Every purchase leaves evidence.
Marketing tactics are all around us. A price ending in .99, a countdown timer telling you that an offer is almost over, or hundreds of positive reviews can seem like ordinary parts of shopping. But behind many of these techniques is a deliberate strategy designed to influence how consumers think and make decisions.
Welcome to the Marketing Case Files, where we investigate the tactics hiding in everyday marketing.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
Each case examines a specific marketing technique and the psychology behind it. We look at what happened, identify the tactic, examine why it can influence consumers, and consider what shoppers should notice.
These marketing case files are designed to make marketing concepts easier to recognize in the real world. Instead of simply looking at an advertisement and asking whether it works, we investigate why it might work.
CURRENT CASE FILES
CASE #001 — THE $9.99 INCIDENT
Why does a product priced at $9.99 appear different from one priced at $10? Investigate psychological pricing and the way price presentation can affect consumer perception.
CASE #002 — THE FAKE URGENCY
“Only 2 left.” “Sale ends tonight.” Countdown clocks and limited-time messages can create pressure to act. Investigate scarcity marketing and the role of urgency.
CASE #003 — THE FIVE-STAR WITNESS
A 4.8-star rating. Thousands of reviews. Customer photos. Investigate social proof marketing and how other people’s experiences can influence consumer decisions.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
Every case has a tactic, a motive, and a method. Your job is to examine the evidence and decide what you notice the next time you encounter it.
Want to understand the idea behind these investigations? Visit our About Us page to learn more about Marketing Crime Scene.
You can also return to the Home page to see the latest investigations.
More cases coming soon.