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11 Cognitive Biases in Marketing to Boost Customer Retention

Explore 11 different cognitive biases in marketing and bring behavioral science on your side to capture the hearts and minds of customers.

Antavo’s cover about its article on cognitive biases in marketing

Written by Tamas Oszi

Last updated: June 13, 2024 • 17 min read

As the age-old saying goes, everything’s fair in love and war. However, in the 21st century, you can add another item to the list: marketing. Capturing the hearts and minds of consumers when buyers are constantly bombarded with messages is only possible if you know how to understand your audience’s mind. And this is where behavioral science comes into play: by knowing how cognitive biases in marketing work, you can align your messages with how customers think. In other words, you can improve the effectiveness of your marketing efforts by reinforcing buyers in their decision-making.

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What Is a Cognitive Bias?

Cognitive biases can be best described as shortcuts in our thinking. They influence our everyday decision-making through mental templates that are based on perceptions or beliefs. Though some believe that consumer cognitive biases are a bad thing, like an ‘error in their logical reasoning’, the truth is that such biases allow us to make split-second decisions, helping us to avoid danger and capitalize on opportunities.

It’s also worth highlighting that no one is exempt from cognitive biases. Actually, believing that others have such biases and that you are the only one thinking rationally all the time is a cognitive bias itself. The best we can do is to be aware of our own biases and confront them if necessary, so they won’t prompt you to make ill-informed decisions.

A non-descriptive image symbolizing the effects of cognitive biases. — *The key to logical thinking is not to deny cognitive biases, but rather to understand how they impact our reasoning.*

The Role of Cognitive Biases in Marketing and Customer Retention

Assuming that your customers always think rationally is foolish. However, believing that consumers are completely irrational and can be controlled through clever marketing tricks is equally foolish. In fact, such practices can damage your brand’s reputation. The truth is in the middle: buyers generally seek to evaluate their options on a logical basis, but due to inherent fallacies, lapses may occur.

As such, the role of cognitive biases in marketing is not to trick customers but to make them more aware of your brand and ensure that your message resonates with them. Not taking cognitive biases into account while working on your customer retention strategy can cause buyers to overlook your offers, or even worse, be seduced by a competitor.

A circle with 11 slates, all showing the name and icon of a cognitive bias from Antavo’s article. — *Here are the top 11 cognitive biases in customer retention, marketing and loyalty programs that can improve how you interact with your audience.*

1. The Mere Exposure Effect

Also known as the familiarity principle, this marketing bias means that we are more likely to accept something if we see it regularly. For instance, if a weird or unusual object is placed in a classroom, students will initially be bothered by it, but as they are exposed to it on a daily basis, they’ll get used to it — and even grow fond of it.

The Mere Exposure Effect in Marketing

When it comes to marketing, the mere exposure effect involves increasing the visibility and appearance of a certain product. Customers will assume that it is prominent because it is popular. Common use cases include:

Placing a product on shelves at eye-height
Using a product image in the banner in newsletter marketing
Displaying an item prominently in video materials and other content, for example in the presentation background

The Mere Exposure Effect in Customer Retention

Working with this type of cognitive bias in customer retention is just as easy, especially for omnichannel companies, because they have plenty of touchpoints with customers.

Use side banners on the website promoting your key product or service
When sending emails to customers, recommend specific items or offers
Use social media to regularly tell your audience about the various perks of being a customer, such as free shipping or extended warranty

A billboard at night showing the mere exposure effect in action. — *Large billboards in high-traffic areas are still one of the best ways to use the mere exposure effect, because people pass by them on a daily basis.*

2. The Anchoring Bias

The anchoring bias means that we tend to use certain information we hear first as a baseline for our judgment. For example, if you are looking for a second-hand car, the first deal you like will be used as a comparison point: everything below its price is a good deal, while deals that are above are overpriced.

The Anchoring Bias in Marketing

In order to make this type of bias in advertising work for you, you need to be the first brand that enters the consumer’s mind. Of course, this is generally easier for existing customers who already know about your brand.

