Ads on Social Sites: Marketers Eager, Consumers Wary
Twenty percent of online advertisers are ready to test viral marketing in vehicles such as blogs this year, though the majority of consumers (69%) don't trust the product information found on social media sites, according to a recent Jupiter Research report. Consumers, the report contends, are twice as likely to trust information they find on a company or professional review site.
Other findings:
* After viewing an online ad, consumers are three times more likely to simply research the product using a search engine than to forward the ad to a friend
* 52% of online advertisers attempting it this year are new to viral marketing
* 71% hope to increase brand awareness with viral campaigns
* 54% expect to drive online sales with online viral marketing
* 44% expect to drive offline sales with online viral marketing
