Internal and External Influences Affecting Consumer Behaviour Essay

Comprehension of the wants and needs of a consumer is a crucial element of marketers' performance in all economic sectors. Studying the behavior of consumers offers corporations with knowledge about the needs, expectations and spending habits of the consumers.

Learning consumer behavior allows businesses to remain competitive effectively, increase sales, make profits, and cultivate better and more efficient marketing strategies. Several factors affect the behavior of consumers. They are divided into two classes of variables: internal and external. These factors are related.

Nonetheless, they have a different impact on consumer behavior. Several factors affecting the behavior of consumers aren't just manipulation and control. Consumer behavior is influenced by factors such as inspiration, understanding, learning, feeling, personal preferences, awareness, social standards, cultural values, family influence, trends, cultural influence, the environment, economy, society, marketing, the prevalent condition, age, and personal life.

Consumer behavior practice, although not the case is sometimes misunderstood only in developed and large companies. In nearly all businesses, whether small or big, consumer behavior is important. In the modern age, an organization that does not evaluate consumer behavior cannot efficiently and reliably satisfy its clients. The analysis of consumer behavior will help companies to understand the market trend and internal and external factors that influence their buying decisions.

Today, marketers' most difficult task is to determine what consumers buy and don't buy as well as why they want a particular product and when they buy it. This research on consumer purchases is complicated but necessary for marketers as it lets them determine what is relevant and affects the buyer the most when making their buying decisions (Thom 2009). This knowledge is valuable to customers and is significant. Information on consumer behavior as well as their purchasing judgment impact marketers to improve their marketing campaigns or tactics to satisfy their needs.

In that respect, the analysis of consumer behavior can be used to render the most significant support for marketers and to define common internal and external consumer influences (Schiffman, 2008). The consumer behavior method is a testable theory and does not contain adequate information to help forecast actual consumer behavior. Nevertheless, the process of consumer behavior demonstrates general consumer beliefs that could be of great assistance to marketers in designing their services and products following their verified beliefs. (Prediction of who buys what, why, and where).

Based on various external and internal influences, people construct several concepts and corresponding styles. They take no void purchasing decisions because they affect both internal and external considerations. Diverse personal influences and behaviors of individuals elicit specific desires and needs, of which some consuming choices may include gratification (Macinnis and Hoyer, 2009). The market decision-making cycle is activated by these desires and needs of consumers while experiencing appropriate circumstances.

Internal Influences on Consumer Behavior

The factors affecting consumer behavior internally include inspiration, understanding, awareness, attitudes, desires, and thought. Such causes are also classified as individual factors. The incentive of the customer to buy a particular service or product depends primarily on the need to satisfy a particular goal or a certain purpose. The perceptions of consumers largely influence their behavior. We decide how certain goods or services are valued depending on their expected outcomes or advantages.

Factors such as employment, advertising and marketing may affect perception. Most behaviors in consumers are adapted from learning. Depending on the information, people begin to like or hate other items in the form of materials like magazines, books, and online sources. Personal preference affects consumer behavior because it dictates consumer perceptions and attitudes.

Most consumers prefer strong-heel shoes rather than flat shoes, for instance. It affects the way they determine the kind of shoes to buy. Consumer behavior is also affected by emotion and thought. Emotions play an important role when deciding whether consumers buy specific goods or not. Consumers evaluate goods by research, associate them with another and determine which services and products are most suited to their needs.

External Influences on Consumer Behavior

Social standards, trends, cultural values, group impact, family impact, cultural and subcultural effect, and the environment are all external influences that affect consumer behavior. Social standards play a major role in the purchasing behavior of consumers. Many social norms in many societies restrict people of specific genders to some forms of dressing and social activities.

For instance, ladies only purchase certain clothes that do not clash with their values. This has a significant effect on their purchasing behavior. Group impacts include informational and statistical influences. Informational influences arise circumstances in which consumers search friends or family for knowledge.

When the consumer bases his/her judgment on the personality of the class they belong to, comparative influences are exerted. A young person, for example, would choose the style of shoes his or her friends buy. Ultimately, regulatory effects involve guidelines on the behavior of members of the group. Such factors determine what consumers are purchasing. Trends have a significant impact on consumers, particularly youths.

To look appropriate and competent, they wear the latest fashion. Elderly individuals are less interested in fashion and trends. They dress mostly for ease. Family members also affect consumer's decision-making. For instance, when someone single begins a family, buying trends change. Single people buy products that are appropriate for their lives as single people.

Married couples instead buy products that suit the desires of all representatives of their families. They buy more goods for that reason. Additionally, families impact decision-making. Unlike single individuals who make personal choices, married couples make joint decisions that take into consideration, the preference of every member of the family. Beliefs and social norms are part of sub-cultural and cultural factors.

Communication, dressing, and feeding methods in certain societies are regulated by norms, traditions, and beliefs. Consumers are therefore highly selective about what they choose. The culture of collectivism varies from those of individualism. Decisions are taken individually in collectivist societies. As a result, collective decision influences consumer behavior. Consumer behaviors are instead dependent on personal needs and preferences in individualistic cultures.