During big retail holidays like Black Friday, make sure to start advertising early
When displaying a discount, always put the crossed-out info first in order to put the size of the discount into perspective
In search menus, always put highlighted deals at the top

The Anchoring Bias in Customer Retention

A rewards program is an ideal tool to support the anchoring bias: if someone is a member of your loyalty program, they most likely check out your deals first, because they have unused points or coupons in their account.

Put the main selling points at the top of the program’s landing page
If you have a subscription program, always showcase the annual membership first, especially if the monthly price is lower
Offer double point campaigns during the holidays to make your loyalty offerings more enticing than the competitors’

Image showcasing the cognitive bias in Mailchimp marketing — *Mailchimp’s pricing* *starts with the most expensive plan, quickly followed by the recommended plan, which has a much lower cost, increasing the odds that people choose it.*

3. The Framing Effect

To put it simply, the framing effect means that we draw a different conclusion about a product or deal depending on how it is presented. For example, a new dishwasher may be better received if it’s shown functioning during the commercial, rather than just having the announcer talk about its features.

The Framing Effect in Marketing

Marketers have been using the framing effect for decades (or more) without even realizing it. Just remember: to make something sell like hotcakes, present it in an engaging, customer-centric way.

Instead of just mentioning a feature, explain how it makes the user’s life better
Show the product in action
Use A/B testing to discover the best way to frame certain aspects of a product

The Framing Effect in Customer Retention

Loyalty points, perks and rewards play an important role in framing your offers. If you have a loyalty program, it means that your audience gets more bang for their buck, which increases the appeal of buying from your brand.

If you are discounting a price, make sure to display both the original and the discount price side-by-side, so that people are aware of the size of the markdown
If you offer coupons or loyalty rewards, make sure they are presented in a visually pleasing manner — using more than text and charts
Always use images when showcasing products, because images help people to make decisions

The framing effect demonstration — The power of the framing effect comes from the fact that *depending on how you market a product, it can be perceived as negative or positive.*

4. Salience

Salience stems from our habit: when presented with a choice, we pick the option that stands out the most. The reasoning behind it is that we think that if something is unique, it most likely has other positive traits as well.

Salience in Marketing

Salience has always been a golden rule for marketers. Ensuring that your product has the most appealing packaging, the best tagline, and the cutest mascot, increases the chances that it will fly off the shelves.

Make sure to advertise your product with a feature that the competition lacks
If a product or service is exclusive, or available only for a small group, it will also increase its desirability
Design your hottest new products in a way that is visually distinct — even from your existing products

Salience in Customer Retention

In order to achieve salience with your customer retention, you have to put a lot of effort into presentation and UX. Also, having some form of referral or rewards program also helps you stand out.

Create a colorful, themed membership page
Use badges and unique icons that symbolize certain actions or themes in the shopping journey
Consider utilizing experiential rewards in your loyalty program because they are much more exciting than simple coupons

An image from Gul Ahmed’s marketing campaign that stands out because it supports a good cause — *Another form of Salience is to support good causes, like breast cancer research, as it was done by* *Gul Ahmed*.

5. The Zeigarnik Effect

Among all the bias in advertising examples we list, the Zeigarnik effect is probably the least known. However, once explained, it instantly makes sense: it’s a bias that makes us more likely to remember unfinished tasks than those that are finished. This kind of marketing bias shows many similarities with the sunk-cost fallacy, which prompts us to stick to something if we have already spent a lot of time, energy or money on it.

The Zeigarnik Effect in Marketing

Knowing how to use the Zeigarnik effect in your marketing strategy can increase your retention rate, because you won’t let shoppers leave with an unfinished business.

Send a reminder email to customers that they have abandoned their shopping cart or have an unfinished booking
Offer product recommendations or joint offers that complement the original purchase
Use personalization in emails to make your reminders friendlier and more motivational

The Zeigarnik Effect in Customer Retention

If your business offers any kind of benefits — be it limited-time coupons, free shipping or even loyalty rewards — it will remind customers about the pending status of these benefits to create the Zeigarnik Effect.

Put a strict expiration date on coupons and discounts
Create multi-step challenges for customers, where they have to perform various activities in order to gain some form of benefit
Remind loyalty program members that they are halfway to a reward or new tier

Ray-band cognitive bias example. — *Cart abandonment messages are a careful balance between creative and pushy messages – as shown by* *Ray-Ban*.

6. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

The Fear of Missing Out is a cognitive bias that nags the mind of many of us, telling that if we don’t act now, we might miss out on a great deal or experience. It’s a double-edged sword that has helped many opportunists score the deal of their lives, but FOMO has also been the source of many rushed decisions.

FOMO in Marketing

The FOMO effect hardly requires any introduction in marketing. Sales executives have used it instinctively to create scarcity and drum up interest for their products. Some of these tactics include:

Putting a live countdown on a limited time offer
Sending a reminder email to customers telling them that the current sales event is almost over
Displaying the number of items left in stock on product pages

FOMO in Customer Retention

Practicing FOMO in customer retention is quite self-explanatory, and can be effectively utilized simply by putting a timer on certain offers and rewards or restricting people’s access to them.

Limited-time double point campaigns in a loyalty program are always popular, especially during the holiday seasons
Customers often go crazy for early access to upcoming products or sales
Offer a limited number of high-end rewards, like experiential rewards, to drive interest

Krispy Kreme’s limited time Xbox donuts that show FOMO in action. — *Limited-edition cross-promotions are also a great way to capitalize on FOMO like what* *Krispy Kreme* *once did with Xbox.*

7. Bandwagoning

It has been observed that we are more likely to purchase products when they have been purchased by a large number of other people. In this sense, it’s similar to the mere exposure effect, except that the product is ‘displayed’ not by the brand, but by our peers. And, because consumers tend to trust friends and family over corporate ads, the effect is much stronger.

Bandwagoning in Marketing

The aim of bandwagoning as a marketing bias is to get as many people on board. And once you get the ball rolling, more people will soon follow.

Encourage customers to upload their photos to Instagram wearing your products
Use influencer marketing
Display certain offers with the tagline ‘popular choice’

Bandwagoning in Customer Retention

Bandwagoning can be a key aspect of your customer retention strategy if your strategy is focused on community building and influencer marketing.

Organize comment or photo contests on social media and give the winner a prize
Invite popular social media influencers whose image and interests align with your brand message
Show how many members have joined your loyalty program – after all, tens of thousands of members can’t be wrong

Adidas influencer campaign collage — *Marketing 101: show real people wearing your products, because it helps to boost the bandwagoning effect. This* *Adidas* *campaign proves that they don’t need to be big influencers, they can be micro-influencers or fellow brand ambassadors.*

8. Zero-Risk Bias

The zero-risk bias is all about certainty. Some of us are inherently risk-averse, and we rationalize this by thinking that if there are no downsides involved (even if the gains are small), then in the end, it’s a net positive.

Zero-Risk Bias in Marketing

When it comes to marketing, the zero-risk bias simply means that some customers are more likely to make a purchase if there is no risk involved. Therefore the safer the deal is, the more likely these types of buyers will come to you.

Emphasize the durability and safety of products
Highlight the long warranty or the ability to exchange products
Offer concierge services in the shop to put the customer’s mind at ease

Zero-Risk Bias in Customer Retention

If you wish to give existing customers peace of mind, make sure to highlight that the perks and rewards you are offering are complimentary, or come with no strings attached.

Offer a small welcome reward for those who enroll
Emphasize that it’s free to join your loyalty program
Grant loyalty points for writing product reviews and referring friends, which helps customers feel comfortable in their decision to buy

Kellogg’s loyalty program enrollment page, which signifies the importance of the zero-risk bias. — *Kellogg’s* *shows us that when it comes to presenting your loyalty program, it makes sense to highlight other parts of your* *value proposition* *in addition to the program being free to join.*

9. Money’s Worth

In a sense, the money’s worth bias is the opposite of the zero-risk bias. It’s the belief that if something costs a large amount of money, then it must be of higher quality — especially if it’s from an established brand.

Money’s Worth in Marketing

In order to apply this kind of cognitive bias in marketing, you need to have confidence in your product or service. Don’t be afraid to show off the price, just make sure that the item is presented in the best possible light and has its benefits emphasized in order to justify the price tag.

