According to this WebProNews article, 58 percent of Americans conduct online research about a product or service before they purchase. That equates to more than half of all purchasing decisions being researched online. Additionally, almost a quarter of all Americans have posted a review about a product or service online. These staggering numbers really outline the power that the internet has on the purchasing decisions of American consumers.

Here are some other great bullet points from the article:

  • The percentage of those purchasing products online rose from 36% in May 2000 to 52% in the Project’s May 2010 survey.
  • The percentage making travel reservations or bought travel services such as airline tickets, hotel rooms, or rental cars rose from 22% in May 2000 to 52% in the Project’s May 2010 survey.
  • Product and service information sharing coincides with increasing use of social networking sites. 46% of Americans reporting the use of internet sites such as Facebook or LinkedIn, up from 5% in February 2005.