It’s fairly normal for Google Insights to give us a report on what people are searching for. However, this year Google has gone further by looking at the overall trends of not just what people are shopping for, but how they currently think about shopping. So, what exactly does Google have to say about 2010′s holiday consumers?
Google claims that data from both its insights and its “OTX study” are showing us a “new kind of shopper.” Google has lovingly dubbed this new bunch the “most intelligent searchers in history.” It points to the specificity of search terms being used, indicating the ability of searchers to track down, compare, and research specific items. However, these searchers are also looking for every kind of discount — from local Black Friday advertisements to printable coupons to online stores with great Cyber Monday deals.
This savvy shopper trend doesn’t stop at just the search level, either. People are using mobile applications to find more details than ever on the products they’re considering. Barcode scanners are being used to find exact matches of the item, making it easy to locate the best price around.
Mobile phone applications haven’t just been used to compare prices, though. Smartphone users have been using Google maps (and other similar tools) to locate stores, find out if desired products are still in stock, and read up on reviews of the item before buying it. This isn’t just a minor segment of the population, either. According to Google’s OTX report, more than half of smartphone users were planning on mobile comparison shopping to find a better price, and nearly half were planning to use their phones to check out reviews.
It’s certainly clear that the world of online, mobile, and offline shopping are being combined with current technologies — giving brick and mortar stores a vivid picture of just how crucial both web and mobile presence are.
Jen Williams
Latest posts by Jen Williams (see all)
- When Social Media Causes Disaster to Your Business - June 7, 2012
- Creating a New Link Building Strategy - June 7, 2012
- Social Media Marketing Mistakes to Avoid - June 6, 2012
