaching in the Life-Long Learning Sector) from London South Bank University.

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