8 of the Best FOMO Marketing Examples for 2026

Did you see that video? Have you ever heard that music? Have you ever performed that problem?

These are all questions you could hear from mates, household or colleagues on any given day.  

Reply “no,” and also you’ll possible be thought of out of the loop or out of contact.

And that’s no good. 

As people, we naturally wish to be part of issues, to know what’s happening, to be linked. 

Therein lies the worth of Concern of Lacking Out (FOMO) advertising. 

It’s a method that has immense energy and might help your model stand out in even the noisiest of industries. 

In an period that’s generally known as “the eye financial system,” FOMO advertising is usually a actual game-changer. 

It additionally helps you strike whereas the iron is scorching and convert a bigger variety of leads in order that they don’t slip via your fingers. 

Now let me break FOMO advertising intimately and clarify totally put it to use. 

Desk of Contents

What Is FOMO Advertising and marketing?

In response to analysis from Strategy Online, 60% of millennial customers make reactive purchases as a result of FOMO, most inside 24 hours. The technique works as a result of it:

1. Triggers urgency – Clients act sooner after they concern lacking out
2. Will increase perceived worth – Shortage makes issues appear extra fascinating
3. Leverages social proof – Seeing others purchase validates the choice
4. Drives speedy motion – Reduces the “I am going to give it some thought” response

The hot button is utilizing FOMO ethically—creating real urgency with out manipulative techniques that harm buyer belief.

The Psychology Behind FOMO Advertising and marketing

A 2013 study defines FOMO as, “a pervasive apprehension that others may be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent.”

I believe that nails it. 

FOMO advertising faucets right into a easy but primitive need to be in on the motion, to be “within the know.”

Nobody needs to be unnoticed, in spite of everything. 

Lacking out is a common concern that goes again 1000’s of years. 

To be out of the loop places an individual at odds with the group. 

It creates social friction and will even be a risk to survival again at one time.  

So it’s straightforward to see why inclusion is a precedence for folks. 

“FOMO is characterised by the will to remain frequently linked with what others are doing,” the research provides. 

In our hyper-connected world with countless standing updates, breaking information and occasions unfolding in real-time, there’s a pervasive nervousness that we might miss one thing essential. 

And this concern is just heightened by social media. 

In actual fact, 56 percent of people are afraid they’ll miss out in the event that they don’t keep on prime of what’s occurring on social media. 

It’s a very huge concern for youthful folks. 

Eventbrite even discovered that 69 percent of millennials expertise FOMO. 

“For millennials, FOMO isn’t just a cultural phenomenon, it’s an epidemic, writes Eventbrite. “In a world the place information feeds and social media broadcast what mates are experiencing, the concern of lacking out propels millennials to indicate up, share and have interaction: a driving drive behind the expertise financial system.”

FOMO advertising acknowledges this truth and makes use of it as leverage to seize the eye of customers, get them to react and in the end purchase. 

Utilizing FOMO Accurately 

Earlier than I dive into the precise methods to make use of this technique, I really feel I ought to level one thing out. 

FOMO advertising needs to be used responsibly. 

The factor about FOMO is that its impression lies largely in its means to set off adverse feelings. 

A research from Citizens Relation discovered:

• 39 p.c of individuals felt envy
• 30 p.c felt jealousy
• 21 p.c felt unhappy or disillusioned

Feeling like they’re lacking out can create an actual sense of unease for folks. 

So you’ll want to have the proper intention when formulating your strategy. 

Right now’s customers are good and savvy and might often sense at any time when a model is making an attempt to deceive or manipulate them.

Being excessive with FOMO advertising the place you attempt to intentionally set off disagreeable feelings can find yourself backfiring and drive a wedge between you and your prospects. 

So you’ll want to use it accurately. 

Right here’s are some methods to try this.

1. Present That One thing is in Demand

As of writing, it’s winter, and the climate is chilly. 

So naturally, there are lots of people trying to escape the chilly by heading south to Florida.

Right here’s an electronic mail I not too long ago acquired from Airbnb a number of days after testing trip spots there. 

It lets me know that there’s at present a excessive demand within the Vero Seaside space and that searches have elevated by greater than 44 p.c since related dates final yr. 

If somebody didn’t leap on it instantly and safe a trip rental, a terrific alternative could also be misplaced. 

Or on the very least, they might find yourself having rather a lot fewer choices and paying extra money. 

Displaying that one thing is in demand encourages individuals who have some degree of curiosity to proceed exploring and take motion. 

Realizing they might lose out in the event that they delay can present motivation to make a purchase order. 

2. Present That an Provide Received’t Final

Urgency is likely one of the commonest shortage techniques and might be extremely efficient.

It’s additionally a wonderful angle for FOMO advertising. 

Realizing that the clock is ticking and there’s solely a finite period of time to make the most of a suggestion is usually a sturdy incentive. 

That’s one thing that meal substitute model Soylent does effectively. 

On this advert, prospects see that they will save 35 p.c, however they need to make their order by the tip of the week.  

If somebody waits too lengthy, they’ll miss out.  

Nevertheless, to encourage most participation, he additionally affords folks the choice of reserving their spot for a later time in the event that they’re too busy in the mean time. 

I discover that most individuals actually take discover of this, and it significantly will increase their possibilities of changing. 

Setting a deadline for a sale also can work. 

On this case, internet improvement platform Wix is providing 50 p.c off however has a transparent deadline of December 20.  

One other concept is to create a “countdown” the place customers can see precisely how lengthy earlier than a deal expires.

