The findings of this research show that bbc.com is seen as more trustworthy and authoritative than its competitors and that advertisers can benefit from this advantage.
This study involved interviewing users of websites in both Germany and Singapore to compare their perception of bbc.com with those who use the websites of CNN Money and CNBC. They were then exposed to a Merrill Lynch ad on each site and asked to rate the brand against similar attributes such as trust, credibility and authority.
Key results
- bbc.com was seen as a more credible, trustworthy, authoritative and international website than CNN Money and CNBC.
- These brand values enhanced the perception of Merrill Lynch, where the same ad was rated more highly on bbc.com than on CNN Money or CNBC for authority, being influential, international, credibility and trustworthiness.
- The Merrill Lynch ad was considered 28% more trusted on bbc.com than CNN Money and 12% more trusted than when seen on CNBC – the difference coming solely from BBC brand associations.
Find out how BBC Advertising can help finance brands reach their target audience
Source: The Trust Test, GMI, Germany and Singapore, Summer 2010. Annual Income €30K. n=1,200