Does Trigger Location Matter? The Influence of Localization and Motivation on the Persuasiveness of Mobile Purchase Recommendations

Thanks to the ubiquity of wireless network, location has become an easily available resource to exploit when sending purchase recommendations. We rely on Fogg’s Behavior model (FBM; Fogg, 2009) and on previous research to study whether the appearance of such recommendations when the user spatially approaches a target item improves the recommendation persuasiveness. We created a virtual supermarket, where products images are displayed on posters and customers can scan products’ QR codes with a tablet to buy them. The persuasiveness of triggers co-located or not with the target product was examined, in conditions of high vs. poor motivation to purchase that product. Confirming our hypotheses, triggers co-located with the target product lead to higher sales of that product. Furthermore, participants who received a co-located trigger that also contained a motivating message purchased more items than participants in other conditions. Therefore, setting triggers to appear at a specific location proximal to the target item can change behavior, especially for motivated subjects.