People as consumers probably rarely if ever realize or understand all the strategic marketing and analysis that goes on behind the scenes at a company based on their browsing or buying behavior.  It’s actually quite amazing at how much goes on.  Every touch point you have with a company is often targeted - from what you are presented on the websites you visit, the catalogs or advertisements you get in the mail, to even your email.

I find it quite fascinating at how much research and details go into targeting customers.  It’s neat to follow the path customers take on a website.  Where they enter, what they clicked on, what they looked at, what they bought, it’s all very interesting.  Websites and companies probably know a lot more about the consumer than the consumer realizes.  They want to collect as much information as possible so that they can target them in a way where they are more likely to convert.

As a consumer, it’s not necessarily a bad thing that companies know so much about you.  They want to offer you great deals & specials on services and products that you’re interested in because you’re more likely to purchase.  Just make sure you do your research to make sure that the deal you’re being offered is actually a deal.

What do you find interesting about retail on the consumer end or retail on the back end?