Even if the price is high, you can still present it in a way that buying it is a great deal
Put high-quality products next to weaker ones
Use FOMO tactics to convince uncertain buyers

Money’s Worth in Customer Retention

In customer retention, the money’s worth principle is used to generate exclusivity and make members feel privileged by offering rewards that are hard to obtain but have a high inherent value.

Offer higher-value coupons, discounts or rewards like free express shipping that are limited in quantity
Allow members to join the early access club by paying some form of entry fee
Include an invitation-only tier in your loyalty program

Sweetgreen loyalty program Sweetpass+ rewards. — Reserving certain perks or benefits for paid members is also a tactic that’s based on the money’s worth principle. It’s surprisingly effective and can work in any industry, even in the fast-food sector – proven by *Sweetgreen’s latest pivot*.

10. The Ikea Effect

Based on research in which participants had to put together Ikea furniture and rate their own performance, the Ikea effect says that we were more attached to a process or activity if we have contributed to it — even if in small parts.

The Ikea Effect in Marketing

This kind of consumer bias can really help build an emotional connection with customers. Just let them participate somehow in your development. Even if this participation is rather superficial, customers will love the experience and grow closer to your brand nonetheless.

Let customers share their design ideas or artwork for future products
Allow them to test certain products or features before launch
Encourage them to leave product reviews on your site

The Ikea Effect in Customer Retention

To make the most out of the Ikea effect, be ready to involve customers not just on a financial level, but also on an emotional one.

Invite top spenders to test upcoming new product drops
Encourage customers to send feedback or design ideas
Before the launch of your loyalty program, soft test it with your brand advocate segment

Apple Music's initiative that asks customers to choose their favorite music categories is all about the Ikea effect. — Remember the genre selector of *Apple Music? It demonstrated you can involve customers in a gamified way to learn their preferences.*

11. The Reciprocity Bias

The reciprocity bias is one of those marketing biases that make the world more wholesome. It means that if we receive a favor, we feel the need to return it in some form. The reciprocity bias is the basis for maintaining our long-term relationships.

The Reciprocity Bias in Marketing

One of the best ways to build an emotional relationship with customers and create brand evangelists is to make the first step, and be the first one to give something special.

Personalized marketing messages always find a way to people’s heart
Offer special articles written by your experts, educational videos, or other content to create a bond with your audience
Align with your customer’s values by promoting charity, sustainability and other noble causes

The Reciprocity Bias in Customer Retention

Next-gen loyalty programs that focus on building an emotional connection offer multiple ways to make customers feel appreciated and recognized.

A perks program is not only free to join, but also has no points and tiers, therefore all rewards are accessible from the get-go
Giving freshly enrolled members a welcome gift ensures that your relationship starts off on the right foot
Lifestyle loyalty programs are all about rewarding customers for having an active lifestyle or caring for social causes

Bergzeit Club levels. — *Antavo powers the loyalty program of German mountaineering product retailer* *Bergzeit, in which customers are* *rewarded for climbing mountains* *— thanks to a clever sports tracker integration. Learn more about this innovative new approach to relationship building from our* *case study*.

Achieve Loyalty Through a Shared Bond

In marketing and in loyalty programs, there’s no such thing as a single, consistent cognitive bias. Sometimes customers exhibit them and sometimes they don’t. Biases are also linked, such as how FOMO can contribute to the money’s worth bias, or how framing may strengthen the salience effect.

Nevertheless, your goal should not be to use consumers’ cognitive biases to exploit them, but rather to build a relationship with them that feels natural and comforting. Because loyalty achieved through emotional bonds is always stronger than any financial incentive.

Interested in putting the theory into practice? Antavo’s next-gen, cloud-based loyalty technology provides the platform to test your ideas and build amazing customer engagement opportunities. Learn more about it through one of our demo sessions, or send us an RFP for detailed answers.

For an educational read on what to expect from the customer loyalty market in the next three years, be sure to check out our Global Customer Loyalty Report.

Tamas Oszi

Tamas is the Head of Content at Antavo and a Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional - CLMP. Tamas is known for having a keen eye for loyalty and customer retention strategies and trends. Tamas is also a true gamer at heart and has an impressive collection of cyberpunk books.