Who do consumers trust? Increasingly, each other.

April 16, 2008 | Internet Marketing

Social shopping sites attempt to replicate the emotional and social aspects of real-world shopping - such as strolling through mall stores with friends or swapping product stories at the office with colleagues.

According the Edelman “Trust Barometer,” consumers feel the most credible source for information about a company - and by inference, products - is a “person like themselves.”

Now with social shopping sites, product blogs and online ratings and reviews, consumers have the means to communicate their opinions about products and companies to tens of thousands of other consumers “like themselves” at a critical point in the sales cycle—the beginning.

“While blogs and customer ratings and reviews have long been a familiar part of the Internet commercial landscape,” says Jeff Grau, eMarketer Senior Analyst and author of the new report, Consumer Interactions: Social Shopping, Blogs and Reviews, “over the past two years social shopping sites have emerged as another way for customers to share product experiences and opinions.”

Get the full story at eMarketer

Related Articles

9 tips for location-based marketing
16 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

Google makes its local shopping move
16 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

Google poised to close China site
15 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

China’s Internet obsession
15 Mar, 2010 | Online Travel

Bing advancing slightly in search rankings
12 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

Google Maps adds biking directions
12 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

How maps are transforming local search
11 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

Google Apps Marketplace launches
11 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

Foursquare introduces new tools for businesses
10 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

Twitter and Facebook are adding geolocation features
10 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

Most Popular Articles

Does your hotel really need a social media strategy?
11 Mar, 2010 | Hospitality Industry

How TripAdvisor engages mass influencers
12 Mar, 2010 | Online Travel

6 ways to drive more online travel sales in 2010
11 Mar, 2010 | Online Travel

The need for a more holistic approach to revenue management
10 Mar, 2010 | Hospitality Industry

Why should I open your e-mail?
09 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

Google Marketplace drives corporate travel apps
15 Mar, 2010 | Online Travel

Hitwise: US travel website ranks, February 2010
08 Mar, 2010 | Online Travel

Online travel booking users exceeds 30 million in China
09 Mar, 2010 | Online Travel

Starwood runs loyalty pilot program that targets rivals’ customers
15 Mar, 2010 | Hospitality Industry

Blending social media into the PR mix
08 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

Economic Downturn

Recovery over a year away, say European hotel executives
16 Mar, 2010 | Hospitality Industry

China expected to stimulate world travel economy in 2010
16 Mar, 2010 | Online Travel

IATA sees brighter 2010 outlook
15 Mar, 2010 | Online Travel

Virgin America’s guide to not screwing up customer service
12 Mar, 2010 | Internet Marketing

UK travelers plan to take multiple trips abroad in 2010
09 Mar, 2010 | Online Travel

Un-stoppable growth in OTA bookings, GDS still lacking behind
05 Mar, 2010 | Online Travel

Global hotel prices dropped beyond 2004 levels during 2009
02 Mar, 2010 | Hospitality Industry

Things are looking up for U.S. airlines
02 Mar, 2010 | Online Travel

Asia leads travel industry’s recovery
26 Feb, 2010 | Online Travel

Meeting buyers see budget cutbacks ease
25 Feb, 2010 | Hospitality Industry

Travel companies grapple with “new normal”
23 Feb, 2010 | Online Travel

Europe likely to see recovery, not growth, says STR
22 Feb, 2010 | Hospitality Industry

Hogg Robinson Group sees early signs of recovery
22 Feb, 2010 | Online Travel

US Travel growth expected in 2010
18 Feb, 2010 | Online Travel

IHG’s profit drops 18%, as hotel rates continue to fall
16 Feb, 2010 | Hospitality Industry

E-Mail Newsletter


Visit our sponsors: