The hottest Consumer behavior Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

How Food Marketing Is Reinforcing Bad Habits

Austin's Analects • 19 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🍲 Food & Drink Marketing Nutrition Health Deception Consumer behavior
  1. Eating before bed is unhealthy, yet 80% of Americans snack at night and $50 billion is spent on nighttime snacks per year.
  2. Big food companies are targeting the nighttime snacking market, despite the negative health impacts of eating before bed.
  3. nightfood, a company in the nighttime snacking category, uses deceptive marketing tactics to promote unhealthy snacking habits as a solution.

What do people think about cultured meat?

The Counterfactual • 59 implied HN points • 17 Aug 22
🍲 Food & Drink Food Science Consumer behavior Agriculture Sustainability
  1. Consumer acceptance of cultured meat varies widely. Some people are very open to trying it, while others are quite resistant and refuse even to consider it.
  2. Concerns about the unnaturalness and safety of cultured meat are significant barriers to its acceptance. Many people are worried about how it is made, even if it tastes similar to traditional meat.
  3. Economic factors are key in determining whether people will choose cultured meat over conventional options. If the price of cultured meat becomes competitive, it could lead to more widespread adoption.

How products exploit our biases

Gentle Nudge • 2 HN points • 19 Jun 24
💼 Business Consumer behavior Psychology Marketing Sales Decision-making
  1. Biases are judgments with little or no logical rationale behind them, affecting our decisions despite lacking justification.
  2. Biases are ideal tools for marketing as they are often subconscious and common among people, making them effective for a wide range of individuals.
  3. Marketing strategies exploit biases like decision fatigue, scarcity bias, and anchoring effect to influence consumer decisions and drive sales.

The growing partisan divide in US investor portfolios

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
💰 Finance Investing Consumer behavior Political Influence Market Trends Portfolio Management
  1. Many US investors change their opinions about the economy depending on who is President. When their party is in power, they tend to feel more positive about economic conditions and vice versa.
  2. The partisan divide affects actual investment decisions, like how credit analysts rate companies based on the President's party. This can increase the costs for businesses if the opposition party is in charge.
  3. ESG investing shows a clear divide, with Democratic fund managers favoring these investments more than Republican ones. Mixing politics with investing can lead to missed opportunities.
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Value != Price

Tech Ramblings • 19 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
💼 Business Pricing Strategy Luxury goods Consumer behavior Market Valuation
  1. Value and price are not the same. People often pay more for brands or status rather than for actual utility.
  2. It's easy to set prices based on user value for certain products, like software, but it’s trickier for physical goods like cars and clothes.
  3. Luxury products have high prices because of the status they carry, not necessarily because they offer more utility compared to cheaper options.

The marketplace of rationalisations

Optimally Irrational • 18 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🚌 Education Media influence Information Consumption Political Bias Consumer behavior
  1. Consumers shape the features of the modern public sphere by driving the demand for biased information.
  2. Providers of rationalisations compete on quality in a marketplace where reputation plays a crucial role.
  3. Market dynamics in the information sphere highlight agglomeration economies, the influence of demand on supply, and the risk of audience capture.

Everything you want to know about subscriptions

Logos • 19 implied HN points • 24 May 23
💼 Business Marketing Finance Economics Management Consumer behavior
  1. There are different types of subscription models, like 'pay to access' or 'pay to save.' Each type has different strategies for companies.
  2. Companies should know their goal for subscriptions — either to make money directly or encourage customers to spend more on other products.
  3. Offering upfront annual payments may not be the best idea. Many users who pay upfront are less likely to cancel anyway, so the discount might not be worth it.

Dissecting the points meta: best practices for user loyalty

Li's Newsletter • 9 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💼 Business Tokenization Consumer behavior
  1. Points in loyalty programs are a way to move users up the loyalty ladder by rewarding behaviors with tangible benefits and creating emotional connections with the brand.
  2. When designing a points program, consider if points should target user acquisition or retention, if they should be redeemable, and what types of rewards are enticing for users.
  3. Onchain tokens have advantages over traditional points in terms of composability, but drawbacks like speculation impacting consumer behavior and legal/regulatory challenges need to be considered.

