Print ads are still the preferred way for American consumers to find shopping deals but the Internet is not far behind: 23% say newspaper and magazine advertisements are where they can find the best bargains, while 18% say online ads are most helpful, according to a survey from Harris Interactive.
Over one in ten Americans (12%) say they prefer direct mail and catalogs when bargain-hunting, while 11% cite TV commercials and just 2% cite radio.
Some 34% of Americans say the type of ad makes no difference at all when they are looking for a bargain.
Looking for great digital marketing data? MarketingProfs reviewed more than 200 research sources and selected 64 of the best to create the Digital Marketing Factbook a 144-page compilation of data and 110 charts, covering email marketing, search engine marketing, and social media. Also check out The State of Social Media Marketing, a 240-page original research report from MarketingProfs.
Younger Consumers Prefer Online Ads
When hunting for bargains, different age groups have different ideas of where to look: 22% of consumers age 18-34 cite online ads, while 17% cite TV commercials.
Over one-quarter (26%) of consumers age 35-44 say online ads offer the best deals.
Meanwhile, older consumers prefer traditional media: 24% of those age 44-55 and 33% of those age 55+ prefer newspapers and magazines to help them find the best bargains.
Men are also more likely to prefer online advertisements than are women (21% vs. 16%). Women, on the other hand, are more likely to cite newspapers and magazines (24% vs. 22%) and direct mail and catalogs (14% vs. 11%) as the best sources for bargains.
Online Ads Appeal to College Graduates
Some 29% of those with at least a college degree say online advertisements are more likely to help them find a bargain, compared with 12% of those with a high school education or less.
Meanwhile, 25% of those with a high school education or less say newspaper and magazine ads are more likely to help them find a bargain, compared with 20% of those with at least a college degree.
About the data: Co-sponsored by Adweek Media and Harris Poll, the online survey of 2,136 US adults was conducted on December 14-16, 2009 by Harris Interactive.
