As the holidays approach, intense competition sparks among brands vying for the attention of seasonal shoppers. As a result, understanding consumer interests during the festive season is paramount for brands that seek to position themselves strategically for success.
To gain insights around consumer needs and trends for the holiday season, Ibotta conducted a survey of over 2,000 consumers. The research uncovered valuable information that brands can leverage to drive incremental sales and make market share gains during the holidays. Here are three ways your brand can win the season by partnering with the Ibotta Performance Network (IPN).
During the holidays, consumers are shopping at a wide variety of places, both in-store and online. Plus, they’re looking to leverage rewards apps to earn cash back and stretch their gifting dollars. Our research found that 65% of consumers agree that Ibotta will be equally important this winter holiday season and 32% say that it will be even more important compared to last year. In addition to using cash back through apps like Ibotta, they’re relying on other cost-saving methods like Prime Day deals, Black Friday deals, and in-store sales during the holiday season. This makes it increasingly important for brands to distribute their products and promotions on a wide scale to capitalize on heightened consumer interest.
The reach that Ibotta’s direct-to-consumer properties provide creates a substantial opportunity for brands to connect with a vast group of eager shoppers. The Ibotta app, website, and browser extension have accumulated more than 50 million registered users since 2012 — and this is just one of the publishers within our network. The Ibotta Performance Network, which includes publishers like Walmart, Dollar General, Instacart, and more, allows brands to reach more than 200 million consumers. The IPN connects brands with consumers on a massive scale to help deliver measurable results during the holiday season.
Throughout the holiday season, shoppers are more open and attentive to advertising. And when that advertising resonates with their individual wants, needs, and interests, they are much more likely to engage and spend. In the study, 52% of shoppers said they are more receptive to advertising during the holidays and 45% said they will pay more attention to ads that offer to save them money.
For brands that really want to stand out and win this holiday season, this is the time to leverage both promotions and advertisements to amplify their offerings. This is especially important due to the fierce competition between brands, all seeking the attention of interested holiday shoppers. Not only do advertisements provide short-term results for the holiday season. They can also influence future purchase decisions and drive long-term brand loyalty.
Brands can enhance their visibility and inspire immediate action with co-branded amplification through Ibotta’s on-platform ads. It’s been shown that 58% of consumers tried a new product because of an ad they saw while using Ibotta. Additionally, 55% of shoppers who bought a new product because of an ad said they would buy the product again! Ibotta’s seasonal events are the perfect way to boost holiday engagement, drive incremental sales, and increase customer lifetime value at a time when consumers are actively seeking promotions.
Nearly all Ibotta consumers will buy gifts for others this year, two-thirds will buy holiday-specific food, and over half will purchase holiday décor. With all of this shopping to do, it’s no surprise that 60% of consumers prioritize deals and discounts during the holiday season. With the wide variety of holiday items that shoppers are seeking, it is pivotal for brands to be strategic in the way that they target their campaigns. Make every dollar count through real insights and AI-driven smart promotions during one of the most pivotal times of the year.
By leveraging years of industry experience, Ibotta is revolutionizing rewards technology. Brands can report, learn, and optimize in real time with access to Ibotta’s first-party, omnichannel purchase data, then leverage these insights to better understand consumer behavior, customize campaigns, and drive incremental sales. And with our unique test-versus-control methodology, they can attribute every dollar earned from their promotions.