A-Z Popular Blog Marketing Search »
Marketing
 Advertisements
Marketing Guides
Marketing
Key Concepts
Marketing
Related Topics

11 Types of Customer Preferences

 , updated on
Customer preferences are expectations, likes, dislikes, motivations and inclinations that drive customer purchasing decisions. They complement customer needs in explaining customer behavior. For example, a customer needs shoes and they'd prefer a particular style, brand and color. Appealing to the preferences of customers is a basic marketing technique that is useful for branding, product development, distribution and customer experience. The following are common types of customer preference.

Convenience

Preferring things that are easy such as a settling for a nearby restaurant. Convenience is considered a strong type of customer motivation.

Effort

The satisfaction that results from effort. For example, a customer who gains a sense of accomplishment from a diy project.

User Interfaces

Some customers will prefer the simplest user interface possible. Others will prefer lots of buttons to play with. This can be as much about preference as need.

Communication & Information

Preferences related to communication style and information density. For example, some customers want to read detailed specifications and others want to hear a story.

Stability vs Variety

Customers who would prefer the same exact shoes they purchased a year ago in the same season versus customers who prefer an incredible variety of shoes and avoid repeat purchases.

Risk

The risk tolerance of the customer. Applies to seemingly innocuous things such as purchasing a new brand for the first time.

Values

Preferences related to values such as customers who purchase environmentally friendly products.

Sensory

Preferences related to color, look, taste, smell, touch and sound.

Time

Time preferences such as a customer who prefers an attentive waiter who drops buy every 5 minutes versus a customer who doesn't want to feel rushed.

Customer Service

It is well known in the customer service industry that some customers prefer friendly service and others prefer diligence and professional distance. For example, a hotel porter who engages in friendly conversation versus dry information about the room and hotel.

Customer Experience

Preferences related to the end-to-end customer experience. For example, the interior design, lighting, art, music and social atmosphere at a cafe.
Overview: Customer Preferences
Type
Definition
Expectations, likes, dislikes, motivations and inclinations that drive customer purchasing decisions.
Related Concepts

Marketing

This is the complete list of articles we have written about marketing.
Above The Line
Absolute Advantage
Active Customers
Active Users
Added Value
Adoption Lifecycle
Advertising
Advertising Strategy
Algorithmic Pricing
Alliance Marketing
Attribution Marketing
Augmented Reality
Backward Invention
Barriers To Entry
Below The Line
Bliss Point
Brand Awareness
Brand Engagement
Brand Identity
Brand Loyalty
Brand Recall
Branding
Bricks And Clicks
Business Operations
Business Principles
Business Strategy
Buyer Persona
Call To Action
Channel Conflict
Channel Management
Channel Strategy
Channel Structure
Churn Rate
Competitive Threat
Complex Sales
Conversion Rate
Corporate Governance
Cost Leadership
Cost Per Lead
Cross-Selling
Customer Advocacy
Customer Analysis
Customer Dissatisfaction
Customer Experience
Customer Interactions
Customer Issues
Customer Journey
Customer Loyalty
Customer Marketing
Customer Motivation
Customer Relationships
Customer Service
Customer Value
Demand Generation
Differentiation
Digital Channels
Digital Marketing
Direct Marketing
Drip Marketing
Figure Of Merit
Flat Pricing
Go-To-Market
Gross Margin
In-Store Marketing
Lifestyle Brand
Market Analysis
Market Environment
Market Intelligence
Market Power
Market Price
Market Research
Market Research Analysis
Marketability
Marketing Automation
Marketing Benchmarks
Marketing Campaign
Marketing Channel
Marketing Communications
Marketing Costs
Marketing Economics
Marketing Experimentation
Marketing Metrics
Marketing Mix
Marketing Plan
Marketing Principles
Marketing Strategy
Marketing Strategy
Marketing Technology
Marketing Theory
Media Planning
Merchandising
Niche
Omnichannel
Penetration Pricing
Personal Selling
Positioning
Positioning
Premium Pricing
Premiumisation
Price Discrimination
Price Economics
Price Leadership
Price Points
Price Sensitivity
Price Skimming
Price War
Pricing
Pricing Objectives
Pricing Power
Product Development
Product Differentiation
Product Identity
Product Launch
Product Management
Product Quality
Product-as-a-Service
Promotion
Promotion Strategy
Public Relations
Pull Strategy
Relationship Marketing
Remarketing
Sales
Sales Development
Sales Strategy
Scarcity Marketing
Segment
Soft Selling
Strategy
Sustainability
Switching Barriers
Target Market
Test Marketing
Through The Line
Time To Market
Traditional Marketing
Value
Variable Pricing
Visual Merchandising
Wallet Share
Word Of Mouth
If you enjoyed this page, please consider bookmarking Simplicable.
 

Customer Motivation

A list of common customer motivations.

Fear Of Missing Out

An overview of fear of missing out.

Curiosity Drive

An overview of curiosity drive.

Conservation Of Effort

An overview of conservation of effort.

Needs Analysis

The common types of needs analysis.

Product Involvement

The common types of product involvement.

Social Status

The common types of social status.

Impulse Buying

A definition of impulse buying with examples.

Status Seeking

The definition of status seeking with examples.

Customer Behavior

The definition of customer behavior with examples.

Customer Experience

An overview of customer experience with examples.

Satisfaction Metrics

Why satisfaction metrics work so well.

Customer Expectations

A definition of customer expectations with a few examples.

Customer Satisfaction

An overview of customer satisfaction with examples.

Customer Perceptions

An overview of customer perceptions with examples.

Internal Branding

The common types of internal branding.

Experience Sampling

A definition of experience sampling with examples.

Customer Needs

A list of common types of customer needs with examples.

Service Quality

The primary types of service quality.

End-User

A definition of end-user with examples.

Experience Economy

A definition of experience economy with examples.
The most popular articles on Simplicable in the past day.

New Articles

Recent posts or updates on Simplicable.
Site Map