TRENDING NOW By Cheryl Pearson-McNeil
USING YOUR SUPER POWERS FOR GOOD
Nielsen is the global information company, located in more than 100 countries, and we measure what consumers just like you watch and what consumers just like you buy. We provide this information to companies who count on us for it. You may know of Nielsen as the company responsible for the TV ratings. We tell advertisers and local and national television executives what people are watching on TV. In most instances, we measure viewing behavior using an electronic device known as a People Meter. It is connected to the televisions of our Nielsen homes. (Your household is a Nielsen home only if you have given us your permission). We install the People Meter to every television, DVR and video console in your home and it then captures the viewing habits 60 THE WHOLE TRUTH
Ever wonder how companies decide what products to sell in grocery stores, which television shows to air or which features to offer on mobile phones? Well, actually,YOU tell them – with your purchasing habits, viewing behaviors and buying patterns. That’s right.You have ALL the power, and like a super hero newbie, I’m betting you’re not fully aware of it, or what to do with it once you know you have it. of every person (up to 16) in your household every 2.7 seconds. That’s how we know what most of America is watching. Companies pay us for these insights. What you may not be aware of is that Nielsen also collects insights, trends and data that tell our manufacturing and retail clients what you’re buying, how much you’re spending and where you’re spending it, so they can better meet your needs when you’re shopping.
You can tell a lot about a person if you go grocery shopping with them! In college I once went shopping with a friend who would only buy products that his mother had bought.
He kept saying, “That’s not what my mama buys, put it back.” I, on the other hand, only wanted the items that were the cheapest, so I could get more bang for my buck. What I didn’t know at the time was that my friend was a “brand loyal” shopper, while I was more of a “price-conscious” shopper. Now I know that companies pay big bucks to determine how to get my attention one way and my friend’s attention another way. Our buying decisions are often heavily influenced by someone or something else. Advertisers and manufacturers and producers are hoping they can be your influence. So they pay close attention to how and what you buy or spend your time. Let’s take a look at some numbers regarding the African-