Why online trust is more difficult to achieve than offline trust? 

Unlike the offline environment (brick-and-mortar), online environment (pure-play/virtual) is totally different from offline environment. One of the most visible factors is ‘TRUST’. Usually online trust is more difficult to achieve than offline trust. 

First reason is privacy. Privacy does not exists when an individual is surfing internet. According to Dictionary.com, internet is defined as vast computer network linking smaller computer networks worldwide. A very good example is our very own blog. What is posted in the blog is view by not only your group of friends but also by people from other country.

Furthermore, security is one of the causes why online trust is arduous to realize compare to offline trust. This is because any personal information is easily spread to the whole world in seconds if someone’s purpose is either to do bad or good towards you. Do you know that web bugs which are tiny graphics are embedded in email messages that transmit information to a web server about you and your movements. Plus, when you are downloading freeware onto your computer, you are also downloading spyware which gathers your information over the internet connection. Have you ever realize all that?

Other than that, risk plays apart in why offline trust is easily trusted compare to online trust. Those who frequently do online banking especially international banking are prone to the risk of hackers. Your credit card numbers are the main target for hackers to hack into your account. So, always make sure that the site you visit is a ‘Trust Verification Site’ where the TRUSTe seal appears at the bottom of each TRUSTe approved web site.

What might motivate a consumer to provide answers to market research questions?

There are many motivations to motivate a consumer to provide answers to market research questions. The result from giving answers to market research questions is it brings advantages to consumers and also to manufacturers and retailers. Answers from consumers are known as testimonials.

First and foremost customers want to have a good online experience. It is a normal for everyone to want to have a good online experience. Nobody wants to meet failure in opening the webpage. Therefore, customers, provide answers to market research questions to further improve the manufacturers/ retailer’s webpage.

The next element is quality of information. Most customers will do research on the product they have on their mind before purchasing it online/ from a physical shop. Without complete or accurate information on the product, it is quite impossible to make crucial decision. Thus, we can conclude that they, the customers are particular about the quality of information provided besides the quality of a product. Customers want to have the best of both worlds. 

Besides that, consumers are motivated by the need to fulfill their needs. Other than just being the buyer of products, customers also play a role in providing informations to manufacturers/ retailers. They provide information as a large group of customers. Information such as what type of product do they want or how do they want the product to be is essential to retailers and manufacturers in order for them to produce the next big thing which is not only useful but also good quality.