A new survey by Smartly.io reveals consumers’ preferences for this holiday shopping season and how digital ads can impact their decision-making.
In a study commissioned by Smartly.io, Dynata surveyed 1,000 consumers to uncover the 2022 holiday shopping trends. The survey took a closer look at when consumers are beginning to shop for gifts this year and how the economic downturn may affect their plans
2022 Holiday Shopping Starting Early
The survey reveals that 40% of consumers say they will start shopping for holiday gifts earlier in 2022, and almost half of the holiday shoppers have either already started shopping or are planning to start within the next month.
Growing Interest in Buying Gifts on Social Media
Smartly.io’s survey findings – including year-over-year trends from prior studies – point to a growing interest among consumers to use social media to aid their online shopping journeys.
Specifically, 55% of respondents say they are open to making holiday gift purchases directly via a social media ad this holiday season.
Key findings include:
- Facebook continues to be the leading platform that respondents say they would consider making a holiday gift purchase from.
- Since last year, YouTube has gained popularity over Instagram, rising 5% to 39% of consumers surveyed.
- TikTok is also increasing in popularity among consumers, with 24% saying they would consider purchasing holiday gifts from the platform, a 6% increase from 2021.
Read More: TikTok Advertising: 4 Reasons why it will Explode in 2023!
Lyle Underkoffler, CMO of Smartly.io stated:
For brands wanting to make an impact on consumers this holiday season, multi-platform strategies that tie-in discounts, personalization, and creator content across channels will be crucial. This data shows that there is a greater opportunity for consumers to discover, and even purchase, products and services from their social media feeds as long as retailers can deliver relevant, personalized, and creative ads.
2022 Holiday Shopping Effected by Inflation
Additionally, inflation is having a profound effect on how consumers shop this holiday season. The data shows that 1 in 5 consumers say they are unsure if or how their shopping plans might change as a result of the current economic climate.
Read More: Consumer Study: Who is Spending the Most during Inflation?
How to Advertise During this Holiday Season?
Further insights show there is an opportunity for digital advertisers to create new experiences and forge better connections with these consumers via the following:
1. Discounts, Discounts, Discounts!
For both 2021 and 2022, discounts were ranked as the number one thing influencing consumers’ decisions to buy products through digital ads. This year, due to market inflation, ads that offer discounts and coupon codes will be pivotal for brands looking to meet shoppers’ budgets and capture their attention this holiday season.
2. Making it Personal
Personalization continues to be at the top of the list when it comes to attracting audiences online. 60% of those surveyed rated an ad that is relevant or personalized to them as a deciding factor in purchasing holiday gifts from digital ads.
3. Be Transparent and Trustworthy
More than a third of respondents ranked a brand’s trustworthiness as a crucial factor in deciding whether to purchase gifts from a digital ad. As consumers become more focused on how brands use their data, this is increasingly important.
4. Collaborating with Creators
Nearly 1 in 4 consumers get gift ideas from creators and influencers, and 66% of consumers say they are either somewhat or very likely to interact with a brand or its products based on content from an influencer or creator that they follow.
5. Embracing a Multi-Platform Strategy
81% of Gen Z is active on Instagram compared to 47% of general consumers. Incorporating multi-platform strategies that leverage the strengths of each channel allows brands to engage and create genuine connections with their desired audiences, leveraging each individual channel and platform to the best of its abilities.
Learn more about this latest research from Smartly.io, and how brands can capitalize on their digital advertising strategies this holiday season.
About the Study
In a study commissioned by Smartly.io, Dynata surveyed 1,000 consumers to uncover year-over-year trends as well as take a closer look at when consumers are beginning to shop for the holidays and, specific to this year, how the economic downturn may affect their plans. Respondents were located in the U.S. and were over the age of 18. The survey was conducted in September 2022.
About Smartly.io
Powering beautifully effective ads, Smartly.io automates every step of social advertising to unlock greater performance and creativity. They combine creative technology, ad buying automation, and intelligence with outstanding customer service to help 700+ brands scale their results—on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, and TikTok.
Visit Smartly.io to learn more.
