Search Engine Use for Product Research Expands in Myriad Ways, Survey Shows

More than 85 percent of consumers say they research products online before stepping into a store to make a purchase, according to BIGresearch’s June “Consumer Interactions and Intentions” survey. The market research company’s survey of nearly 7,500 respondents also reveals that of those who said they researched online before buying at a retail location, 58 percent made less than $50,000 a year and 59 percent were between 25 and 54. The survey also broke down the five most popular sites for product research.

* Although 22 percent of adults first turned to Google for product research on average, the survey shows that 27 percent of shoppers who make more than $50,000 per year used it while 20 percent of shoppers who make less than $50,000 used it.
* About 8 percent of adults, regardless of income, first use Yahoo! search to do product research.
* 6 percent of adults first go to Amazon.com for product research; 7 percent of those who earn more than $50,000 go to the site, 5 percent of those who make less than $50,000.
* 3 percent of shoppers view eBay for product research; 2 percent of those who make more than $50,000 go to the site, 4 percent of those who make less than $50,000.
* 2 percent of shoppers first turn to Walmart.com for product research; 1 percent of those who make more than $50,000 visit the giant, 3 percent of those who make less than $50,000.

Source: BIGresearch’s June “Consumer Interactions and Intentions” survey, http://www.bigresearch.com.