A recent comScore survey found that 28% of online shoppers were influenced by info on Facebook or Twitter in making holiday purchases.
For the week ending Dec. 6, online shopping sales reached $4.6 billion — more than any individual spending week in 2008. In its latest poll, comScore found 13% of poll respondents indicated that consumer-generated product reviews influenced their purchases during this period. 11% citied expert reviews influenced their purchases; followed by 7% from a Facebook page, 6% from a Facebook friend’s recommendation within their status update, 5% came from company recommendations on Twitter and 3% from a friend’s “tweet”. Although there is still 2 weeks remaining, I believe that these indicators will continue to grow as people become more familiar with the tools. They are simple to use and have become an integral part of our lives.
Companies must always remember that communication is by far the most important aspect in marketing. If they can make their customers feel safe and that the choice that their about to make is the right one, then more often then not a consumer will share their experience through social media. Social media offers a great opportunity for companies to gain a competitive edge against their competitors who do not believe a strategy is necessary. If you are struggling to figure out what this all means remember that social media is just a bunch of tools – its really “about people”. Once companies realize this fact only then will social media be the influencer I know it is. This is just the beginning and over the next five years e-commerce will begin to redefine itself with social media leading the charge.
comScore survey: U.S. Online Holiday Spending Reaches $16 Billion for First 36 Days of the November-December Shopping Season
Filed under: Social Media | Tagged: comScore, e-commerce, Facebook, shopping, Social Media, Twitter
