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What is FOMO, and Does it Really Work?

By Clint Sanchez · Published · Updated · 7 min read

does fomo work feat1080

Quick answer

FOMO, fear of missing out, is a real psychological phenomenon, and marketers use it to trigger impulse purchases through limited-time offers, low-stock warnings, countdown timers, and influencer posts. It works: it creates urgency and raises sales. The risks are anxiety, impulsive decisions, and buyer resentment, and studies link FOMO to lower self-esteem. The sustainable version is content so valuable that people genuinely do not want to miss it.

Key takeaways

  • FOMO stands for fear of missing out, a term coined in the early 2000s for the anxiety people feel when they think they are missing something.
  • Marketers apply FOMO through limited-time offers, only X items left messages, countdown timers, and paid influencer posts.
  • FOMO tactics increase sales and can get people to buy things they do not need, which is both the benefit and the ethical problem.
  • Research cited in the post links FOMO to unhappiness and lower self-esteem, and overuse can push people to leave the platforms you market on.
  • Black Friday and 24-hour-only sales are the largest examples of FOMO marketing campaigns.
  • The positive use of FOMO is consistent, high-quality content that people would be upset to miss, which removes the need for pressure tactics.

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Do you feel like you’re always left out? Like you’re missing out on all the fun? If you’re struggling with FOMO or Fear of Missing Out, it can have serious consequences if it’s not dealt with. This post will talk about what FOMO is, what causes it, and how you can deal with it.

What is FOMO, and does it really work?

FOMO is an acronym for Fear of Missing Out. It’s a term coined in the early 2000s to describe people’s anxiety and worry when they think they’re missing out on something. FOMO can be caused by several things, including social media, advertising, and peer pressure, negatively affecting their life.

If you scroll social media and feel left out, chances are you’ve experienced some level of FOMO.

Is FOMO real?

Yes, FOMO is a real thing. It’s not just something people say to make them feel better. FOMO is a legitimate psychological phenomenon that can affect people’s lives. If you’re struggling with FOMO, don’t be afraid to seek help from professionals.

what is fomo buy now
what is fomo buy now

How Marketers Use FOMO to Influence Buyers

Marketers use FOMO, or the fear of missing out, to influence buyers into making impulse purchases.

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They showcase the best aspects of life on social media and make people feel they’re missing out if they don’t buy what they’re selling.

This can be a very effective tool, as it can cause people to make decisions they may not have otherwise made.

How can I use FOMO Marketing Tactics in my business?

If you’re a business owner, you can use FOMO to create a sense of urgency in your marketing. You can do this by using limited-time offers, social media influencers, or by saying that there are only a limited number of products available. This can cause people to buy something even if they don’t really need it, as they don’t want to miss out on the chance to get it.

Considering hiring an influencer to promote your brand? Read our article on five creative ways that you can do just that!

why fomo works
why fomo works

What are some tips for using FOMO in marketing?

There are many tips you can use to make sure your FOMO marketing is effective.

First, make sure you’re clear about what you’re offering and why it’s valuable. Explain why your products or services are worth buying and make sure the benefits are clear.

Second, create a sense of urgency by using limited-time offers or saying that only a limited number of products are available. Finally, make sure you target your marketing to the right audience.

FOMO can be a powerful marketing tool if it’s used correctly. By creating a sense of urgency and targeting your marketing to the right audience, you can increase people’s chances to buy your product.

What are some examples of FOMO in marketing?

Some examples of FOMO in marketing include limited-time offers, social media influencers, and creating a sense of urgency by saying that there are only a limited number of products available.

Have you ever visited a website and are greeted by a popup that says, “Only X items left in stock!”? That’s an example of FOMO being used in marketing. The website is trying to create a sense of urgency so that you’ll buy the product before it’s too late.

black friday countdown calendar fomo example
black friday countdown calendar fomo example

Or perhaps you’ve seen a countdown timer in the corner of a sales page? That’s another example of FOMO being used in marketing. The clock is creating a sense of urgency so that you’ll buy the product before time runs out.

You’ll usually be asked to fill out a form so that a marketer can capture your data for an email list to use in an email marketing campaign or retargeting ads.

What are the benefits of using FOMO in marketing?

Some benefits of using FOMO in marketing include the following:

  • It can increase sales
  • It can get people to buy a product even if they don’t really need it
  • It can be a powerful marketing tool if used correctly

What are some risks of using FOMO in marketing?

Some risks of using FOMO in marketing include the following:

  • It can cause people to make impulsive decisions
  • It can create a sense of anxiety for people who see the marketing
  • It can be used to sell products that are not actually needed

Is Using FOMO in Marketing Ethical?

The jury is still out on if or not using FOMO in marketing is ethical. Some people argue that it’s a manipulative tactic that preys on people’s fears and emotions. Others say that it’s a perfectly acceptable marketing strategy that can be used to increase sales.

It depends on whom you ask.

Writer Eric Barker, best known for Barking Up the Wrong Tree, has argued the other side: the feeling you are borrowing costs the person on the receiving end something real.

There is research behind that. The study that put the term on the map, published by Przybylski and colleagues in Computers in Human Behavior, found fear of missing out was associated with lower mood and lower life satisfaction, and with heavier social media use.

The FOMO model can be very effective in certain situations, but you need to be careful about how you use it. Make sure you’re clear about what you’re offering and why it’s valuable.

Other studies have shown that FOMO may lead to burnout and cause people to take breaks from or entirely leave social media platforms. As a result of this overuse, you might be doing long-term harm to your brand by having users who are most likely to use FoMO tactics depart the platforms you’re trying to contact them on.

Using FOMO in a Positive Way

Don’t abandon it just yet!

Marketers may profit from fear of missing out without engaging in actions that are detrimental to people’s mental health.

Maintaining the credibility of your social media campaign is critical in achieving success.

You may accomplish this in a variety of ways. Avoid marketing cliches that make people want to leave your website, unfollow, or unfriend you, and give high-quality free content that users will genuinely not want to miss out on.

It’s all about the content.

If it’s your website visitors, blog followers, or social media contacts, give them something valuable that makes them want to stick around. That might be a great article, an interesting video, or even a giveaway.

If you can make your target audience feel like they’re missing out on something good by not following you, you’re more likely to see success in your marketing efforts.

When you consistently provide high-quality content, you’re less likely to need to use FOMO as a crutch. People will view your content as so valuable that they’ll be genuinely upset if they miss out on it.

In this way, you can positively use FOMO by providing so much valuable content that people will be reluctant to miss out on any of it. This is a much better use of FOMO, and it’s more likely to result in positive outcomes for your brand.

Examples of FOMO in Marketing

There are many examples of FOMO in marketing. One is the use of “limited time offers.” Marketers will often make people think that if they don’t buy something right now, they’ll miss out on the chance to get it.

You’ll often see these on landing pages and in email marketing campaigns. They usually include a countdown timer to create a sense of urgency.

fomo influencer pick of the day example
fomo influencer pick of the day example

Another example is the use of social media influencers. Marketers will often pay social media influencers to promote their products. This can create a sense of FOMO for people who see the posts, as they may feel like they’re missing out on something if they don’t buy the product.

Finally, marketers will sometimes create a sense of urgency by saying that only a limited number of products are available. This can cause people to buy something even if they don’t really need it, as they don’t want to miss out on the chance to get it.

Example FOMO Marketing Campaign

An example of a FOMO marketing campaign is the “24 hours only” sale. This type of sale often creates a sense of urgency and can cause people to buy things they don’t need.

Another example is the whole notion of Black Friday. This event is often marketed as a one-time opportunity to get great deals on products. As a result, people often buy things they don’t need in order to take advantage of the sales.

Both of these examples use FOMO to get people to buy things they may not otherwise purchase. This can be harmful to people’s finances and can lead to them buying things they don’t need.

The Bottom Line

FOMO is a real thing, and it can have severe consequences if it’s not dealt with. If you’re struggling with FOMO, there are some things you can do to deal with it. You can talk to a therapist, set some limits for yourself, or find a balance between your offline and online life.

Marketers use FOMO to influence buyers into making impulse purchases. They showcase the best aspects of life on social media and make people feel like they’re missing out if they don’t buy what they’re selling. This can be a very effective tool, as it can cause people to make decisions they may not have otherwise made.

Hire a Professional!

If you’re looking for high-quality content that will keep your followers engaged, consider BlakSheep Creative. We can help you develop a social media campaign that uses FOMO in a positive way to increase sales and build brand loyalty. Contact us today to learn more!

Looking for a real conversation about your business — no sales pitch, no commitment? Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call.

About the author

Clint Sanchez, founder of BlakSheep Creative

Clint Sanchez

Founder & Lead Developer · Denham Springs, LA

Clint has built and marketed websites for 26 years, since founding BlakSheep Creative in 2000. He is also a 29-year firefighter and a 23-year member of IAFF Local 557, which is where the bias toward plain answers over sales copy comes from.

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Common questions about digital marketing

What does FOMO stand for?
FOMO stands for fear of missing out. The term dates to the early 2000s and describes the worry people feel when they believe others are having experiences or getting deals they are not. Social media, advertising, and peer pressure all feed it, and most people who scroll a feed have felt some version of it.
How do businesses use FOMO in marketing?
By creating urgency. Common tactics are limited-time offers, notices that only a few items remain in stock, countdown timers on sales pages, and influencer posts that make a product look like something everyone else already has. These usually come with a form so the marketer can capture an email for follow-up campaigns.
What are the risks of FOMO marketing?
It pushes impulsive decisions, creates anxiety for people who see it, and can sell products nobody needs. Studies tie FOMO to unhappiness and lower self-esteem, and heavy exposure leads some users to take breaks from or quit social media, which removes the very audience a brand is trying to reach.
Is FOMO marketing ethical?
Opinions split. Critics call it manipulation that preys on fear and emotion; defenders call it a normal sales strategy. Writer Eric Barker argues it carries negative consequences and suggests JOMO, the joy of missing out, instead. The safer path is honest urgency: real deadlines, real stock limits, and real value.
How can I use FOMO without hurting my brand?
Skip the cliches that make people unfollow and instead publish content, videos, and giveaways valuable enough that followers would be upset to miss them. When the quality is consistent, urgency takes care of itself and you rarely need countdown timers or fake scarcity as a crutch.
Does a countdown timer actually increase sales?
It usually does in the short term, because a visible deadline pushes hesitant buyers to act before time runs out. The post notes this works for landing pages and email campaigns. The tradeoff is that timers can produce purchases people regret, so tie them to a genuine offer end date.

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