Comments on: Impact of Social Sites on Retail Sales Less than Thought http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html Internet Marketing News Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:54:51 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: User generated content user growth and the impact on online sales | Gino Cosme http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html/comment-page-1#comment-29193 User generated content user growth and the impact on online sales | Gino Cosme Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:34:01 +0000 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html#comment-29193 [...] A recent U.S. Retail Consumer Survey by JupiterResearch found that social media sites have very little impact on sales but can however help with branding. As Patti Freeman Evans, senior analyst with JupiterResearch, says, “From a branding and advertising perspective, social and community sites are garnering a great deal of online influence, but when researching a product online, shoppers are looking for fundamental information, not entertainment or social interaction.” [...] [...] A recent U.S. Retail Consumer Survey by JupiterResearch found that social media sites have very little impact on sales but can however help with branding. As Patti Freeman Evans, senior analyst with JupiterResearch, says, “From a branding and advertising perspective, social and community sites are garnering a great deal of online influence, but when researching a product online, shoppers are looking for fundamental information, not entertainment or social interaction.” [...]

]]> By: Jay http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html/comment-page-1#comment-28658 Jay Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:29:18 +0000 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html#comment-28658 Why are they focusing on online sales? The #1 category for most of the Social Shopping sites is fashion. Online apparel sales still makes up a very small percentage of total sales for this category. Has Jupiter looked at how blogs, social shopping sites, and even e-commerce sites impact offline purchases? If you can't follow the clicks, does that mean these sites don't influence purchasing decisions? Why are they focusing on online sales? The #1 category for most of the Social Shopping sites is fashion. Online apparel sales still makes up a very small percentage of total sales for this category. Has Jupiter looked at how blogs, social shopping sites, and even e-commerce sites impact offline purchases? If you can’t follow the clicks, does that mean these sites don’t influence purchasing decisions?

]]> By: links for 2007-07-03 | The Marketing Technology Blog http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html/comment-page-1#comment-28657 links for 2007-07-03 | The Marketing Technology Blog Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:21:17 +0000 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html#comment-28657 [...] Impact of Social Sites on Retail Sales Less than Thought | Marketing Pilgrim A new study from JupiterResearch indicates that social sites do little to influence sales but can help with branding. Specifically, social and community sites influence only about 12% of online shoppers to buy more than planned. (tags: retail socialmedia stats) [...] [...] Impact of Social Sites on Retail Sales Less than Thought | Marketing Pilgrim A new study from JupiterResearch indicates that social sites do little to influence sales but can help with branding. Specifically, social and community sites influence only about 12% of online shoppers to buy more than planned. (tags: retail socialmedia stats) [...]

]]> By: Mobilizer http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html/comment-page-1#comment-28634 Mobilizer Tue, 03 Jul 2007 07:08:22 +0000 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html#comment-28634 Web sales may be affected by this ruling, but a consumer usually has numerous options when shopping for products found on-line, and those products are rarely necessities. Therefore, online sales should be a secondary concern. The concern of greatest interest should involve products with: few available methods to purchase, few manufactures, or in other words, industries that already have the ability to set prices on necessary commodities. OIL COMPANIES will have the ability to set prices at will. Gasoline prices will raise with out any voice from the market place. Gas companies are already squeezing Americans for every penny. Now they have the tools to do it even better. Web sales may be affected by this ruling, but a consumer usually has numerous options when shopping for products found on-line, and those products are rarely necessities. Therefore, online sales should be a secondary concern.

The concern of greatest interest should involve products with: few available methods to purchase, few manufactures, or in other words, industries that already have the ability to set prices on necessary commodities.

OIL COMPANIES will have the ability to set prices at will. Gasoline prices will raise with out any voice from the market place. Gas companies are already squeezing Americans for every penny. Now they have the tools to do it even better.

]]> By: Search Engine Optimization Journal » Why Your Company Blog Is Significant For Attracting Publicity http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html/comment-page-1#comment-28615 Search Engine Optimization Journal » Why Your Company Blog Is Significant For Attracting Publicity Mon, 02 Jul 2007 23:14:19 +0000 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html#comment-28615 [...] The social sites that are actually going to flourish and profit from product recommendations are going to have to spend a lot of resources on maintaining a high level of credibility. [...] [...] The social sites that are actually going to flourish and profit from product recommendations are going to have to spend a lot of resources on maintaining a high level of credibility. [...]

