The Andrew Faris Podcast cover image

The Andrew Faris Podcast

Crappy Customer Research Is Hurting Your Ecom Business (With Sarah Levinger)

Jan 18, 2025
In this discussion, Sarah Levinger, a marketing expert and founder of Tether Insights, sheds light on the pitfalls of outdated customer avatars, advocating for deeper, data-driven consumer understanding. She emphasizes the essential role of customer research in e-commerce, sharing insights on Pedialyte’s successful demographic shift. With a focus on emotional and cultural factors influencing buying decisions, Sarah outlines a five-point system for refining customer strategies, while also offering valuable advice on adapting marketing for different generations and enhancing ad effectiveness.
55:03

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Marketers often rely on assumptions for customer avatars instead of data, undermining the effectiveness of their advertising strategies.
  • Understanding generational differences in consumer behavior is crucial for creating relevant messaging that resonates with specific customer segments.

Deep dives

The Pitfall of Created Customer Avatars

Many marketers fall into the trap of creating customer avatars based on assumptions rather than actual data, which can lead to ineffective advertising strategies. This issue stems from a long-standing trend where marketers craft ideal customer profiles, often ignoring the real behaviors and preferences of their actual customers. A popular marketing method harkens back to direct response techniques that prioritize measurable actions but may overlook the nuanced realities of consumer motivations. As a result, brands risk spending significant budgets on campaigns that may not resonate with their target audience, ultimately hindering growth.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode