A new survey out this week says that many more shoppers are checking online recommendations before making a purchase. American marketing firm Cone found that 81% of consumers go online to verify recommendations. The figures revealed:

• Just over 60% research product/service information
• 55% check user reviews
• 43% search ratings websites

The figures suggest that personal recommendations are no longer enough to guarantee a purchase, as 77% of consumers say they are more likely to...