What is B2C?
Business-to-Consumer
TL;DR
B2C (Business-to-Consumer) means selling products or services directly to individual people for personal use.
Example
B2C companies:
- Netflix sells streaming subscriptions to individuals
- Nike sells shoes to consumers
- Spotify sells music subscriptions to listeners
- Your local grocery store sells food to families
B2C transaction characteristics:
| Aspect | Typical B2C |
|---|---|
| Deal size | 50 - 5,000 kr |
| Sales cycle | Minutes to days |
| Decision makers | 1-2 people |
| Relationship | Often transactional |
| Buying motive | Personal benefit, emotion, convenience |
B2C purchase journey: See ad → Visit website → Read reviews → Add to cart → Buy Total time: Could be 10 minutes.
Explanation
B2C Marketing
B2C marketing is about reach and emotion:
- Social media advertising (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook)
- Influencer partnerships
- Brand building and storytelling
- Discounts and promotions
- Email marketing for repeat purchases
- Reviews and social proof
The goal is to be seen by as many potential customers as possible and make the purchase easy.
B2C Business Models
E-commerce: Sell products online (clothing, electronics) Subscription: Monthly recurring (streaming, boxes) Marketplace: Connect buyers and sellers (Finn, Tise) Freemium: Free basic, paid premium (Spotify, Dropbox) Advertising: Free product, sell ads (Facebook, Google)
Why It Matters
For Business Owners
B2C means volume. You need many customers because each one pays relatively little. Marketing reach and conversion optimization matter enormously.
B2C decisions are faster but less sticky. Customers can buy quickly, but they can also leave quickly. Churn is typically higher than B2B.
B2C is more emotional. Branding, design, and user experience matter more. People buy based on feelings as much as logic.
B2C scales differently. You can reach millions through digital ads, but you also compete with everyone for attention.
B2B vs B2C: The Tradeoffs
| Factor | B2B | B2C |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue per customer | Higher | Lower |
| Number of customers needed | Fewer | Many more |
| Sales complexity | Higher | Lower |
| Marketing approach | Targeted | Broad |
| Customer relationships | Deep | Often shallow |
Need help with your digital project?
We build websites, apps, and digital solutions for businesses.
Get in touch