Survey: Consumers respond most to personalized ads

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. ChoiceStream, a recommendations service provider, announced that, according to its 2008 personalization survey, 39% of consumers are more likely to click on an ad if it is personalized.

The survey found that 70% of consumers surveyed said that their purchase decisions are at least sometimes influenced by having seen an ad for an item. A smaller, but still significant percent of consumers admit that they are influenced by brand advertising as well, with 39% admitting that they are more likely to buy from vendors or retailers that they have seen advertised than from unrecognized sources.

Consumers are also aware of how shopping sites use data to target ads to them. A full 60% of shoppers are aware that retailers use information about their online shopping behavior to target advertising to them.