The psychology of sound and the way it influences consumer behavior has been studied for many decades. As a marketer, you can greatly benefit from understanding how you can use sound to positively impact your brand image and sales revenues. Scientific evidence is available to help you gain insight into how customers react to particular stimuli. With such valuable information, you can get into your customers’ heads and formulate more effective strategies that resonate with their motivations and preferences. 

Can music make or break a brand's image? It might. In fact, over 90% of TV and radio ads contain little to no words, heavily relying on music to communicate their message. 

A recent study bridging marketing, musicology, and cognitive psychology sheds light on the answer. The findings provide valuable insights into the role of music in branding and highlight the importance of specific musical characteristics in shaping consumer perceptions.

It was the Toilet Paper Panic of 2020 where calm neighbors turned into competitive shoppers at supermarkets across America due to COVID-19, creating a frenzy more intense and worrisome than the Tickle Me Elmo craze of the 1990s. This surge in panic buying had significant ramifications for economies and societies. Despite its impact, panic buying remains understudied, especially regarding its commercial effects and long-term trends. 

Remember the last time you donated to a preferred charity or cause. Was it because an advert caught your attention and you felt compassion, shame or outrage? Or was it because you know someone affected by the issue presented in the ad? It’s also likely you were aware of the non-profit organization work; you felt you were making a difference by paying attention or donating. Research suggests we make donations according to our personal preference and values, to reflect our own identity. That’s why we choose to give to different causes (Chapman et al., 2022).

A friend scrolling through her social media feed stumbled upon a post from an influencer. However, instead of diving into the caption, she found herself deterred by its length. The overwhelming amount of text made it challenging to connect with the message, prompting her to swiftly scroll past, feeling somewhat frustrated.