Today I filled up my little car with gas and it cost $61. Ouch!
There is a silver lining to this dark cloud that online businesses should jump on.
Because of high gas prices, one third of adults in the US are more likely to shop online instead of driving to a physical store.
According to a Harris Interactive study, reasons consumers will be more likely to shop online are:
- High gas prices - 33%
- Free shipping - 57%
- Lower prices - 55%
- Ability to shop anytime - 61%
Additionally, up to 45% of consumers plan to spend their Federal tax rebate on retail purchases!
If you’ve been working on your on and off-site SEO, you’ll soon be reaping the benefits. If you haven’t, start now, and by the holidays you should see some real returns on your efforts.
Image courtesy of PacHD.
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Tags: ecommerce, high gas prices, seo
9 Comments
I hear you on that one - last time I filled up my 4-cylinder Mazda Protege it cost me 60 dollars too! Luckily it sips gas…
I am heading out on a 1000-km drive to visit family tomorrow night, not looking forward to filling up 4 times over the next 4 days!
Actually, I just wrote a related blog post yesterday with some tips for saving money at the pump with oil prices so high. The target audience is the construction niche, but the assertions are pretty universal.
In any case, your point about online activity is a good one, as a lot of recent studies do seem to indicate people are opting to do things remotely whenever possible to save on gas.
I think we’ve finally reached a “pain point.”
Daniel Smith
Smithereens Blog
@Daniel - I know I’m in pain! Good luck on your trip - gas increased $.07 overnight here.
This is where “foresight” would have been handy. I’m somewhat regretting not having my e-commerce sites back online yet.
@Dennis - No kidding! I have one I really need to start promoting.
Same thing is happening in Asian countries too. I hear that petrol price in India is going to go up too. Overall gas price rise is the cause for this. Its high time that we reduce use of petrol and go green. I do try to walk short distances, I want my kids to see petrol too :D.. Well at this rate of consumption the end of oil is near. Get ready for other types of fuel, maybe biogas??
I have several which is the reason for procrastination - maintenance is a nightmare
Good point. I was wondering if this would happen. I know that I’m certainly not taking as many random trips to the mall as I did before. I know my friends who live in big cities certainly order more online just to save a trip.
That’s pretty good logic, but gas prices are beginning to drop … what next?
With the economy tanking the way it is, we all still need to save gas money, plus I usually find better bargains online than anywhere else. This will be my third year to do all my Christmas shopping online.