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The Virtuous
Circle
The Role of Search and Social
Media in the Purchase Pathway




Fe br ua r y 20 11
The chicken or the egg? If everything must have a clearly-defined beginning to reach a
natural conclusion, then surely something had to come first. But, as it pertains to these causal
elements, it would seem that understanding the sequence of events is still up for debate.


                           The consumer journey toward purchase has in many ways become like this with more
                           new media drivers, such as Google and Microsoft, and misdirection, via consumer
                           opinions on blogs and Facebook, making the beginning and end of the path, less
                           apparent to advertisers. As a result, brands are unsure which came first and how best to
                           motivate consumers to engage with their brands during and after the purchase path.

                           In 2009, GroupM Search released the first industry study ever conducted exploring the
                           interplay between search and social media, titled The Influenced: Social Media, Search,
                           and the Interplay of Consideration and Consumption (see inset). In this study, GroupM
                           Search sought to understand the relationship consumers were establishing with brands
                           via both search and social media.

                           While search has become a ubiquitous term, as is well defined by the likes of Google,
                           social media remains a more nebulous phrase. For this research social media is defined
                           as the destinations which create communities or networks for sharing of information in
                           word, image or video. These destinations range from brand-owned social media, such as
                           a brand’s blog, to earned social media, such as content about a category created by the
                           community and fostered by the brand, to paid social media, such as sponsored and/or
                           promoted areas of sites, including Facebook, YouTube or Twitter.



  The Influenced: The Correlation Between Search and Social Media
  In 2009, GroupM Search, together             search activity. Through this correlation it   brand products saw large increases in
  with social media agency M80 and             was learned that brands could start to         search activity when users also
  comScore, conducted a research               invest in social media not simply on the       engaged in either category-level social
  initiative to understand the interplay       perceived merits of the channel alone,         media or specific social media owned
  between search and social media.             but also on the tangible impact social         by the brands themselves.
  At that time, social media was so new        media had on a long-standing, top-
                                                                                              Search and social media have strong
  that the ability to properly measure its     performing channel, search.
                                                                                              connective tissue between them.
  impact had yet to evolve to the levels
                                               The study found a strong correlation           Several insights derived from the
  available today, when the worth of a
                                               between search and social media, as            research remain actionable today and
  friend or the value of a retweet are
                                               well as further evidence that upper            important to the strategy and execution
  routinely used as barometers
                                               funnel engagement drives lower funnel          of search and social media programs.
  of success.
                                               activity. The study also revealed the          As Barbara Basney, director of global
  The study, The Influenced: Social            influence social media has on specific         advertising for Xerox was quoted in the
  Media, Search, and the Interplay of          search activity. For all types of              Wall Street Journal following the launch
  Consideration and Consumption, was the       keywords the influence was found to be         of these findings, “Social media is
  first project of its kind to associate the   substantial, but lower funnel terms            giving us another way to help influence
  influence social media was having on         surrounding campaign brands and                people’s propensity to search.”


The Virtuous
Circle: The Role
of Search and
Social Media in
the Purchase
Pathway
February 2011                                                                                                                            1
The study revealed a significant correlation between engagement with the
                                     two channels. Further, it showed that the value of social media can be better
 Methodology
                                     measured by way of its influence on paid search performance as opposed
 The research was conducted          to most efforts typically used to quantify the value of a friend or follower for
 using both behavioral and           a brand.
 survey analysis of consumers
                                     As a follow-up to this research, GroupM Search partnered with leading
 from comScore’s opt-in,
                                     consumer electronics manufacturer Dell, and other clients of GroupM’s
 passively tracked panel of more
                                     media planning and buying agencies, including key brands in the
 than 1 million Internet users in
                                     telecommunications and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries.
 the United States. GroupM
                                     GroupM Search developed and conducted a comprehensive study, together
 Search identified key
                                     with digital measurement specialist comScore, in order to further understand
 conversion metrics for the
                                     the causal relationship between search and social media as it pertains to the
 advertisers studied, including
                                     online purchase pathway up to and through conversion into brand loyalty.
 purchase, subscriptions, and
 key asset views. Extensive click
                                     This research also aimed to begin to answer the next important question in
 stream analysis was conducted
                                     chicken philosophy: the motivation for crossing the road? The first study
 of online behaviors three
                                     examined the process by which consumers arrived at purchase, using a
 months prior to conversion for
                                     common illustration familiar to marketers—the purchase funnel. Findings
 consumers who converted with
                                     confirmed that when consumers were exposed to both search and social
 the participating brands. For the
                                     media influenced by a brand that overall search CTR went up by 94%.
 survey portion of the research,
 respondents consisted of            In the 18 months since that research was completed little has occurred to
 consumers who had made a            diminish the importance of these two channels. In fact, the digital ecosystem is
 purchase in the studied             largely evolving around the worlds of Google and Facebook. As such, brand
 categories in the three months      owners are anxious to understand how to leverage each of these channels.
 prior to taking the survey and
 who had used search and/or          Through the “virtuous circle” of causal interplay it is becoming clear that a
 social media in the process.        brand must have engagement and content strategies that satisfy specific
 The behavioral analysis and         expectations from consumers. Brands are being presented with opportunities
 survey portions of the research     to set down digital signposts and assist consumers to an end outcome that
 were conducted between April        pleases everyone. The virtuous circle suggests that the brands that listen and
 and November, 2010.                 adapt in search and social media can not only capture a disproportionate
                                     amount of initial sales but build on their loyalty efforts.



                                     The Path
                                     When looking at the role search and social media play in the purchase
                                     pathway, the new consumer journey is revealed in the places to which
                                     consumers now turn and the signposts they use to navigate the decision-
                                     making process.

                                     What is not in doubt in this pathway is a consumer’s starting point. In nearly 60%
                                     of all consumer journeys that end in purchase, the starting point is a search.
The Virtuous
Circle: The Role
of Search and
Social Media in
the Purchase
Pathway
February 2011                                                                                                           2
The ubiquity of search is also revealed in
                    this study. Survey respondents say the top       Most Consumers Start With Search
                    reasons they use search first are: the
                    quality and scale of information, the fact            The Path to Purchase Starts Here...
                    that they always use it, and because
                    search is easy to use. By contrast, the key      Search Engines                        58%
                    motivation for consumers who use social
                    media to conduct preliminary information         Company Sites             24%
                    gathering is the referral authority exercised
                    by respondents’ “friends.” While a less            Social Media         18%
                    popular first step than search, social media                      0   20      40      60


                    clearly remains important in the process.

                    Overall, consumers are equally likely today to use a combination of search and social media
                    in their path to purchase as opposed to just search. Forty-eight percent of those who
                    convert utilize both search and social media versus 51% that use search alone.

                                                        This is representative of the growth of social media.
 Converting User Usage in the Purchase Process
                                                        It is important to note that while early social media is
                                                        built on human connections, this research suggests
           51%          48%                             that those connections now directly tie to the financial
                                                        aspirations of businesses and thus have become more
                                                        important within the context of supporting customer
                                                        loyalty. Also of note is that only 1% of consumers who
                                                        convert will use social media without search to get to
                                       1%               the purchase point. This data suggests social media is
           Search   Search + Social   Social            not yet a stand-alone conduit for the consumer’s
                                                        decision-making process.

                    More important than starting with search is that most consumers who convert see search
                    as a “pricing” tool throughout the buying cycle. When asked how search and social media
                    are valuable to them during the process, respondents, at a margin of 5 to 1, indicated that
                    search enables them to price compare different models of products. The study further
                    reveals social media is vital in the awareness (especially of new brands and products) and
                    consideration phases, while search enables consumers to conduct product research.

                    Worth noting is that with only 24% of consumers starting with a brand site, the 76% of
                    consumers who are starting with either search or social media are signifying intent
                    to explore and potentially buy without commitment to a brand at the outset. This
                    represents a definite opportunity for advertisers to capture that expressed intent by
                    creating engagement in these channels in order to best position themselves for
                    consideration and purchase. A clear validation from the study is that the discovery process
                    consumers go through is lengthy, thanks in part to the multitude of available platforms and
                    the subsequent ability to get more information. In the telecommunications and consumer


The Virtuous
Circle: The Role
of Search and
Social Media in
the Purchase
Pathway
February 2011                                                                                                   3
electronics categories respectively, the path to purchase was 60 and 57 days, with 11
                   and 9 steps from start to finish.

                   This tells us: (a) the funnel is fragmenting, (b) information discovery choices are
                   multiplying and (c) search and social media are increasing in importance to consumers.
                   In nearly 60% of all electronics purchases, for example, search is included in the
                   process. In telecommunications, just over 50% of purchases includes some form of
                   search engagement. It is interesting to note, that search plays a role at different points in
                   these two examples, from starting point to validation after visiting an advertiser site. In
                   these cases, nearly 25% of all consumers conduct brand product searches after visiting
                   a brand site (either the site of one of the advertisers studied or that of a competitor).
                   This indicates that while a brand’s web site moves the purchase process forward,
                   search engines provide value in improving consumers’ opinions about their
                   purchase decisions.




                   Search and the Late Kick
                   The best way to understand the role of search in the purchase process is to understand the
                   reasons consumers value search. Not only do most consumers start with search, but when
                   asked how important it is to turn to search after starting with social media or searching on
                   company websites in their buying process, 86% of respondents cite search as being very
                   important, significantly higher than turning to either social media or company web sites.
                   Forty-five percent of people use search throughout the purchase process, while 26% say
                   they only use it at the beginning of their research and shopping process. The fact this
                   number is higher than those who use search just at the end of their journey (18%) is
                   curious. It suggests that people are using search to establish their consideration set more
                   than search is normally credited with by advertisers. The study also reveals that
                   consumers, at a ratio of 2 to 1, cite quality and depth of information as reasons for
                   using search versus social media. Time may alter these responses, but as brands think
                   about how and from where to best provide content, search continues to make a
                   compelling case as a valid recipient for initial investment of ad dollars and ongoing
                   optimization efforts.

