Visual Search Wins Over Text as Consumers’ Most Trusted Information Source

Consumers are inclined to believe what they see, not what they read, according to new research from The Intent Lab, a research partnership between Performics and Northwestern University.

CHICAGO--()--Consumers have issues with the information they’re getting online, but pictures are emerging as good way to gain their trust, according to a new study by the Intent Lab, a research partnership between Performics and Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications.

Visual Search isn’t new, but it is reaching an inflection point with consumers. Visual Search can take several different forms. Some platforms let consumers use their mobile device’s camera functions to snap pictures, while image recognition software delivers search results in the form of similar items. Other platforms use images to let customers select features by using icons or photos to deliver more precise search results. And at its simplest, users can search photos rather than text listings for more informative results.

Visual Search capabilities are now dovetailing with search engines and social media platforms frequented by customers that rely on imagery. Overwhelmingly, consumers, especially younger ones, now prefer images to text while shopping, especially in highly visual product categories like fashion and home furnishings.

  • 36% of respondents have performed or used Visual Search, the same rate as voice search
  • 59% think visual information is more important than textual information across categories (vs. 41% who think textual information is more important)
  • When shopping online for clothing or furniture, more than 85% of respondents respectively put more importance on visual information than text information
  • Overall, visual information is preferred over text by at least 50% of respondents in all categories except for electronics, household goods and wine and spirits

Already though, some of this trust is being eroded by the placement of promotions and unrelated ads next to the images. The Intent Lab has been tracking consumers’ satisfaction with their digital experiences since 2016, and trust is at the core. In October 2018, consumer trust in digital experiences was the lowest it has been since the Intent Lab started measuring it, according the study.

“We’re learning that visual cues provide a lot of quickly accessible information, and consumers find pictures easier to trust,” said Ashlee Humphreys, Medill associate professor and principal researcher for Intent Lab. “However, they’re not immune to suspicion; consumers still think they can be manipulated, and they trust pictures from other consumers more than a company’s images.”

For 24% of the respondents, this growing distrust in what they see online is due to the impression that promoted products show up first in visual search results, even when those products aren’t the best match for the search query. Roughly 16% of respondents believe visual search returns are created by paid social media influencers and 15% think they are created by brands and therefore biased.

“Trust is the main turn off for visual search usage. Consumers believe visual search results are highly influenced by paid advertising, which they usually perceive as irrelevant to their intent,” said Esteban Ribero, senior vice president, Planning and Insights at Performics. “Most marketers wrongly assume visual search is only important early in the consumer journey. Our study proved that visual search is relevant throughout the consumer journey, especially in the evaluating stage in which consumers are comparing their options.”

About Performics

As the original performance marketing agency, Performics is the premier revenue growth driver for many of the world’s most admired brands. Across an expansive global network operating in 57 countries, Performics leverages data, technology and talent to create and convert consumer demand wherever it is expressed—search, social, display, commerce and offline channels. Performics is built for the relentless pursuit of results. Headquartered in Chicago, Performics is a Publicis Media company and the performance marketing engine of Publicis Groupe. Demand Performance. To learn more, visit https://www.performics.com.

About Northwestern University Medill School

As the media industry experiences unprecedented change, Medill leads the way in journalism and integrated marketing communications education and research. In the school’s graduate and undergraduate programs, expert faculty teach enduring skills and values along with new techniques that are essential to thrive in today’s digital world. In addition, these faculty members develop knowledge and research that help media companies, organizations and businesses engage with audiences and consumers in new and more meaningful ways. Because of this, Medill faculty, students and alumni are not only thriving in this evolving media landscape but also helping shape it.

Contacts

Laura Heller
Director of External Communications
laura.heller@performics.com
35 W. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60601
312-220-6850

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Consumers are inclined to believe what they see, not what they read, according to new research from The Intent Lab, a research partnership between...

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Contacts

Laura Heller
Director of External Communications
laura.heller@performics.com
35 W. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60601
312-220-6850