Internet Becomes Leading Influence in Consumer Purchasing Choices
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Internet Becomes Leading Influence in Consumer Purchasing Choices
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), January 31, 2012 - Consumers have more ways to mine for information about companies than ever before. While the Internet trumps all other sources, including advice from friends and family, the ability to reach consumers with a consistent message across the variety of channels available - such as social channels - is key to thriving in the ever-changing and competitive landscape.
That is one of the key findings of the global 2012 Digital Influence Index, released today by Fleishman-Hillard International Communications in conjunction with Harris Interactive. With the addition of India, this third edition of the study now includes Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Collectively, these eight nations represent more than half of the world's online population and more than 60 percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP).
The Digital Influence Index measures several key aspects of consumers' Internet usage, from media consumption patterns to involvement in social networking to making choices about politics, healthcare and finance.
"We're witnessing a sea change in process," said Dave Senay, Fleishman-Hillard president and CEO. "Today, the collective voice of the Internet is eclipsing the persuasive power of family, friends or colleagues when it comes to influencing purchase decisions. Our survey shows the tremendous opportunity that today's tech-savvy consumer presents. Marketers need to maximize their online channels to make it easy for consumers to interact with and access information about their brands."
For the first time on the survey, Canada reported that the Internet is now more influential overall in purchasing decisions than family and friends. Comparatively, in the U.S., the Internet rated about equal in importance (46 percent compared with 47 percent for family and friends). The Internet's greatest sway was in Asia, where the gap between the influence of the Internet and that of family and friends was 9 percent in China (79 percent to 70 percent) and nearly twice that in India (79 percent to 60 percent).
Four other key findings illustrate the breadth of opportunities for marketers to reach consumers via social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as through online gaming and game consoles:
Nearly half of those surveyed (42 percent) currently follow or friend a brand on a social networking site. While the reasons vary widely by country, the overall greatest motivation: to learn more about the brand (79 percent).
Nearly one in five individuals now looks to Facebook to obtain information about a brand or product.
Almost two out of three consumers surveyed use a mobile/smartphone to gain information on a brand, product or destination at least three or four days a week.
Overall, 43 percent of consumers have played a game with other people on a PC, and 28 percent have done so using a mobile device.
This year's Digital Influence Index produced a total of 11 key insights into the influence the Internet wields in consumers' lives. A sampling of other findings includes:
Eighty-nine percent of consumers surveyed use Internet search engines to make purchasing decisions, punctuating the need for a strong search engine optimization (SEO) strategy.
Group-buying sites are gaining popularity, with two-thirds of consumers claiming awareness of services like Groupon and LivingSocial - with 60 percent of those respondents belonging to such sites.
When choosing healthcare products and services, 75 percent said they rely on online information.
Midwest Health Care Startups Raise $810 Million in 2011
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), January 31, 2012 - Midwest health care companies attracted $810 Million in new investments across 178 companies in 2011 according to the BioEnterprise Midwest Health Care Venture Investment Report.
The total dollars attracted is up by ten percent from 2010; however it remains below the peak year of 2007. Minnesota ($223 million), Ohio ($178 million), and Missouri ($169 million) led Midwestern states in attracting investment dollars; Minneapolis, Cleveland, and St. Louis were the leaders among Midwest regions.
"As in other regions of the country, overall health care venture activity has increased slightly but remains below historical highs," said Baiju R. Shah, President & CEO of BioEnterprise, the Cleveland-based biomedical venture developer.
By sector, the 2011 equity funding was allocated as follows:
Medical device companies: $295 million (36%)
Health care IT and service companies: $259 million (32%)
Biopharmaceutical companies: $251 million (31%)
"While medical devices continues to be the Midwest's strongest sector, investors have shown an unusually high level of investment interest in Health IT opportunities. Venture investors are drawn by both providers and payers searching for health IT applications that can improve effectiveness and efficiency of their enterprises," said Shah. "At the same time, Midwest biotechs are suffering from the national venture industry's shift away from early-stage biotech investing."
Venture Capital Fund to Support Two Illinois Start-up Businesses
CHICAGO, IL, (SLFP.com), January 31, 2012 - The first investments from the state's new venture capital fund to support two Illinois start-up businesses, Buzz Referrals, Inc. and AuraSense Therapeutics.
The Invest Illinois Venture Fund (IIVF) is a new venture capital program that is part of the $78 million Advantage Illinois program launched by Governor Quinn last October. The program supports young, innovative Illinois companies that show high growth potential, can demonstrate their place in the market and already have other investors.
"This new venture fund is allowing us to help small and start-up businesses increase innovation and competition, expand, and create good-paying jobs," Governor Quinn said. "We must continue to do everything we can to provide small businesses and entrepreneurs with the tools they need to grow in order to boost the economy, create jobs and compete in the global marketplace."
The state's $575,000 investment in Chicago-based start-up Buzz Referrals and Evanston-based AuraSense Therapeutics will help the two companies leverage $10.5 million in indirect private investment. The additional capital will help these companies continue to grow their businesses and create jobs.
Founded in 2011, Buzz Referrals is a high-growth start-up business that develops and operates an online platform that creates custom referral programs based on social media.
AuraSense Therapeutics, founded in early 2011, is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing spherical nucleic acid (SNA™) constructs, which can help fight diseases such as heart disease, cancer, skin conditions and bacterial infection.
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