Are Common Parents Falling Prey To Social Media?

How to save yourself from emotional marketing.

With the exponential rise of “Sharents” on social media platforms, the industry of parenting blogging has crossed dimensions and is spreading its wings in all directions.

Over one billion people use Instagram every month in which two hundred million Instagram users visit at least one business profile daily.

In the world of Instagram; kids and other family members have become an unsaid part of many people’s personal brands. So being a mommy influencer or a daddy influencer is actually a big responsibility these days.

Instagram parents generally belong to the following categories:

• Category 1 — Popular mommy-daddy influencers: who are getting paid to post pictures and videos of their family with brands showcasing different toys, clothes, and other daily household products;
• Category 2 — Wanna be mommy-daddy influencers: who eventually want to land up in category 1 and get paid; and
• Category 3 — The regular mom and dad: who are just the subtle stalkers on the other side of the screen. The ones who post a few pictures of their children just to get some excitement on this virtual platform.

Interestingly, brand engagement with local and international audiences through popular parenting influencers has become one of the most trending styles. It’s actually the latest method on how consumers interact with brands.

I sometimes wonder why a big influencer’s Christmas decorations or personal New Year party with wine and dine become a thing of interest to thousands of followers.

Maybe by looking at the shiny gleaming life of a popular parenting influencer; there sparks hope in the heart of ordinary followers like you and me to buy all the things that might make our life picture-perfect as they show on the screen.

This is what is called as emotional marketing.

The strategy of emotional marketing is meant to just focus on creating a gap for desires, by letting others know what the popular parenting influencer has and what the ordinary followers on the other side of the screens don’t have.

Emotional marketing targets on your softer side; hitting exactly at the point where you feel most vulnerable. All parents are highly protective of their kids so we generally land up buying and spending more than our real capacities.

So, before you actually think about using that promo code and make another swiping decision read the following points to avoid unnecessary emotional buying:

1. Don’t make impulsive decisions

Wait for 24 hours before you actually land up buying a certain product. Keep them on your wishlist. Even if it goes out of stock you’ll learn the art of patience. Strong emotions arise when you feel stressed out, bored, unhappy, and incompetent. Sometimes in happiness also a person does a lot of over-spending.

2. Always check for the return policies

Many products shown by influencers aim in promoting local shops and Etsy stores. If you land up buying stuff using a promo code and from a discounted range, many times you won’t get any return policies.

3. Stop the habit of linking your card to every website

Consider it is an intentional step to save you from overspending. There are so many subscriptions for which the amounts get deducted just because all your cards are linked. Saved cards on unknown websites can sometimes lead to identity theft. Be cautious!

4. Keep your pockets half-filled

Always set aside a budget for such emotional buying. Do not cross the limit. Avoid the consumer trap. You may be aware of your monthly living expenses, fixed expenses, and emergency funds. So as elderly people say — save for the rainy days, and you will always be a cautious buyer.

5. Try and practice a minimalist’s approach

Most of us save money throughout the entire year so that we can spend it on a special occasion like the Black Friday sale or annual Christmas holiday travel and shopping. Remember, saving with goals will keep your budget on track. It will stop you from impulsive buying. And, you’ll end up buying what you need and not, what all you want in that emotional moment.

The influencer’s perfect family picture looks beautiful with perfect makeup, perfect decor, perfect gifts and perfect lighting. But believe me; a thing so perfect is really difficult to achieve.

The secret of online celebrityhood success is defined by the number of likes, comments, and followers. And the dopamine hit when comes in between family relationships creates hustles in real-life parenting. The joy of those likes also does not last long, because it’s a virtual experience. The happiness fades off quickly as it lacks the personal touch.

Real lives of common people like you and me are imperfectly perfect in all the small things.

Don’t get alarmed by seeing anyone’s virtual life. Behind the scenes of perfect advertising, films are exhaustive and take a lot from the actors. Don’t compare your personal life ever to anyone else’s especially from the ones whom you barely know.

Being updated on reviews and recommendations from a trustworthy influencer is a very good habit. But to feel intimidated by them and keeping a desire to achieve overnight success in the same career is the wrong approach. Follow their footsteps only if you have the energy to give what it takes to be a popular parenting influencer.

Always remember: nothing valuable will come overnight in life and all it takes is dedication and sincerity in work.