The Evolution of the Role of Forms of Marketing Communication in Influencing Consumers’ Shopping Behavior (Based on Surveys in 1995–2018)

The purpose of the article is to present the extent to which consumers use modern and traditional forms of marketing communication about the market offer, depending on the characteristics of these consumers, as well as to recognize the attitudes and market behavior of consumers under the influence these forms of communication, with particular emphasis on online advertising and social media. The basis of the analyzes are the results of the own, nationwide, surveys carried out in 1995, 2001 and 2017/2018. The importance of online information sources in influencing consumer behavior has grown dynamically, but the role of reference groups as a source of information on offers is still relatively large. Despite the increase in critical attitudes towards advertising, it does not significantly reduce its effectiveness in influencing consumers, although the mechanism of this influence is changing, as the strength of the behavioral component of the attitudes studied, is greater compared to the emotional component. Moreover, according to the criterion of age and education, there are significant differences in attitudes and the use of online sources of information between consumer groups, but these differences tend to decrease due to the growing rate of internet penetration. The generation Z’s susceptibility to advertising is relatively the greatest, not only in relation to ads broadcasted on the web, but also offline ads. Consumers from this generation are also more likely to engage in various types of social media activity in shaping the market offer.