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

Formulas for choosing the right online marketing channel
02 Jul, 2009 | Internet Marketing

5 steps to SEO success abroad
02 Jul, 2009 | Internet Marketing

Companies cope with Twitter imposters
30 Jun, 2009 | Internet Marketing

The purchase funnel is no more
30 Jun, 2009 | Internet Marketing

Let’s make the web faster
24 Jun, 2009 | Internet Marketing

Googles image recognition technology spots landmarks
23 Jun, 2009 | Internet Marketing

When choice is demotivating
22 Jun, 2009 | Internet Marketing

Social marketing’s likely end game: Customer service
18 Jun, 2009 | Internet Marketing

Internet giants look for edge in real-time search
17 Jun, 2009 | Internet Marketing

10 signs you don’t understand web analytics
11 Jun, 2009 | Internet Marketing

Economic Downturn

Rate integrity in a down market
02 Jul, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

The incredible shrinking airline
02 Jul, 2009 | Online Travel

U.S. spending on travel, tourism dropped 5.9% in first quarter
18 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel

If you discount, do so carefully
18 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Luxury brands waking to a new reality
18 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Travelocity says book now
17 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel

LHW courting guests discreetly with sweet deals
16 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

The new normal, according to McKinsey
11 Jun, 2009 | Internet Marketing

Pressure on hotel rates not likely to go away soon
04 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Travelocity issues ‘Traveler Confidence’ report
03 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel

New study reveals changes in leisure travelers’ online search behavior
02 Jun, 2009 |

Marriott launches ‘Deal of the Day’, exclusively on Twitter
02 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Expedia makes airline no-fee policy permanent, eliminates hotel cancel/change fees
28 May, 2009 | Online Travel

The new high-end consumer
28 May, 2009 | Internet Marketing

Hoteliers most concerned with marketing ROI
26 May, 2009 |

E-Mail Newsletter


Visit our sponsors: