# Exploratory Selling Marketers use interactive social experiments to enhance engagement. By [Katherinev123](https://www.trendhunter.com/katherine), Contributing Editor | Published Jan 5, 2013 | Category: [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/lifestyle-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/exploratory-selling ## Key Figures - Trend score: 2.2/10 - Evidence articles: 4 ## What is the Exploratory Selling trend? **Exploratory Selling:** Interaction is key in any marketing campaign, but now brands are taking interactivity one step further through the use of campaigns that are based on social experimentation. Brands such as Coca-Cola and Puma are blending exploratory consumer behavior studies with marketing campaigns to further augment customer engagement; at the same time, these marketing social experiments create a unique platform that allows the brand to better understand its customers. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 4 featured examples - Articles from: Dec 9, 2011 to Aug 24, 2012 - Published: Jan 5, 2013 - Patterns: [Convergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/convergence), [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection) - Megatrends: [Multisensation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/multisensation), [Gamification](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/gamification), [Experience](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/experience) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Exploratory Selling trend ### Social experimentation marketing Companies like Coca-Cola and Puma are creating social experiments campaigns to enhance customer engagement, providing an opportunity for other brands to learn about their customers through interactive consumer behavior studies. ### Interactive digital displays TNT's Perception campaign is an example of how motion-activated digital displays can lead to a unique and engaging customer experience, providing an opportunity for other entertainment industries to captivate audiences through the use of interactive displays. ### Integrity testing campaigns Honest Tea's social experiment to assess integrity and honesty of people through the National Honesty Index offers interesting insights and marketing opportunities for beverage companies and other brands to develop campaigns that emphasize brand integrity and honesty. ## What the Exploratory Selling trend means for industry ### For Marketing and Advertising Trends such as social experimentation marketing and interactive digital displays offer unique and engaging opportunities for marketing experts to reach new audiences and build customer engagement through interactive campaigns. ### For Entertainment TNT's Perception campaign sets an example of how the entertainment industry can engage audiences through motion-activated digital displays, creating a new avenue for promotion, advertisement, and brand building. ### For Beverages Honest Tea's National Honesty Index creates opportunities for beverage companies to market their brands based on integrity and honesty, while emphasizing social responsibility and corporate accountability. ## Trend signals for Exploratory Selling Trend score 2.2 out of 10, from popularity 41%, activity 17%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 41% - Activity: 17% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Exploratory Selling trend 4 featured examples from Dec 9, 2011 to Aug 24, 2012. - [Beverage Brand Integrity Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/honest-tea-national-honesty-index): Honest Tea 'National Honesty Index' Offers Interesting Insights (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Beverage brands can capitalize on social experiments to enhance consumer trust and differentiate themselves in the market. - [Motion-Activated Digital Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perception-interactive-billboard): 'Perception' Interactive Billboard Engages & Excites New Yorkers (Category: Marketing) Implication: Opportunity for the outdoor advertising industry to embrace motion-activated digital displays as a way to enhance consumer interaction and engagement. - [Honesty-Awarding Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coca-cola-rivalry-wallet): Coca-Cola 'Rivalry Wallet' Looks for Virtuous Individuals (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Beverage companies can incentivize positive behavior among customers while promoting brand loyalty and reputation. - [Partner Passion Tests](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/puma-love-or-football): PUMA 'Love or Football' Campaign Asks Whether Fans Care More About Soccer (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Capitalizing on passionate sports fandom by creating unique, high-quality merchandise that caters to fans' emotional connection with their favorite teams. ## Recent trend clusters - [Countertop Craft](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/countertop-craft) (Lifestyle) - [Ready Regimens](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ready-regimens) (Lifestyle) - [Spooky Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/spooky-menus) (Lifestyle) - [Dessert Pour](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/liquid-treats1) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Lifestyle - [Compostable Coffee Pucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/compostable-coffee-pucks) - [Three-in-One Battery Leaf Vacuums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/three-in-one-battery-leaf-vacuums) - [Mystery Packaging Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cow-not-laughing) - [Multi-Benefit Protein Shakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/comes-in-three-flavors) All articles: [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle)