CHICAGO, IL – June 5, 2012 - Online resources and comments about businesses have taken the place of recommendations from friends or family when consumers consider a major purchase or hiring a contractor, according to the online Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois (BBB) poll.
This month-long poll of BBB website users, found 71-percent of respondents selected some form of online information as an important reference when making a buying decision. Only-29 percent indicated friends or family as an information resource.
“It seems the days of asking a friend for a recommendation are gone,” said Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “However, an almost 3-to-1 ratio of online versus personal recommendations shows the continuing impact and importance of online comments about businesses.”
The formal Business Reviews available on the BBB website were used by 40-percent of respondents. Websites of specific businesses were used for information by only 13-percent of respondents; websites with consumer comments were used by 16-percent of those polled. General internet searches, which could include all the preceding, were noted by 31-percent of poll takers.
“The popularity of the BBB Business Reviews shows the value many consumers place on formal business information and consumer input that have been inspected by professionals,” said Bernas.
To get a Free Business Reviews or Free Quotes visit www.bbb.org
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As a private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.
