Alter Agents Explores Social Media's Influence on Shopping Decisions in New Report

First installment of the market research firm's Shopper Influence Series reveals how consumers use social media to shop

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Mar 01, 2022, 08:44 ET

LOS ANGELES, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alter Agents, a full-service strategic market research consultancy, has released "Shoppers and Social Media: How your customers use social media to shop." The new report is the first in a four-part series that covers the firm's shopper influence research, a customizable methodology that gives brands a clear picture of shopper behavior in their category, including the sources shoppers consult and which are the most influential during the purchase journey. Findings related to marketing channels and generational usage show that brands need a tailored social media strategy to reach their key consumer audiences.

"Our research has shown that 76% of shoppers say they want to be as informed as possible when making a purchase," said Rebecca Brooks, Founder and CEO of Alter Agents. "Social media is a key source of information during the shopping journey, but understanding its influence and the specifics of how different groups are using it to make decisions is critical."

Alter Agents' Shopper Influence Research program launched with a study of 6,000 U.S.-based recent purchasers across six different product and service categories. The study contained questions about social media usage and shopping habits, which are covered in detail in the new report. A few key findings include:

Shoppers who use social media are less likely to impulse shop, more likely to be eco-conscious, and usually use multiple platforms for different kinds of information.
Generations vary widely in their use of social media for shopping, with Millennials topping the list at 78% and Boomers far behind at only 23%. Their use of specific platforms varies as well.
Product category largely determines the prevalence, usage and influence of social media during the shopping journey, prompting the need for marketers to gain insights into their key audience behaviors and preferences.

More findings, as well as key recommendations for brands, can be found in the complete report, located here: https://alteragents.com/ebook/shoppers-and-social-media/

About Alter Agents

Alter Agents is a full-service strategic market research consultancy reimagining research in the age of Shopper Promiscuity and Brand Narcissism. With a long history of brand strategy and communications experience, the company focuses on collaborating with brands to reveal consumer needs, priorities, and context. Alter Agents specializes in reframing the context for consumer research to yield powerful insights for its clients, including brand giants such as Snapchat, YouTube, Audacy (formerly Entercom), Viking River Cruises, and many more. More at www.alteragents.com. @Alter_Agents

Media contact: Marie Melsheimer, [email protected], 541-815-3951

SOURCE Alter Agents