Information Search

Information Search

Information Search is a stage in the Consumer Decision Process during which a consumer searches for internal or external information.

Information search is considered the second of five stages that comprise the Consumer Decision Process. During this stage, a consumer who recognizes a specific problem or need will then likely be persuaded to search for information, whether it be internally or externally. This is also when the customer aims to seek the value in a prospective product or service. During this time, the options available to the consumer are identified or further clarified.

Information search can be categorized as internal or external research:

Internal research refers to a consumer’s memory or recollection of a product, oftentimes triggered or guided by personal experience. This is when a person tries to search their memory to see whether they recall past experiences with a product, brand, or service. If the product is considered a staple or something that is frequently purchased, internal information search may be enough to trigger a purchase.

External research is conducted when a person has no prior knowledge about a product, which then leads them to seek information from personal sources (e.g. word of mouth from friends/family ) and/or public sources (e.g. online forums, consumer reports) or marketer dominated sources (e.g. sales persons, advertising) especially when a person’s previous experience is limited or deemed inefficient.

Seeking Information: A consumer seeks information by asking an employee about a product. Asking an employee is external research.

• Examples of personal sources that are marketer dominated, include sales person advice in a retail store.
• Personal sources that are not marketer dominated include advice from friends and family.
• Television advertising and company websites are examples of non-personal sources that are marketer dominated
• Online forums are non-personal sources that are non-marketer dominated.

Non-Personal Source: An example of a non-personal source is a search on the Internet. The search engine provides information about a subject.

Evaluating Alternatives

During the evaluation of alternatives stage, the consumer evaluates all the products available on a scale of particular attributes.

Evaluation of alternatives is the third stage in the Consumer Buying Decision process. During this stage, consumers evaluate all of their product and brand options on a scale of attributes which have the ability to deliver the benefit that the customer is seeking. The brands and products that consumers compare – their evoked set – represent the alternatives being considered by consumers during the problem-solving process.

Exhibition Hall: In an exhibition hall, customers have a range of options to explore and evaluate.

Sometimes known as a consideration set, the evoked set tends to be small relative to the total number of options available. When a consumer commits significant time to the comparative process and reviews price, warranties, terms and condition of sale and other features it is said that they are involved in extended problem solving.

Unlike routine problem solving, extended or extensive problem solving comprises external research and the evaluation of alternatives. Whereas, routine problem solving is low-involvement, inexpensive, and has limited risk if purchased, extended problem solving justifies the additional effort with a high-priced or scarce product, service, or benefit (e.g., the purchase of a car). Likewise, consumers use extensive problem solving for infrequently purchased, expensive, high-risk, or new goods or services.

In order for a marketing organization to increase the likelihood that their brand is part of the evoked set for many consumers, they need to understand what benefits consumers are seeking and specifically, which attributes will be most influential to their decision-making process. It is important to note that consumers evaluate alternatives in terms of the functional and psychological benefits that they offer. The company also needs to check other brands of the customer’s consideration set to prepare the right plan for its own brand.

During this stage, consumers can be significantly influenced by their attitude as well as the degree of involvement that they may have with the product, brand, or overall category. For example, if the customer involvement is high, then he or she will evaluate several brands, whereas if it’s low, he or she may look at only one brand. In low involvement buying, the activity is usually frequent, habitual to a certain extent and there is generally little difference between the brands. No strong attachment exists between the buyer and the brand. Promotions are simple and repetitive. Conversely, high involvement buying involves products with many differences. The behavior is more complex and the research is more detail oriented.

Ultimately, consumers must be able to effectively assess the value of all the products or brands in their evoked set before they can move on to the next step of the decision process.