You don’t wish to be manipulative about it, however having a shelf life to a suggestion can successfully set off the FOMO reflex. 

3. Present How Many Individuals Are Shopping for

Say that somebody is fascinated about your product. 

Maybe they’ve browsed your web site, performed some analysis, and assume it might doubtlessly resolve their drawback. 

However they only can’t fairly recover from the hump. 

Letting them know that different persons are shopping for, and higher but, how many individuals are shopping for can present some sturdy motivation to proceed with their buy. 

Right here’s an instance of a clothes firm placing this into motion. 

When prospects are looking their clothes line, they’ll see the particular merchandise that different prospects not too long ago bought. 

So it have to be legit. Passing it up means they’re possible lacking out on one thing nice. 

Usually, that is simply the additional little little bit of motivation somebody wants to finish their order. 

4. Use Exclusivity 

As people, we love unique affords. 

There’s one thing about accessing reductions and offers that others don’t that will get our blood pumping. 

It makes us really feel particular. 

So it not stunning that exclusivity is a giant a part of FOMO advertising. 

Creating affords and positioning merchandise in a approach that solely sure folks can entry them can have a big impact. 

Take this promotion for instance.

Moreover incomes a 15 p.c off coupon, those that enroll will obtain unique affords as effectively.

Along with overcoming the concern of lacking out, this could instill a way of loyalty in many shoppers. 

They’ll be grateful that you just’ve given them perks that most of the people doesn’t have entry to, which is usually a huge promoting level. 

Individuals love free transport. 

“Nine out of ten consumers say free transport is the top-most incentive to buy on-line extra, and orders with free transport common round 30 p.c increased in worth,” Invesp explains. 

So, in fact, it’s attractive when customers can obtain free transport on their orders. 

In lots of circumstances, it means the distinction between abandoning a web based purchasing cart and going via with an order. 

Fortunately, FOMO can grow to be a part of this equation the place you supply free transport however just for a limited time. 

When there’s a particular deadline, persons are much more inclined to proceed with their order than if there wasn’t a deadline. 

This explicit supply ensures free transport till the tip of the yr. 

6. Provide a Low cost to Early Purchasers

A typical promotion for a lot of sports activities groups is to offer away a free t-shirt, hat or bobblehead to the primary 1,000 or so individuals who come to the world or ballpark.

It rewards attendance and encourages folks to get there earlier. 

That is yet one more type of FOMO advertising that you need to use in your personal promotions. 

Whereas it is probably not possible to offer away of a ton of free merchandise as sports activities groups do, it’s an idea you possibly can nonetheless implement.

Right here’s a terrific instance from a restaurant that gave the primary 100 prospects to make use of their app 50 p.c off of their order, a free drink and a free cupcake. 

It’s a reasonably candy deal. 

Assuming the supply is attractive sufficient, this is usually a large incentive.

Realizing that it’s solely out there to a choose variety of folks encourages fast decision-making. 

Slightly than considering it over and perhaps returning later, they’re extra apt to finish an order instantly. 

7. Leverage Testimonials

Testimonials are one of the vital tried and true advertising methods of all occasions. 

They depend on a quite simple premise of getting present prospects validate your product or model. 

And it components in closely to the general FOMO technique.

On the finish of the day, testimonials let prospects know that different persons are already utilizing your product and so they couldn’t be happier about it. 

Subsequently, prospects ought to take motion so that they don’t miss out on the advantages. 

Right here’s an instance of a model promoting “The Shakur Shades,” created within the type that Tupac Shakur used to put on. 

Potential patrons can shortly see testimonials together with precise product pictures from glad prospects.  

8. Set up an Exit-Intent Marketing campaign

In all transparency, I don’t like intrusive popups or electronic mail varieties. Nonetheless, there are entrepreneurs who espouse their use and have benefitted from them. 

When used responsibly, they can be utilized to level prospects to helpful affords they is probably not conscious of. 

They usually can undoubtedly improve conversions. 

One explicit kind of marketing campaign that ties in brilliantly to FOMO is the exit (or exit-intent) marketing campaign. 

Conversioner defines this as, “a message that shows to customers as they’re making an attempt to navigate away out of your web site.”

Right here’s an instance of Danish bag firm, Helm utilizing an exit-intent marketing campaign to encourage guests to enroll in their email list. 

Right here’s one other that provides a possibility to win the bag of their alternative. 

If somebody was about to depart your web site, the exit-intent marketing campaign would current them with the chance to obtain 10 p.c off of their first order. 

So theoretically, an individual might go from being a squandered result in a money paying buyer. 

It’s only a matter of offering them with a little bit of motivation. 

Whereas it received’t work on everybody, research have discovered {that a} good proportion of persons are receptive to exit-intent campaigns. 

In actual fact, Danish touring firm Hojmark Rejser was in a position to improve the variety of affords they despatched to prospects from 1,300 to 2,300 in a season by utilizing this technique. 

The hot button is to incorporate affords with real worth and carry out A/B testing till you discover the right copy. 

Conclusion

The concern of lacking out is nothing new. It has primal roots. 

But it surely has been magnified by the Web and social media.

We stay in a day and age the place everybody appears to know what everybody else is doing always. 

Whereas it’s typically a supply of tension for many individuals, it may also be a robust advertising device. 

There are a number of methods to make use of FOMO advertising to rise above the noise and join with customers. 

The eight methods lined right here ought to enable you to do this in an moral method so to take advantage of your leads and get extra of them to take motion.