Cultured meat and the problem of "naturalness"

The Counterfactual • 19 implied HN points • 16 Jan 23
🍲 Food & Drink Consumer behavior Food technology Sustainability
  1. People often think cultured meat is unnatural, which makes them hesitant to eat it. This feeling comes from a fear of trying new foods and being disgusted by the idea of lab-grown meat.
  2. Discussions around meat can shift when we point out that conventional meat production is also unnatural. Many people are surprised to learn how modern farming practices are much different from what might be considered natural.
  3. It helps to show cultured meat as food rather than as a lab product. When people see it served in a plate instead of in a lab, they tend to feel more positive about it.

no. 42: socialmedia megamerger superstar

let them eat cake • 59 implied HN points • 30 May 21
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurant Industry Consumer behavior Systemic change
  1. The social justice movement has shed light on the issues in the restaurant industry, particularly concerning working conditions and pay.
  2. There is a challenge in implementing significant changes in the industry due to financial constraints and the low profit margins in restaurants.
  3. Consumers play a crucial role in driving change by supporting restaurants that prioritize treating their staff well, but currently, there isn't enough focus on this aspect in the dining experience.

What's Happening; Consumer Brain rot, Meta's Chatbot launch + Ad News

The Social Juice • 12 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
💼 Business Marketing Consumer behavior Social media Influencer Marketing Brand Marketing
  1. Marketers should pay attention to consumer behavior changes and the rise of impulse purchases due to information overload.
  2. TikTok's success in the US was driven by fast campaigns that targeted a wide audience and leveraged viral trends.
  3. Consumers, especially Gen-Z and Millennials, show different behaviors on social media that marketers need to understand and adapt to.

Governing API Consumption

The API Changelog • 6 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Consumer behavior Developer Experience
  1. Breaking changes in APIs can disrupt consumer integrations, leading to failures. Producers need to understand and mitigate breaking changes to maintain API usability.
  2. API governance faces challenges as consumers may not adhere to contracts, causing uncontrolled consumption and dependencies. Aligning API usage closely to expected scenarios helps manage these issues.
  3. Controlling API consumption can be improved by providing SDKs that offer a standardized way to interact with the API, reducing the risk of breaking changes and fostering smoother interactions between producers and consumers.

Abby Orler: Investigating the Instagram Infographic Industrial Complex

Do Not Research • 19 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Social Issues Design Media Critique Activism Consumer behavior
  1. During the surge of infographic media on platforms like Instagram after George Floyd's murder, questions arose about credibility, design origin, and content impact.
  2. Critiques of Instagram Infographics include oversimplification, spreading misinformation, and a shift towards performative activism.
  3. Designers should reevaluate their role in social justice, focusing on accountability within the realm of infographic creation and content dissemination.

Should Wendy's Introduce Surge Pricing?

Economic Forces • 4 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Economics Pricing Competition Consumer behavior Marketing
  1. Dynamic pricing and price discrimination are complex but can benefit both firms and consumers by adjusting prices based on demand and consumer willingness to pay.
  2. Price discrimination, when done thoughtfully, can lower prices for some consumers while increasing profits for firms, ultimately benefiting both parties.
  3. Despite advancements in digital tools for dynamic pricing, many companies, including Wendy's, are cautious due to the importance of maintaining customer trust and long-term relationships.

#157 - Nature Is Healing

Below the Line from Kevin LaBuz • 10 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
💼 Business E-commerce Consumer behavior Expenses Industry Trends
  1. E-commerce industry growth is uneven post-pandemic, with larger companies thriving while smaller ones struggle.
  2. Second quarter outlook for e-commerce shows signs of improvement, but uncertainty remains for full-year guidance.
  3. Consumer behavior is shifting towards more value-focused spending, with customers trading down on discretionary items.

#158 - Harvest Season

Below the Line from Kevin LaBuz • 5 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
💼 Business E-commerce Financial Management Consumer behavior Artificial Intelligence
  1. E-commerce industry saw improved results in Q2 2023 with leaner cost structures and accelerated growth rates.
  2. Consumer behavior shows focus on value and essentials due to inflation and competition for spending.
  3. Companies are strategically managing expenses, transitioning from broad cost cutting to surgical measures in Q2 2023.

