10.13.10
The most compelling beauty advertisements appeal to consumers’ confidence rather than their insecurities, and offer free samples, according to anew study from About.com. The study also revealed that beauty products are considered a necessity, with more than two-thirds of respondents willing to purchase products even while watching their budgets.
The About.com 2010 Beauty Study – conducted online in August – examined why consumers use beauty products, what influences purchasing decisions, what kind of beauty advertisements are most appealing, and what brands can do to attract new customers. It also looked at what emotions beauty products evoke in consumers.
“We see a significant number of intent-driven consumers willing to pay higher prices for quality, brand products that satisfy specific beauty needs,” said Evan Minskoff, vice president, marketing, the About Group. “This presents brands with the opportunity to truly engage this audience by emphasizing the relevance of their products to consumers’ core beauty goals.”
In the study, 80% of respondents plan to spend more or the same this year on skin, hair, male grooming, teeth whitening and cosmetic products.
The study also concluded that consumers prefer ads that appeal to their confidence, rather than to perceived insecurities. They also prefer ads that present brand and product benefits in an informative, intelligent way, and are receptive to ads that stress quality over price.
The most compelling ads offer free samples or trials (cosmetics, 71%; skin care, 64%), printable coupons (cosmetics, 58%; skin care, 56%) and product information (cosmetics, 49%; skin care, 44%), according to About.com.