We're Drowning in Choice. Help!

If you go to an In-N-Out Burger, don't expect to find an extensive menu. It includes three variations on the same sandwich: a hamburger, a cheeseburger and the Double Double, which comes with two patties and two slices of cheese. You can also order a side of fries and a shake. But that's all. No chicken strips, no salads, no stuffed jalapeños, no kids' meals. You can customize orders from the so-called secret menu—animal style, for instance, adds grilled onions—but dining options are unapologetically limited. And you know what? In-N-Out devotees keep the lines long and the service slow.



In a post at MarketingProfs Daily Fix blog, Paul Barsch argues that there might be something in this less-is-more approach.

"With customers drowning in 'choice' some companies are finding it easier to meet customer needs by simplifying—portfolios, products and services," he says. "Indeed too many choices can cause our customers to experience anxiety and mental exhaustion."

Barsch cites Ford Motor Co.'s decision to simplify the Lincoln Navigator, which had 128 options for its console alone. The Wall Street Journal determined the number of possible combinations at 3.85620482 x 10 to the 215th power. Can you just see a customer's eyes glazing over?

Your Marketing Inspiration: "[W]e need to help our companies focus and prioritize on the things that matter most to our customers," says Barsch.