                   Thirty-six percent of all consumers say search helps in the decision making process. An
                   emerging trend is the growth of consumers searching for online deals and sales. Nearly
                   50% of all people surveyed indicate that they use search for deals and/or sales more
                   often than pricing or store locations. The results are 60% for the consumer electronics
                   category and 50% for the CPG category.




The Virtuous
Circle: The Role
of Search and
Social Media in
the Purchase
Pathway
February 2011                                                                                                  4
An interesting finding of the research specific to search comes in
   The End Stage Surge in Queries
                                                                              what GroupM Search has identified as the “Late Kick.” As mentioned
                                                                              previously, in multiple categories the duration from start to purchase
                                                                              can be up to 60 days. Yet, in all cases we see that in the last 30
                                                                              days of that period consumer search behavior intensifies, a
                                                                              timeframe during which brands can derive distinct signals and
          Brand Terms
          Competitive Brand Terms                                             valuable insights on consumer behavior.

                                                                              The first of these signs is the dramatic increase in overall query
                                                                              volume. Similarly, there seems to be a strong shift away from
                                          t-3         t-2               t-1
                                                                              competitor site visits and to an advertiser’s brand site in the last 30
                                                                              days prior to purchase. Using site-side data analysis, marketers
 The Correlated Growth in Site Visits                                         should be able to detect a pattern of interest being formed in their
         100%                                                                 brands, versus competitive sites.
         90%

         80%                                                                  Beyond query trending and site engagement, there is a common
         70%                                                                  pattern of places of engagement that takes place within the final
 Reach




         60%                                                Brand Site
                                                            Competitor Site
                                                                              two weeks prior to engagement. The reappearance of both
                                                                              search and social media highlights the value of each channel
         50%

         40%

         30%
                                                                              in the purchase decision.
         20%
                     t-3            t-2         t-1    In this and other examples reviewed in this research, within the
                                                       final two weeks prior to conversion, visits to competitor sites are
                                                       still taking place. This indicates that a purchase decision has not
                                                       yet been definitively reached and the fate for a brand remains in
                                                                                                     doubt. And as it pertains
                                                                                                     to the role of search
                    Average Conversion Funnel Within 15 Days of Purchase
                                                                                                     (identified as a starting
                                                                                                     point for many, but also
                                Competitor Brand Search - 15 Days                                    a vital tool throughout),
                                                                                                     the final pre-purchase
                                     Category Blog - 14 Days                                         touch point is also
                                                                                                     search. Regardless of
                                  Competitor Site Visit - 14 Days                                    any attribution modeling
                                                                                                     applied, it is clear that
                                Industry/Product Search - 12 Days
                                                                                                     this late-stage
                                                                                                     engagement results
            Average Duration                                                                         from previous
                                    Advertiser Site Visit - 7 Days
            of Purchase Path                                                                         research and signals
            ≈60 Days                         Advertiser
                                           Brand Search -
                                                                                                     the importance of
                                               7 Days                                                search in the final
                                                                                                     selection of product
                                           Conversion                                                and brand.



The Virtuous
Circle: The Role
of Search and
Social Media in
the Purchase
Pathway
February 2011                                                                                                                                           5
Social Media and a Desire for Loyalty
                   If search is essential for the pricing component of a buying decision, then social
                   media is its interlinked companion in the selection process. The industry trend for the
                   past six months has been a growing relationship between a user’s social graph (web of
                   social connections) and their ability to reference it for making choices. While this trend
                   is important for advertisers, social media plays an increasingly complex role in the
                   purchase path. When consumers were asked how search and social media are useful to
                   them, respondents say social media helps in two key areas: awareness of new brands
                   and products, and eliminating brands from consideration.

                   In the CPG category, social media has an even more dramatic role. This is likely tied to
                   less reliance on search around pricing or deals, and the accessibility to rich content in
                   the social space. All of this serves as a reminder that presence and engagement are a
                   necessary part of the marketing mix and that merely “listening” is simply not a
                   good enough option when so many consumers now see social as part of the
                   decision making process.

                   That said, the leading companies of the social ecosystem, Facebook, Twitter and
                   YouTube, appear to have a minimal role in the purchase pathway at present. Less
                   than 1% of all converters engage with either brand-controlled social media from these
                   properties or promoted/sponsored social ads in the 90 days prior to purchase. This is not
                   to suggest that this form of social media does not have its place or potential as either a
                   reach vehicle or engagement driver, but rather to acknowledge that in comparison,
                   16% of purchasers engage with category blogs. This signifies that earned social media
                   provides a greater impact on the consumer’s final purchase decision in today’s social
                   landscape. Brands with fan bases that are highly engaged may be better positioned to
                   leverage these channel leading properties, but there is a clear trend developing around
                   explicit versus implicit intent that shows less favor for implicit buying.