]]> By: Steven Bradley http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html/comment-page-1#comment-28613 Steven Bradley Mon, 02 Jul 2007 22:27:37 +0000 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html#comment-28613 Do you know if they asked people who participate in social media site or just people who viewed them. I would think if you're an active participant in a community you'd be more willing to listen to the recommendation of others in the community. Also if 29% are reaffirming their decisions that's significant. Michael is right that social media is still evolving. I think we're only going to see more niche social sites with tighter communities and that could lead more people to base buying decisions on the recommendations of the site. Do you know if they asked people who participate in social media site or just people who viewed them. I would think if you’re an active participant in a community you’d be more willing to listen to the recommendation of others in the community.

Also if 29% are reaffirming their decisions that’s significant.

Michael is right that social media is still evolving. I think we’re only going to see more niche social sites with tighter communities and that could lead more people to base buying decisions on the recommendations of the site.

]]> By: Jason Billingsley http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html/comment-page-1#comment-28590 Jason Billingsley Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:26:44 +0000 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html#comment-28590 I like Jupiter and Patti in particular, but I am suspicious about these findings. I'd like to know how the data was collected as any consumer survey would likely be incorrect - it appears it was collected in this manner. Most consumers have no idea they are viewing a blog vs review site vs social shopping site vs retail site. My rule of thumb is always...would my mom know what this is? I like Jupiter and Patti in particular, but I am suspicious about these findings. I’d like to know how the data was collected as any consumer survey would likely be incorrect – it appears it was collected in this manner. Most consumers have no idea they are viewing a blog vs review site vs social shopping site vs retail site. My rule of thumb is always…would my mom know what this is?

]]> By: Greg Howlett http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html/comment-page-1#comment-28589 Greg Howlett Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:14:25 +0000 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html#comment-28589 Mark, they come from a variety of sources--shopping comparison sites, authoritative consumer sites, and various other online publications. Mark, they come from a variety of sources–shopping comparison sites, authoritative consumer sites, and various other online publications.

]]> By: Mark Barrera http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html/comment-page-1#comment-28587 Mark Barrera Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:46:42 +0000 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html#comment-28587 "About 53% of online shoppers go directly to a retail website to buy while 3% go to blogs first." Greg- since I haven't seen the report, I was just curious what the other 44% of online shopper do? “About 53% of online shoppers go directly to a retail website to buy while 3% go to blogs first.”

Greg- since I haven’t seen the report, I was just curious what the other 44% of online shopper do?

]]> By: Social Shopping Lacks Impact on Buyers » eCommerce Cache :: Varien eCommerce Blog :: A blog focused on the design, marketing, and implementation of online commerce http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html/comment-page-1#comment-28580 Social Shopping Lacks Impact on Buyers » eCommerce Cache :: Varien eCommerce Blog :: A blog focused on the design, marketing, and implementation of online commerce Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:42:30 +0000 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html#comment-28580 [...] Instead, we thought we’d let you know that JupiterResearch has discovered some interesting statistics regarding social shopping sites and their influence over shoppers. It seems that social shopping does little to influence a potential buyer to make an unplanned purchase, but aids in branding efforts and reaffirming a potential buy for the shopper before checkout. [...] [...] Instead, we thought we’d let you know that JupiterResearch has discovered some interesting statistics regarding social shopping sites and their influence over shoppers. It seems that social shopping does little to influence a potential buyer to make an unplanned purchase, but aids in branding efforts and reaffirming a potential buy for the shopper before checkout. [...]

]]> By: Michael Martinez http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html/comment-page-1#comment-28568 Michael Martinez Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:26:32 +0000 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/impact-of-social-sites-on-retail-sales-less-than-thought.html#comment-28568 Like everything else, social media will go through one or more evolutionary phases as people become immunized to its effects through overuse. The real value in user-generated content lies in the daily drama of conflict resolution. That is, vendors benefit immensely when potential buyers can see them resolve problems online. When the customer is in conflit with the product or service, the provider needs to show a quick and decisive responsiveness. Social media sites can help that process along by creating channels for vendors to communicate with their customers and prospects. We've seen some attempts in the right direction, but as you say, everyone has an agenda. The concept needs more work, more innovation. Like everything else, social media will go through one or more evolutionary phases as people become immunized to its effects through overuse.

The real value in user-generated content lies in the daily drama of conflict resolution. That is, vendors benefit immensely when potential buyers can see them resolve problems online. When the customer is in conflit with the product or service, the provider needs to show a quick and decisive responsiveness.

Social media sites can help that process along by creating channels for vendors to communicate with their customers and prospects. We’ve seen some attempts in the right direction, but as you say, everyone has an agenda. The concept needs more work, more innovation.

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