(Almost) Building Tacklr

Ben’s Growth Musings • 2 HN points • 01 Mar 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Technology Market research Consumer behavior
  1. The author attempted to validate an idea for an AI phishing protection product by following a structured process.
  2. The author found technical feasibility but faced challenges with market interest and competition, ultimately leading to scrapping the project.
  3. Key takeaways include the importance of validating riskiest hypotheses and understanding market interest before investing further resources.

Wendy’s Flips on Dynamic Pricing

Gad’s Newsletter • 2 HN points • 04 Mar 24
💼 Business Pricing Consumer behavior Economics Market Dynamics
  1. Wendy's plans to implement digital menu boards with dynamic pricing by 2025 to enhance customer experience and boost sales.
  2. Different forms of pricing like static pricing, time-varying static pricing, and dynamic pricing are used in various industries to maximize revenue and cater to customer needs.
  3. Consumers often prefer fixed pricing over dynamic pricing due to aversion to risk and preference for consistency, but strategies like cost insurance can encourage adoption of more flexible pricing models.

Affinity Marketing and the Latino American Fintech Opportunity

Chaos Engineering • 2 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💼 Business Marketing Data Analysis Financial Services Startups Consumer behavior
  1. Affinity marketing involves targeting specific customer groups based on shared characteristics or interests.
  2. Hispanics in the US represent a large segment of the population, often working in labor-intensive jobs and having lower educational backgrounds and incomes.
  3. The Latino American fintech market presents an opportunity to provide financial services tailored to the needs of the Hispanic and Latino communities.

Does Adding Friction in the Product Usage Makes Your Product More Sticky ?

Build Startup In Public • 1 HN point • 22 Apr 24
💼 Business Startup Marketing Product Design Consumer behavior Entrepreneurship
  1. The IKEA effect shows that people value things more if they put effort into creating or assembling them. This means users may like a product more if they feel involved in the process.
  2. Founders might struggle to judge their products because they are too close to them. It's important for them to think like customers and ask if they would use their own product.
  3. To make a product more 'sticky', it's smart to let users invest time or effort later in their journey. When users see their input leads to personalization, they are more likely to stay engaged.

The very real effects of consumers’ hopes

Klement on Investing • 1 implied HN point • 06 Mar 24
💰 Finance Consumer behavior Economic Indicators Consumer confidence
  1. Consumer sentiment surveys are essential indicators for future consumption, but some specific questions like the outlook on major purchases can predict consumption better than headline figures.
  2. Consumers tend to be overly optimistic about their future family finances compared to the overall economy, which can impact future consumption growth.
  3. The level of ex ante optimism, comparing expectations for family finances and the economy, can be a powerful predictor of future consumption growth, while ex post optimism influences savings ratios and credit usage.

A Deep Dive Into Lemon8, ByteDance's New Social Commerce App That Could Challenge Instagram

David’s Substack • 1 HN point • 24 Feb 23
💼 Business E-commerce Market Analysis Consumer behavior Platform Development
  1. Every social commerce platform must balance social and commerce aspects to succeed.
  2. Focusing on authentic content and community growth can lead to sustainable business outcomes.
  3. Decentralized content distribution platforms like RED can offer a unique value to users in comparison to centralized platforms.

Financial Management: Pricing

Logos • 0 implied HN points • 16 Jul 20
💼 Business Financial Strategies Revenue management Market Analysis Consumer behavior
  1. Setting the right price for a product is about making sure the extra money you make from selling one more unit is equal to the cost of making that unit. This is called finding the optimal price.
  2. Promotions and different pricing tactics can help increase sales without permanently changing the list price. These include limited-time discounts and special offers like 'buy one, get one free'.
  3. Mixing different product types or sizes can attract various customers. Offering a basic option for price-sensitive shoppers and a premium one for those willing to pay more can boost overall profits.

Season 03 - Newsletter 06 --> Look back at 2023 and forward to 2024

Product Hustle Stack Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
💼 Business Product Management Consumer behavior Tech industry Economic Trends AI Integration
  1. Consumer behavior shifted in 2023 due to inflation and a balance between in-store and e-commerce shopping preferences.
  2. 2023 pivotal moments: FTX Crypto Exchange failure, tech industry layoffs, ChatGPT impact, Venture Capital Winter.
  3. Product management trends for 2024: focus on customer-centricity, data-driven decisions, collaboration tools evolution, and AI integration.

The Reopening Party

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 13 Aug 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Pandemic response Government Influence Consumer behavior Risk Assessment Safety measures
  1. People responded to government reopening by venturing out quickly, even more eagerly than they curtailed activities before lockdowns.
  2. The trusted government theory suggests that people trusted government information post-lockdown, but not pre-lockdown, leading to their swift return to activities.
  3. Alternative theories suggest that post-lockdown rush could be due to pent-up demand after restrictions, or due to perceived safety improvements like social distancing measures.

Revolut’s US payment flaws allowed thieves to steal $20mn; China wraps up fintech crackdown with big fines on Tencent, Alibaba;

Fintech Wrap Up • 0 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
💰 Finance Fintech Payments Regulation Consumer behavior
  1. Revolut had flaws in their US payment system that allowed thieves to steal $20mn
  2. China imposed big fines on Tencent and Alibaba as part of a fintech crackdown
  3. AI in financial services is evolving with the rise of generative AI, complementing traditional AI

Covid-19 and 'Forced' Experimentation

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 07 Aug 20
💼 Business Economics Entertainment Streaming Consumer behavior Decision-making
  1. Due to Covid-19, the entertainment industry is experimenting with online movie releases, which may lead to permanent changes in distribution practices.
  2. The economics of movie distribution involve factors like physical distribution costs, risk aversion in trying new strategies, and revenue-sharing agreements with theaters.
  3. If successful, the shift to online releases could mean higher quality home viewing experiences, changes in consumer choices, and potential scaling back of traditional movie theaters.

Will Yahoo! return to its portal roots?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 14 May 13
🕹 Technology Tech Companies Internet Advertising Consumer behavior Competition
  1. Yahoo! may be returning to its portal roots, wanting to be the daily go-to for users across devices.
  2. Yahoo! is focusing on a portal strategy that includes information aggregation to solve users' information overload problems.
  3. Other big tech companies like Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, and Google have their own strategies, but Yahoo!'s focus on a daily routine user base and advertising is unique.

D-Students: Microsoft, Apple Get Failing Grades on France’s Repair Index. (For Now.)

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 21
🕹 Technology Repairability Tech Companies Environmental Impact Consumer behavior
  1. France introduced a Repairability Index to rate products based on repair-ability, giving failing grades to Apple and Microsoft products.
  2. The scoring system considers factors like documentation availability, ease of disassembly, spare parts availability, and pricing of spare parts.
  3. The French Repairability Index has prompted companies to rethink product design and serviceability, setting a precedent for promoting repair-friendly products.

The Fun is in The Friction

The Renaissance Man • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Consumer behavior Digital Trends Human Interaction Patience Experience
  1. We often want everything instantly, but patience can lead to surprises and joy. Sometimes the journey to find something special is what makes it exciting.
  2. We've started to value digital experiences over real-life ones. This shift can make us forget the joy of tangible objects and human interactions.
  3. Having a frictionless life sounds good, but it can also be boring. Embracing challenges can make experiences more fun and meaningful.

Stop using these emojis. 🥺

Business & Marketing with Nika • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jun 24
💼 Business Marketing Communication Branding Consumer behavior Digital Media
  1. Some emojis, like the pleading face 🥺, can be very confusing and misunderstood by people. Know which emojis might not work well for your message.
  2. Different cultures can interpret emojis differently, so it's important to understand how your audience sees them. What means 'OK' in one place might be offensive in another.
  3. Misusing emojis can create uncomfortable situations and hurt your brand's image. Use them carefully to ensure your audience gets the right message.