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- Do you use FOMO in your Marketing? š§
Do you use FOMO in your Marketing? š§
How FOMO influences our buying decisions
Sean Sagun
September 13, 2023
Read Time: 2.10 minutes
Picture this: You're scrolling through your social media feed, and you see your friends posting photos from an amazing event you weren't invited to. Suddenly, you're hit with FOMOāthe fear that if you don't buy, do, or experience what they are, you'll be left behind.
Fear of missing out or FOMO is a form of social anxiety ā a compulsive concern that one might miss an opportunity for social interaction, a novel experience, profitable investment or other satisfying event.
Now, here's where it gets interesting. FOMO isn't just an emotion; it's a potent marketing tool. Brands use urgency and exclusivity, like limited-time offers, flash sales, and "only 10 left in stock" notifications, to trigger our fear of missing out, pushing us to make impulse purchases. FOMO can drive us to buy things we don't need or can't afford. It's the reason you end up with a closet full of clothes with tags still on them that lose their charm after a week.