Google's clicks and impressions are up dramatically from this time last year, in most categories, for both search and content. According to a Google & Compete, Inc. report on Online Research and Purchase Activity (Sept 2008), 40% of general online consumers made a retail purchase online in Q2 2008, an 18% increase over the same time frame last year. Similarly, consumers have visited retail websites more frequently than they did last year, likely in an effort to shop smarter in a rough economy by investing more time looking for quality products at the right price.

New research suggests that we will continue to see an increase in online traffic and shopping in relation to the upcoming holiday season. An OTX/ Google 2008 Holiday Shopping Intentions Survey (Sept 2008) reports that 86% of consumers plan to do online research this year to plan their holiday shopping. 31% of consumers plan to start holiday shopping and research before Halloween and a majority (57%) will start before Thanksgiving.

36% of consumers say that Search engines are their go-to source for gift ideas this holiday season and according to the Google & Compete, Inc. report 16% of online retail conversions in Q2 2008 were referred by Search, up 12% over last year, so make sure your holiday campaigns are up and running. The E-Tail Group's recently released annual "Mindset of the Multi-Channel Shopper Holiday Survey," reports that this year the internet is the preferred shopping channel for multi-channel consumers! Nearly half of consumers surveyed said they planned to do their Holiday gift buying online with 72% of consumers saying they plan to do their research for holiday gifts on the web. The majority of consumers E-Tail surveyed (91%) plan to purchase and spend the same on (or slightly more) holiday gifts this year online.

Your consumers are researching their online and in-store purchases online and they are buying online; make sure you are there!



Posted by The Google Retail Team