A colleague recently shared an article he’s writing for a major business magazine. He quotes these statistics, which should have alarm bells attached to them:
- According to Edelman PR, between 2003 and 2006 the value of customer opinion increased from 20% to 68%.
- Deloitte & Touche reports that 62% of consumers read peer-written product reviews on the Internet, and 82% of those who read reviews say those reviews directly influence their purchasing decisions.
Are you still trying to tell customers how to feel about your product, or are you giving them a chance to tell each other? Your traditional marketing voice is quickly becoming irrelevant, and the message to be delivered is done so by those who know you best – customers.
Are you giving customers a chance to review your product and services online? They are, as Seth would call them, the New Gatekeepers, and will shape the very future of your business.
Yikes. Those stats are eye-opening. Thanks for the wake-up call Michelle. I'm going to do something about this now.
Posted by: Heidi Reimer-Epp | January 11, 2008 at 07:26 AM
Insightful and Inciteful post Michele. Those who follow your link to Amazon are funnelling closer to the most important business book of 2008.
Posted by: Bill Laidlaw | January 12, 2008 at 05:14 AM
Thanks for the heads up. It's good to know the recent updates.And great
resources too!
Posted by: Daniel Mcgonagle | January 14, 2008 at 08:04 PM