Definition:
A prosumer is a fusion of the words product and consumer. The term was coined by writer Alvin Toffler, who mentioned it in his book ‘The Third Wave’, from 1980. Although historically it has been used in very different areas, in the world of technology and Digital marketing refers to the user who is both a consumer and a creator of content on websites and social networks.
Toffler’s theory was based on the idea that mass production should give way to a more personalized design and production process that involved the consumer. In the same vein, the authors of the‘Cluetrain Manifesto’ were expressed, an indispensable marketing manual that defends that ‘markets are conversations’ (‘markets are conversations’) and that passive consumers have given way to active prosumers.
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Prosumers in the Internet Age
This new climate of conversation established by Web 2.0 and the development of new technologies forces companies to give increasing importance to the prosumer or prosumer. The new consumer is someone to whom the rest of our target audience listens, so their opinions and content take on special relevance in our digital marketing strategies. On the other hand, their valuations can be crucial when launching a new product.
Prosumers: success stories
Companies that bother to know what this new type of consumer wants are (almost) assured of success. Allowing the customer to intervene in the production process adds value to our product and moves it away from that massive advertising of the twentieth century that we mentioned before. Here are some examples of companies that knew how to listen to their prosumers:
- Adidas and its custom sneakers. The sportswear brand allows the buyer to decide some elements of their footwear.
- The new flavors of Lay’s. The snack and chip brand launched a campaign to invite its audience to decide on its new flavors.
- Ikea. The Swedish company used social networks (specifically, Facebook) to propose users to customize one of their furniture, with the reward that the piece would bear the name of the winner.
Frequently asked questions about Prosumer
What does Prosumer mean in digital marketing?
Prosumer refers to the concept described in this glossary entry: Definition: A prosumer is a fusion of the words product and consumer. In the same vein, the authors of the 'Cluetrain Manifesto' were expressed, an indispensable marketing manual that defends that 'markets are conversations' ('markets are conversations') and that passive consumers have given way to active prosumers. It gives teams a shared vocabulary for analysing digital projects.
When should teams pay attention to Prosumer?
Teams should review Prosumer when it affects acquisition, measurement, user experience, content, automation or campaign performance. The important step is to connect the definition with a real decision.
How is Prosumer used in a digital strategy?
Prosumer is used by translating the concept into practical checks: where it appears in the funnel, which data or channel is involved and whether it needs optimisation, monitoring or documentation.
What is a common mistake when interpreting Prosumer?
A common mistake is using Prosumer too broadly. It is better to verify the context, the tool or the metric involved before making strategic or technical conclusions.