Have you ever wonder why people buy a specific product or brand? Are you one of those people struggle to make a decision before buying a product? After purchasing a product, do you sometimes wonder why you bought this specific product?

For any particle product, the buying process can include one or all of the following steps:

Let’s find out the meaning of these steps:

Step 1: Need or problem.

“I need something”. At some point a person realize a need. It is only once an individual recognizes a problem that she can start looking for a solution. This stage cannot be skipped, and is always the first stage of the process. You need to ask yourself, “How do customers become aware of my product?”

Eg. I need to buy a new bed.

Step 2: Information Search

This is the 2nd stage of the purchase process where an individual now begins to look for solutions to their problems or to the opportunities that they’ve identified. There are often more ways than one to achieve the given objective. People involved in purchase decisions are confronted with information from a variety of source: Consumer reports, salespeople, magazines, family, friends, and local experts.

Role of the Internet in Step 2:

In terms of the internet, it dramatically improves an individual’s ability to find alternatives and information about most of those alternatives. Perform a search for new bed and you’ll be presented with at least 65,700.00 results.

Step 3: Evaluate Alternative

Which one is best for me? This includes not only products within a category, but substitutes as well. The 3rd phase of the process is the Assessment of Alternatives with an eye to reduce risk, and maximize the probability the objective set forth is satisfied. The more complex and costly the possible solutions, the more questions that have to be asked and answered.

Role of the Internet in Step 3:

In terms of internet marketing, potential purchasers will look for recognized brands online, or anything within a website that suggests stability and credibility such as:

a. crests
b. partnerships with recognized brands
c. awards
d. consumer feedback and opinion
e. site quality

Step 4: Purchase

This is the big sale. The client did all the research about the product or service and is happy about the information gathered about it.

Step 4: Evaluate (Post Purchase Behavior)

Did I make a mistake? This conclusion can be reached either on a physical level by testing the product’s efficacy or on a physical level by checking the product’s peer approval.

Role of the Internet in Stage 5:

As said earlier,the internet plays big role in spreading both the brand advocate and brand basher messages. Blogging and micro-blogging (eg. Twitter) make it possible for people to share their experiences with hundreds of others with minimal effort. Purchase of a product can help you with you SMM (Social Media Marketing). People become fans of products and services on Social media platforms Facebook and they also share it with their friends.

Let’s have a quick look at some benefits of online shopping.

1. Convenience: You do not have to wait in a line or wait till the shop assistant is ready to help you with your purchases.
2. Better Prices: Another thing which fascinates me is the cheap deals and better prices I get from online stores because products come to you direct from the manufacturer or seller without middlemen involved.
3. Variety: The choices you can get for products are amazing. One can get several brands and products from different sellers at one place.
4. Comparison of Prices: Online shops make comparison and research of products and prices possible.
5. Crowds: If you are like me, you would like to avoid the crowds when you do the shopping. Especially during Festivals and Special events the crowds can really give a head ache. Crowds force us to do a hurried shopping most of the time.

So, what do you think? I really hope after this week’s blog posts, you will be convinced to buy online!