                   Among the more surprising findings of the study are the types of social networks
                   consumers use to find information. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are synonymous with
                   the definition of social media. However, when it comes to aiding the purchase decision,
                   the top-performing option for consumers is user reviews (30%), while social networking,
                   such as Facebook (17%), video sharing, such as YouTube (14%) and Twitter (9%) all
                   reported to bring less value to consumers.

                   The research also shows that the greatest motivator for social media engagement is to
                   gather the opinions of others. This is especially true for higher-cost products. But brands
                   should not simply think of social as a passive tool as there are active decision-making
                   processes occurring in the social space. A consistent finding throughout the study is
                   that consumers are having brand perceptions shaped and altered through social
                   engagement. Brands fall into and out of favor as a result of the insights consumers are



The Virtuous
Circle: The Role
of Search and
Social Media in
the Purchase
Pathway
February 2011                                                                                                  6
gaining from social media. In a case where the brand is not a category leader, the effect
                   is more pronounced, and social media’s influence plays a more substantive role than
                   search in influencing brand perception.

                   One thing is true of both search and social media—the channels provide a final vote of
                   confidence to consumers that they are making a sound decision. Nearly 70% of all
                   respondents state that these channels make them feel more confident about their
                   purchase decisions.

                   Once that decision to purchase is made, consumers have a high desire to stay
                   connected with the brand. Sixty-four percent of consumers say they are likely to follow a
                   brand via social media after purchase and indicate aspirations for connections and
                   content from a brand in the space.


                    Likelihood of Consumers                          Motivations for Following
                    to Follow a Brand via Social Media               a Brand Via Social Media
                                                                     New product reviews
                                                                     Learn about sales or discounts
                             64%
                                                                     Specials for “followers only”
                             likely
                             to follow                               Be the first to get news and info
                                                                     Feel more connected to the brand
                                                                     Gives a voice/opp to communicate
                                                                     with brand


                   Seventy-four percent of all survey participants state that their desired format for future
                   engagement is via a Facebook brand page. They also prefer to stay engaged with
                   content in the form of videos and Tweets about—and from—a brand. Respondents
                   emphasize that earned social media plays an important role in the effort for brands to
                   foster consumer loyalty.

                   While those themes are similar across categories, each category bears some degree of
                   variance in the types of social media tools used, and it is clear that the motivation for
                   each category is unique. In the telecommunications sector consumers want to be kept
                   abreast of new products. CPG consumers, instead, prefer information on discounts and
                   deals. Electronics consumers, however, seek a sense of community within the social
                   space. The survey data shows that consumers feel strongly about the connection made
                   through their preferred brand's social media.

                   Respondents indicate that they:
                   a) feel a sense of trust with the company that produces the brands they buy
                   b) feel like an insider with the brand
                   c) feel that the company cares about them beyond a single purchase
The Virtuous
Circle: The Role
                   These are lofty challenges for advertisers, but the data suggests that the short to
of Search and      intermediate depth of opportunity through social media is in consumer loyalty.
Social Media in
the Purchase
Pathway
February 2011                                                                                                   7
The Realization of the Virtuous Circle
                   Our understanding of which came first—the chicken or the egg—is now more clear in the
                   online path to purchase, with another important question answered—why did the chicken
                   cross the road. The chicken, it seems, crossed the road to make a purchase. And while
                   search appears to be the definitive starting point in the consumer decision making
                   process, the causal circle between search and social presents an important
                   opportunity for brands to capture and drive customers to conversion.

                   In the research from 2009, we found that social media users were 1.7 times more likely
                   to use search for consideration. This new research steps beyond understanding that
                   correlation and shows there is an on-going cycle of engagement created within the
                   search and social channels. Forty percent of respondents say search leads to increased
                   usage of social media, while 46% of those surveyed say social media leads them to
                   conduct more searches. And what stimulates the highest likelihood to move from one
                   channel to the other? More than one quarter of all respondents say the stimulus for
                   alternating channels is the ability to gather additional, salient information.

                   A shape appears to be forming in the brand opportunity to connect with consumers.
                   Consumers want accurate, timely information and they will alternate between two
                   channels; one they feel is ubiquitous and a part of their everyday life (search), and one
                   that can not only introduce brand purchase decisions, but alter their intentions and
                   confirm their final purchase decision (social media).

                   Furthermore, consumers want to study the decisions at hand and spend significant time
                   taking steps necessary to them. But once the purchase is complete, consumers do not
                   consider their journey over. What brands do next will shape the outcome of the virtuous
                   circle. Advertisers have the opportunity to capture engagement and guide consumers
                   closer to their brand and toward conversion by identifying implicit and explicit signals
                   from consumers in their path to purchase. Advertisers should be flexible and intelligent
                   in their efforts to maximize these opportunities.

