A new report, “Beyond Trust: Engaging Consumers in the Post-Recession World,” defines “trust” and “recommendation,” as the key ingredients to brand success. Amazon.com, a site where customer reviews influence buying decisions, is number one. To measure results, the researchers developed the TrustR factor; 27% of brands scored above average. Compare these results with another study of the most valued brands in the U.S. and you’ll see two different lists.

The Top 10 Most Trusted and Recommended Brands in the U.S.
Amazon.com
FedEx
Downy
Huggies
Tide
Tylenol
Toyota
WebMD
Pampers
UPS (United Parcel Service)
Source: Millward Brown
Note: Study conducted over the course of 2009, prior to Toyota’s recent recall

Millward Brown’s “Beyond Trust” study also revealed:
- consumers spend less or no money on brands they don’t trust in a tight economy
- the number one brand was nearly seven times more likely to be purchased
- consumers are 10 times more likely to have formed a strong bond with these brands

“When a person recommends a brand they put their own personal trust and credibility on the line. They are only willing to recommend brands which themselves have proven reliable and trustworthy,” said Nigel Hollis, EVP and Chief Global Analyst of Millward Brown. “Amazon.com, the brand ranked first in the U.S. by TrustR, has achieved that status through exceptional service and providing its own recommendations to users. This combination has made Amazon the gold standard of trust and recommendation in the U.S.”

The BrandFinance® Global 500′s Most Valued Brands in the US
Brandirectory is an online encyclopedia of brands where financial results, visual identities, trademark histories and the latest marketing news will be compiled and shared.
Wal-Mart
Google
Coca-Cola
IBM
Microsoft
GE
HP
AT&T
Bank of America
Verizon
Amazon – number 24

The top 10 most trusted and top 10 most valued brand lists are different. What do you think? Would you rather be most valued or most trusted? How does PR affect value and trust?

Image courtesy of shutterstock.com

About the Author

Written by Barbara Rozgonyi

Barbara Rozgonyi publishes WiredPRWorks.com and directs CoryWest Media, an integrated social media marketing and PR firm. As Social Media Club (SMC) Chicago’s founder, Barbara is a recognized spokesperson for brands, bloggers and the social media marketing PR industry. Barbara invites you to join the Wired PR Works community on Facebook or to contact her regarding interviews, partner promotions or speaking engagements at 630.207.7530.