Online Influencers Gain Traction Over Celebrity Endorsements as Trusted Voices

Another great study about the impacts & Influences of social media.

According to a new study from BlogHer, Inc., the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online, people are now more influenced by the opinion of a blogger than a celebrity when it comes to learning more about products or making a purchase.

The BlogHer 2011 Social Media Matters Study, co-sponsored by Ketchum, one of the largest global communications consultancies, also shows that 78% of the female American adult online population are active social media users, and of those, nearly twice as many (20%) are motivated to consider products promoted by or with a blogger they know, than by promotions featuring a celebrity (13%).The study also reveals that the introduction of more sophisticated mobile platforms and web applications have transformed many more digital users into “early adopters”, illustrated by rapid mainstream adoption of new digital services, such as online deal sites (such as Groupon), mobile gaming, location-based apps (such as Foursquare), and smartphone apps.