                   If brands can engage fluently in the social sphere, and encourage quality content on
                   category blogs and in video and micro-commentaries about their products, then
                   expansion of brand engagement can occur in the social sphere. Search serves as the
                   best expression of explicit intent in advertising, and nearly 50% of consumers used
                   search alone in the decision process. Conversely, less than 1% of all consumers use
                   social media alone. The implicit nature of social media and the targeted advertising
                   attempts within it show that it is more difficult to use the implicit path by itself than the
                   explicit path represented by search.

                   It is clear, however, that in the past 15 months, the level of engagement from consumers
                   and interplay between these channels have evolved to a point that shows search and
                   social media are powerful channels individually, but in combination they create a
                   virtuous circle of knowledge and opportunity.
The Virtuous
Circle: The Role
of Search and
Social Media in
the Purchase
Pathway
February 2011                                                                                                      8
About GroupM Search

GroupM Search is the search marketing specialist division
of GroupM, the media buying and planning arm of WPP
responsible for more than 1/3 of the world’s media buying.
GroupM Search provides industry-leading search marketing
strategies, technology development, research, staffing and
training to GroupM communications planning agencies,
including Maxus, MEC, MediaCom and MindShare, as well as
the direct-to-client search marketing agencies Outrider,
Catalyst Online and Quisma. More than 700 search marketing
strategists comprise GroupM Search’s global network
spanning 40 countries. In 2008, GroupM Search was named
the 2008 Search Marketing Agency of the Year by OMMA
Magazine and MediaPost.



For further information about this report, please contact
cindy.spellman@groupmsearch.com




                                                                  GroupM Search
                                                                 498 Seventh Avenue
                                                             New York, NY 10018 USA
                                                              www.groupmsearch.com
                                                                       A WPP Company

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Role of search and social media in purchase pathway

