How Experience Dictates Price (and Why Your Product Data Matters)
Experience is the new currency, and your product information is the foundation that supports it.
Let’s put this into perspective. Imagine your teenager, groggy from sleep, finally stumbles out of bed for hockey practice. You grab a quick, no-frills coffee from a vending machine—$1, functional, and forgettable.
Now, picture yourself meeting a friend at a local coffee shop. You’ll pay around $5, but the experience is more than just coffee—it’s good conversation, a cozy chair, and a cup that actually tastes enjoyable.
Now, take it up a notch. You’re sitting at a Venetian café, soaking in the atmosphere with the love of your life. That coffee? It’s $15—but you’re not just paying for the drink. You’re paying for the ambience, the moment, the experience.
Would we all agree that the vending machine coffee costs about the same to produce as the high-end café version? Probably. But the experience is what drives the perceived value—pricing follows.
Bringing It Back to the Digital World
About one-third of online shoppers land directly on a product detail page (PDP) when they visit an e-commerce site, according to the Baymard Institute. That means the PDP is their experience of the product before they ever hold it in their hands.
Ask yourself: Are you selling a $1 experience or a $15 experience? And will customers come back for more?
With 80% of shoppers researching online before buying in-store, the quality of your product information directly impacts sales and brand perception. Every detail—product descriptions, compelling imagery, and immersive content—shapes the experience and influences willingness to pay.
And the data proves it:
89% of customers are likely to repurchase after a positive experience
86% of buyers are willing to pay more for a great customer experience
According to NielsenIQ, 92% of shoppers say visuals are the most influential factor in purchasing decisions. That’s why fast-food chains introduced picture menus years ago—visuals sell.
Key Shifts in Marketing: Adapting to the Experience Economy
To thrive in today’s market, brands must shift their approach to product content and customer engagement.
Content Is More Than Just King—It’s the New Media Traditional advertising alone isn’t enough. Engaging, high-quality content is essential to capture and hold consumer attention. This includes rich product descriptions, immersive visuals, and storytelling that builds emotional connections.
From Mass Marketing to Personalization Generic promotions are no longer effective. Today’s successful brands tailor messaging and imagery based on customer behavior and preferences because relevance drives conversion.
Data-Driven Decision-Making Wins Every product detail and marketing action should be based on real data, not gut feelings. AI and analytics help fine-tune strategies, ensuring the right products, messages, and promotions reach the right people at the right time.
ROI Matters More Than Ever Demonstrating measurable returns on marketing investments is critical. That includes tracking how better product information drives higher conversions, premium pricing, and long-term customer value.
If you can demonstrate payback within 12 months, most executives will find the budget to support the initiative. Build a realistic ROI model—something a CFO or COO can get behind—and get to work enhancing product experiences.
The Untapped Power of Clean Product Data
Think of your product catalog like a source of drinking water. Is it a crystal-clear spring, clean and refreshing? Or is it a murky swamp, full of inconsistencies and bad data that repels customers?
Your product content either builds trust or erodes it. Clear descriptions, accurate attributes, and compelling imagery work together to create an experience that drives conversion and increases customer confidence.
Shoppers aren’t just buying products; they’re buying experiences. And their willingness to pay a premium is directly tied to how seamless, engaging, and informative that experience is from the very first click.
AI and the Future of Product Content
How do you turn a data swamp into a clean, structured foundation for success?
GenAI—but not just any AI.
Here’s the catch: Not all AI is created equal. If your data is messy, AI will struggle to produce accurate, meaningful insights. The key is clean, complete, and consistent data—and that’s where Digital Wave Technology’s AI-native ONE Platform comes in.
Experience Creates Value—Are You Ready?
At the end of the day, customers make buying decisions based on the experience you deliver. Digital Wave Technology ensures that shopping with you feels premium—driving loyalty, higher conversions, and stronger margins.
So… are you serving up stale, uninspired data or an experience worth paying a premium for?
It’s time to polish your product catalog, optimize content, and create experiences that customers are willing to pay more for.
Let’s make it happen. Reach out to our team to learn more about how clean, optimized product data can fuel your growth.