Whether for pleasure or for a moneymaking venture, the internet has really changed how people do business. A recent study conducted by the BIA/Kelsey Group reports that 97% of consumers go online to research products prior to making a purchase.
The study further reports that 90% of consumers use search engines for their product research; 48% utilize online yellow pages; 42% use comparison shopping engines; and almost 25% use vertical websites. In another study, the Online Retail Payments Forecast reported that 63% of consumers are comfortable with using credit cards for shopping online; and only 22% of consumers have never purchased anything online.
The big shift from shopping at brick-and-mortar outlets to shopping online proves to be a great relief for online merchants because consumers now turn to the internet for product research. Additionally, through their online services, merchants can now provide customers with a safe place for shopping.
After looking at these numbers, one can’t help but wonder — how do these numbers relate to search engine optimization and internet marketing in general?
Now that the internet has once again proven its power, there is greater pressure for e-commerce websites to be seen and heard in the vast world of cyberspace. This is where search engine optimization or SEO comes into play. With 97% of consumers going online to search for products, companies are clamoring for the top search engine positions on specific keywords. Therefore, having a good SEO strategy will favor you in search engine rankings over time.
While SEO plays a major role in getting noticed in search engines, there are still other ways to obtain greater online visibility amidst the competition. Business owners should be well aware of how and where they are advertising on the internet. This is where the different internet marketing services come into play. With the proper mixing and matching of internet marketing services plus strong SEO tactics, you will definitely get a slice of the consumer online-researching pie.