  • 1. The Virtuous Circle The Role of Search and Social Media in the Purchase Pathway Fe br ua r y 20 11
  • 2. The chicken or the egg? If everything must have a clearly-defined beginning to reach a natural conclusion, then surely something had to come first. But, as it pertains to these causal elements, it would seem that understanding the sequence of events is still up for debate. The consumer journey toward purchase has in many ways become like this with more new media drivers, such as Google and Microsoft, and misdirection, via consumer opinions on blogs and Facebook, making the beginning and end of the path, less apparent to advertisers. As a result, brands are unsure which came first and how best to motivate consumers to engage with their brands during and after the purchase path. In 2009, GroupM Search released the first industry study ever conducted exploring the interplay between search and social media, titled The Influenced: Social Media, Search, and the Interplay of Consideration and Consumption (see inset). In this study, GroupM Search sought to understand the relationship consumers were establishing with brands via both search and social media. While search has become a ubiquitous term, as is well defined by the likes of Google, social media remains a more nebulous phrase. For this research social media is defined as the destinations which create communities or networks for sharing of information in word, image or video. These destinations range from brand-owned social media, such as a brand’s blog, to earned social media, such as content about a category created by the community and fostered by the brand, to paid social media, such as sponsored and/or promoted areas of sites, including Facebook, YouTube or Twitter. The Influenced: The Correlation Between Search and Social Media In 2009, GroupM Search, together search activity. Through this correlation it brand products saw large increases in with social media agency M80 and was learned that brands could start to search activity when users also comScore, conducted a research invest in social media not simply on the engaged in either category-level social initiative to understand the interplay perceived merits of the channel alone, media or specific social media owned between search and social media. but also on the tangible impact social by the brands themselves. At that time, social media was so new media had on a long-standing, top- Search and social media have strong that the ability to properly measure its performing channel, search. connective tissue between them. impact had yet to evolve to the levels The study found a strong correlation Several insights derived from the available today, when the worth of a between search and social media, as research remain actionable today and friend or the value of a retweet are well as further evidence that upper important to the strategy and execution routinely used as barometers funnel engagement drives lower funnel of search and social media programs. of success. activity. The study also revealed the As Barbara Basney, director of global The study, The Influenced: Social influence social media has on specific advertising for Xerox was quoted in the Media, Search, and the Interplay of search activity. For all types of Wall Street Journal following the launch Consideration and Consumption, was the keywords the influence was found to be of these findings, “Social media is first project of its kind to associate the substantial, but lower funnel terms giving us another way to help influence influence social media was having on surrounding campaign brands and people’s propensity to search.” The Virtuous Circle: The Role of Search and Social Media in the Purchase Pathway February 2011 1
  • 3. The study revealed a significant correlation between engagement with the two channels. Further, it showed that the value of social media can be better Methodology measured by way of its influence on paid search performance as opposed The research was conducted to most efforts typically used to quantify the value of a friend or follower for using both behavioral and a brand. survey analysis of consumers As a follow-up to this research, GroupM Search partnered with leading from comScore’s opt-in, consumer electronics manufacturer Dell, and other clients of GroupM’s passively tracked panel of more media planning and buying agencies, including key brands in the than 1 million Internet users in telecommunications and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries. the United States. GroupM GroupM Search developed and conducted a comprehensive study, together Search identified key with digital measurement specialist comScore, in order to further understand conversion metrics for the the causal relationship between search and social media as it pertains to the advertisers studied, including online purchase pathway up to and through conversion into brand loyalty. purchase, subscriptions, and key asset views. Extensive click This research also aimed to begin to answer the next important question in stream analysis was conducted chicken philosophy: the motivation for crossing the road? The first study of online behaviors three examined the process by which consumers arrived at purchase, using a months prior to conversion for common illustration familiar to marketers—the purchase funnel. Findings consumers who converted with confirmed that when consumers were exposed to both search and social the participating brands. For the media influenced by a brand that overall search CTR went up by 94%. survey portion of the research, respondents consisted of In the 18 months since that research was completed little has occurred to consumers who had made a diminish the importance of these two channels. In fact, the digital ecosystem is purchase in the studied largely evolving around the worlds of Google and Facebook. As such, brand categories in the three months owners are anxious to understand how to leverage each of these channels. prior to taking the survey and who had used search and/or Through the “virtuous circle” of causal interplay it is becoming clear that a social media in the process. brand must have engagement and content strategies that satisfy specific The behavioral analysis and expectations from consumers. Brands are being presented with opportunities survey portions of the research to set down digital signposts and assist consumers to an end outcome that were conducted between April pleases everyone. The virtuous circle suggests that the brands that listen and and November, 2010. adapt in search and social media can not only capture a disproportionate amount of initial sales but build on their loyalty efforts. The Path When looking at the role search and social media play in the purchase pathway, the new consumer journey is revealed in the places to which consumers now turn and the signposts they use to navigate the decision- making process. What is not in doubt in this pathway is a consumer’s starting point. In nearly 60% of all consumer journeys that end in purchase, the starting point is a search. The Virtuous Circle: The Role of Search and Social Media in the Purchase Pathway February 2011 2
  • 4. The ubiquity of search is also revealed in this study. Survey respondents say the top Most Consumers Start With Search reasons they use search first are: the quality and scale of information, the fact The Path to Purchase Starts Here... that they always use it, and because search is easy to use. By contrast, the key Search Engines 58% motivation for consumers who use social media to conduct preliminary information Company Sites 24% gathering is the referral authority exercised by respondents’ “friends.” While a less Social Media 18% popular first step than search, social media 0 20 40 60 clearly remains important in the process. Overall, consumers are equally likely today to use a combination of search and social media in their path to purchase as opposed to just search. Forty-eight percent of those who convert utilize both search and social media versus 51% that use search alone. This is representative of the growth of social media. Converting User Usage in the Purchase Process It is important to note that while early social media is built on human connections, this research suggests 51% 48% that those connections now directly tie to the financial aspirations of businesses and thus have become more important within the context of supporting customer loyalty. Also of note is that only 1% of consumers who convert will use social media without search to get to 1% the purchase point. This data suggests social media is Search Search + Social Social not yet a stand-alone conduit for the consumer’s decision-making process. More important than starting with search is that most consumers who convert see search as a “pricing” tool throughout the buying cycle. When asked how search and social media are valuable to them during the process, respondents, at a margin of 5 to 1, indicated that search enables them to price compare different models of products. The study further reveals social media is vital in the awareness (especially of new brands and products) and consideration phases, while search enables consumers to conduct product research. Worth noting is that with only 24% of consumers starting with a brand site, the 76% of consumers who are starting with either search or social media are signifying intent to explore and potentially buy without commitment to a brand at the outset. This represents a definite opportunity for advertisers to capture that expressed intent by creating engagement in these channels in order to best position themselves for consideration and purchase. A clear validation from the study is that the discovery process consumers go through is lengthy, thanks in part to the multitude of available platforms and the subsequent ability to get more information. In the telecommunications and consumer The Virtuous Circle: The Role of Search and Social Media in the Purchase Pathway February 2011 3
  • 5. electronics categories respectively, the path to purchase was 60 and 57 days, with 11 and 9 steps from start to finish. This tells us: (a) the funnel is fragmenting, (b) information discovery choices are multiplying and (c) search and social media are increasing in importance to consumers. In nearly 60% of all electronics purchases, for example, search is included in the process. In telecommunications, just over 50% of purchases includes some form of search engagement. It is interesting to note, that search plays a role at different points in these two examples, from starting point to validation after visiting an advertiser site. In these cases, nearly 25% of all consumers conduct brand product searches after visiting a brand site (either the site of one of the advertisers studied or that of a competitor). This indicates that while a brand’s web site moves the purchase process forward, search engines provide value in improving consumers’ opinions about their purchase decisions. Search and the Late Kick The best way to understand the role of search in the purchase process is to understand the reasons consumers value search. Not only do most consumers start with search, but when asked how important it is to turn to search after starting with social media or searching on company websites in their buying process, 86% of respondents cite search as being very important, significantly higher than turning to either social media or company web sites. Forty-five percent of people use search throughout the purchase process, while 26% say they only use it at the beginning of their research and shopping process. The fact this number is higher than those who use search just at the end of their journey (18%) is curious. It suggests that people are using search to establish their consideration set more than search is normally credited with by advertisers. The study also reveals that consumers, at a ratio of 2 to 1, cite quality and depth of information as reasons for using search versus social media. Time may alter these responses, but as brands think about how and from where to best provide content, search continues to make a compelling case as a valid recipient for initial investment of ad dollars and ongoing optimization efforts. Thirty-six percent of all consumers say search helps in the decision making process. An emerging trend is the growth of consumers searching for online deals and sales. Nearly 50% of all people surveyed indicate that they use search for deals and/or sales more often than pricing or store locations. The results are 60% for the consumer electronics category and 50% for the CPG category. The Virtuous Circle: The Role of Search and Social Media in the Purchase Pathway February 2011 4
  • 6. An interesting finding of the research specific to search comes in The End Stage Surge in Queries what GroupM Search has identified as the “Late Kick.” As mentioned previously, in multiple categories the duration from start to purchase can be up to 60 days. Yet, in all cases we see that in the last 30 days of that period consumer search behavior intensifies, a timeframe during which brands can derive distinct signals and Brand Terms Competitive Brand Terms valuable insights on consumer behavior. The first of these signs is the dramatic increase in overall query volume. Similarly, there seems to be a strong shift away from t-3 t-2 t-1 competitor site visits and to an advertiser’s brand site in the last 30 days prior to purchase. Using site-side data analysis, marketers The Correlated Growth in Site Visits should be able to detect a pattern of interest being formed in their 100% brands, versus competitive sites. 90% 80% Beyond query trending and site engagement, there is a common 70% pattern of places of engagement that takes place within the final Reach 60% Brand Site Competitor Site two weeks prior to engagement. The reappearance of both search and social media highlights the value of each channel 50% 40% 30% in the purchase decision. 20% t-3 t-2 t-1 In this and other examples reviewed in this research, within the final two weeks prior to conversion, visits to competitor sites are still taking place. This indicates that a purchase decision has not yet been definitively reached and the fate for a brand remains in doubt. And as it pertains to the role of search Average Conversion Funnel Within 15 Days of Purchase (identified as a starting point for many, but also Competitor Brand Search - 15 Days a vital tool throughout), the final pre-purchase Category Blog - 14 Days touch point is also search. Regardless of Competitor Site Visit - 14 Days any attribution modeling applied, it is clear that Industry/Product Search - 12 Days this late-stage engagement results Average Duration from previous Advertiser Site Visit - 7 Days of Purchase Path research and signals ≈60 Days Advertiser Brand Search - the importance of 7 Days search in the final selection of product Conversion and brand. The Virtuous Circle: The Role of Search and Social Media in the Purchase Pathway February 2011 5
  • 7. Social Media and a Desire for Loyalty If search is essential for the pricing component of a buying decision, then social media is its interlinked companion in the selection process. The industry trend for the past six months has been a growing relationship between a user’s social graph (web of social connections) and their ability to reference it for making choices. While this trend is important for advertisers, social media plays an increasingly complex role in the purchase path. When consumers were asked how search and social media are useful to them, respondents say social media helps in two key areas: awareness of new brands and products, and eliminating brands from consideration. In the CPG category, social media has an even more dramatic role. This is likely tied to less reliance on search around pricing or deals, and the accessibility to rich content in the social space. All of this serves as a reminder that presence and engagement are a necessary part of the marketing mix and that merely “listening” is simply not a good enough option when so many consumers now see social as part of the decision making process. That said, the leading companies of the social ecosystem, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, appear to have a minimal role in the purchase pathway at present. Less than 1% of all converters engage with either brand-controlled social media from these properties or promoted/sponsored social ads in the 90 days prior to purchase. This is not to suggest that this form of social media does not have its place or potential as either a reach vehicle or engagement driver, but rather to acknowledge that in comparison, 16% of purchasers engage with category blogs. This signifies that earned social media provides a greater impact on the consumer’s final purchase decision in today’s social landscape. Brands with fan bases that are highly engaged may be better positioned to leverage these channel leading properties, but there is a clear trend developing around explicit versus implicit intent that shows less favor for implicit buying. Among the more surprising findings of the study are the types of social networks consumers use to find information. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are synonymous with the definition of social media. However, when it comes to aiding the purchase decision, the top-performing option for consumers is user reviews (30%), while social networking, such as Facebook (17%), video sharing, such as YouTube (14%) and Twitter (9%) all reported to bring less value to consumers. The research also shows that the greatest motivator for social media engagement is to gather the opinions of others. This is especially true for higher-cost products. But brands should not simply think of social as a passive tool as there are active decision-making processes occurring in the social space. A consistent finding throughout the study is that consumers are having brand perceptions shaped and altered through social engagement. Brands fall into and out of favor as a result of the insights consumers are The Virtuous Circle: The Role of Search and Social Media in the Purchase Pathway February 2011 6
  • 8. gaining from social media. In a case where the brand is not a category leader, the effect is more pronounced, and social media’s influence plays a more substantive role than search in influencing brand perception. One thing is true of both search and social media—the channels provide a final vote of confidence to consumers that they are making a sound decision. Nearly 70% of all respondents state that these channels make them feel more confident about their purchase decisions. Once that decision to purchase is made, consumers have a high desire to stay connected with the brand. Sixty-four percent of consumers say they are likely to follow a brand via social media after purchase and indicate aspirations for connections and content from a brand in the space. Likelihood of Consumers Motivations for Following to Follow a Brand via Social Media a Brand Via Social Media New product reviews Learn about sales or discounts 64% Specials for “followers only” likely to follow Be the first to get news and info Feel more connected to the brand Gives a voice/opp to communicate with brand Seventy-four percent of all survey participants state that their desired format for future engagement is via a Facebook brand page. They also prefer to stay engaged with content in the form of videos and Tweets about—and from—a brand. Respondents emphasize that earned social media plays an important role in the effort for brands to foster consumer loyalty. While those themes are similar across categories, each category bears some degree of variance in the types of social media tools used, and it is clear that the motivation for each category is unique. In the telecommunications sector consumers want to be kept abreast of new products. CPG consumers, instead, prefer information on discounts and deals. Electronics consumers, however, seek a sense of community within the social space. The survey data shows that consumers feel strongly about the connection made through their preferred brand's social media. Respondents indicate that they: a) feel a sense of trust with the company that produces the brands they buy b) feel like an insider with the brand c) feel that the company cares about them beyond a single purchase The Virtuous Circle: The Role These are lofty challenges for advertisers, but the data suggests that the short to of Search and intermediate depth of opportunity through social media is in consumer loyalty. Social Media in the Purchase Pathway February 2011 7
  • 9. The Realization of the Virtuous Circle Our understanding of which came first—the chicken or the egg—is now more clear in the online path to purchase, with another important question answered—why did the chicken cross the road. The chicken, it seems, crossed the road to make a purchase. And while search appears to be the definitive starting point in the consumer decision making process, the causal circle between search and social presents an important opportunity for brands to capture and drive customers to conversion. In the research from 2009, we found that social media users were 1.7 times more likely to use search for consideration. This new research steps beyond understanding that correlation and shows there is an on-going cycle of engagement created within the search and social channels. Forty percent of respondents say search leads to increased usage of social media, while 46% of those surveyed say social media leads them to conduct more searches. And what stimulates the highest likelihood to move from one channel to the other? More than one quarter of all respondents say the stimulus for alternating channels is the ability to gather additional, salient information. A shape appears to be forming in the brand opportunity to connect with consumers. Consumers want accurate, timely information and they will alternate between two channels; one they feel is ubiquitous and a part of their everyday life (search), and one that can not only introduce brand purchase decisions, but alter their intentions and confirm their final purchase decision (social media). Furthermore, consumers want to study the decisions at hand and spend significant time taking steps necessary to them. But once the purchase is complete, consumers do not consider their journey over. What brands do next will shape the outcome of the virtuous circle. Advertisers have the opportunity to capture engagement and guide consumers closer to their brand and toward conversion by identifying implicit and explicit signals from consumers in their path to purchase. Advertisers should be flexible and intelligent in their efforts to maximize these opportunities. If brands can engage fluently in the social sphere, and encourage quality content on category blogs and in video and micro-commentaries about their products, then expansion of brand engagement can occur in the social sphere. Search serves as the best expression of explicit intent in advertising, and nearly 50% of consumers used search alone in the decision process. Conversely, less than 1% of all consumers use social media alone. The implicit nature of social media and the targeted advertising attempts within it show that it is more difficult to use the implicit path by itself than the explicit path represented by search. It is clear, however, that in the past 15 months, the level of engagement from consumers and interplay between these channels have evolved to a point that shows search and social media are powerful channels individually, but in combination they create a virtuous circle of knowledge and opportunity. The Virtuous Circle: The Role of Search and Social Media in the Purchase Pathway February 2011 8
  • 10. About GroupM Search GroupM Search is the search marketing specialist division of GroupM, the media buying and planning arm of WPP responsible for more than 1/3 of the world’s media buying. GroupM Search provides industry-leading search marketing strategies, technology development, research, staffing and training to GroupM communications planning agencies, including Maxus, MEC, MediaCom and MindShare, as well as the direct-to-client search marketing agencies Outrider, Catalyst Online and Quisma. More than 700 search marketing strategists comprise GroupM Search’s global network spanning 40 countries. In 2008, GroupM Search was named the 2008 Search Marketing Agency of the Year by OMMA Magazine and MediaPost. For further information about this report, please contact cindy.spellman@groupmsearch.com GroupM Search 498 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10018 USA www.groupmsearch.com A WPP Company