Consumers Foresee E-Mail’s Continued Significance
A study conducted by market research company, Ipsos, for online reputation management service, Habeas, found that e-mail is the preferred means of communication, and is likely to remain so for the near future.
In a survey that included 2,069 respondents from the U.S. and 1,133 respondents from Canada, it was found that 67% of all respondents indicated e-mail as the communications channel of choice, preferring it over any other online channel.
Respondents also indicated that e-mail will likely remain their preferred communications channel, with 65% saying that it would continue to retain its importance for at least the next five years. Video conferencing (19%), instant messaging (17%), SMS or text messages (12%), and Web meetings (12%) were also noted to be important channels of communication for the future.
Of the respondents that are currently 18-34 years of age, 65% indicated that they will prefer e-mail as their means of communication with businesses in five years.
Consumers also voiced a strong desire to control their inbox preferences. Pop-up ads were seen as vastly negative (6% positive/75% negative), as did daily e-mails (14%/55%). However, monthly e-mails were viewed as more positive (56%/7%).
E-mails with safe unsubscribe (65%/13%), safe sender logos (60%/4%), and options to control the content of e-mails received (80%/3%) were also welcomed.
