Internet shoppers rate personal recommendations and user reviews over price when it comes to making online purchases. This is according to research by Avail Intelligence, as part of its regular Trust Index survey[1].
Over a third (36 per cent) of respondents rated peer opinions such as recommendations, reviews and customer generated wish lists as the most useful aspect of an Internet-shopping site. This compared with 25 per cent who said price matching was what they looked for most.
The research also found that newer website technologies, such as video content and 3D images of products, are not yet popular with mainstream consumers. Only one in seven said they found 3D images useful and the figure fell to just 4 per cent for video content. This is likely to change however as the technologies become more widely adopted by retailers looking to improve the overall feel of there site. They will helpto create a more interactive shopping experience for the consumer.
“Despite the credit crunch, UK consumers appear more concerned with the experiences and suggestions of other web-based shoppers than finding the best deal online,” said Pontus Kristiansson, CEO and founder at Avail Intelligence. “Whilst the Internet is viewed as the best place for a bargain, it’s clear that recommendations and reviews from other users have an important part to play when persuading shoppers to buy,” he added.
[1] Avail Intelligence’s Trust Index survey is based on 250 responses from UK consumers and was carried out during March 2009.About Avail Intelligence (http://www.avail.net)
Avail Intelligence is the leader in maximising the value of visitor traffic to e-commerce web sites. The company’s technology harnesses the community intelligence from site visitors to deliver the most effective shopping experience for new and returning customers.
Using advanced mathematical techniques from its research arm Avail Labs, Avail Intelligence has created the Avail eMarketing suite. The suite comprises a set of tools, which improve relevance when merchandising to and communicating with individual visitors across the entire Customer Interaction Cycle/tm; of a single web site or across multiple web sites.
The results are significant, immediate and measurable improvements to conversion rates and average order values.
Avail Intelligence’s technology is being used by over 80% of the leading Scandinavian e-commerce sites. Key UK customers include GAME, Berry Brothers and DVD.co.uk.