--- title: Authors of Return on a Share Report do not really value sharing image: https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601557369-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201a3fd013eac970b-400wi.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2014/05/authors-of-return-on-a-share-report-do-not-really-value-sharing.html#maincontent) [ «  View All Posts ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog) # Authors of Return on a Share Report do not really value sharing May 5th, 2014 1 min read By [David Meerman Scott](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) ![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601557369-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201a3fd013eac970b-400wi.jpg?width=400&height=326&name=6a00d83451f23a69e201a3fd013eac970b-400wi.jpg) [![Return on share](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601557369-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201a3fd013eac970b-400wi.jpg "Return on share")](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e201a3fd013eac970b-popup)A new research report from [ShareThis](http://sharethismoment.com), the [Paley Center for Media](http://www.paleycenter.org), and [Beresford Research](http://www.beresfordresearch.com) calculates dollar value and influence of sharing on purchase decisions. Interestingly, it shows something many of us have been saying for years: Online sharing is nearly equivalent to in-person recommendations. You can download the complete infographic from which the image on the right is taken [The Return on a Share](http://sharethismoment.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Return-on-a-Share_Infographic_430.pdf) with no registration required. **The Return on a Share Report** The study quantifies the monetary value of online recommendations. The report shows that online content, such as recommendations shared between friends, now influences consumer purchases more than price and brand and can motivate buyers to spend 9.5% more for a product. Interesting stuff indeed. You can download the complete [The Return on a Share Report](http://sharethismoment.com) here. Sadly, it requires registration, so I have not downloaded it for fear of being added to unwanted email lists. **Don’t squeeze people who want to share!!!** [![Squeeze form](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601557384-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201a3fd013ecb970b-320wi.jpg "Squeeze form")](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e201a3fd013ecb970b-popup)Too bad ShareThis is not learning from their own report. People are reluctant to share content that requires a registration. I find it ridiculous that this report, which talks about the value of sharing, actively discourages sharing by putting a massive gate on the content. This report has value as a commodity to be shared and many more will do so without being squeezed. My analysis has shown that a report like this with no registration will generate 20x to 50x more downloads than one that requires registration. **Which is more valuable: 50 downloads and the resulting shares or one email address?** It seems the producers of the report are missing an opportunity to make it free with no registration to showcase the value of sharing of their own report. More on this riff in my 2009 blog post [Say NO to squeezing your buyers](https://www.webinknow.com/2009/10/say-no-to-squeezing-your-buyers.html). [ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) David Meerman Scott is a business growth strategist, advisor to clever entrepreneurs who are building emerging companies, and the international bestselling author of a dozen books published in 30 languages. David’s high-energy keynote presentations, masterclasses, and virtual events educate, energize, and inspire. Connect: [mailto:david@freshspot.com](mailto:david@freshspot.com) Topics: [ Social Media ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/social-media) [ Worst Practices ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/worst-practices) [ Case Studies ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/case-studies) [ Brand Journalism ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/brand-journalism) Don't forget to share this post: ## Related Articles [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Artemis%20earthset.jpg?width=5568&height=3712&name=Artemis%20earthset.jpg) ### Nasa’s Artemis II Lunar Mission: A PR Triumph for the USA April 11th, 2026|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/nasas-artemis-ii-lunar-mission-a-pr-triumph-for-the-usa) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Moltbook.jpg?width=1536&height=1024&name=Moltbook.jpg) ### Moltbook: A Social Network for AI Agents Where Humans Can Only Watch February 3rd, 2026|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/moltbook-a-social-network-for-ai-agents-where-humans-can-only-watch) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-10-29%20at%2010.27.19%20AM.png?width=835&height=466&name=Screenshot%202025-10-29%20at%2010.27.19%20AM.png) ### Don’t Fly Wizzness Class Video from Dave Carroll October 29th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/dont-fly-wizzness-class-video-from-dave-carroll) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Chef%20Todd%20Edwards.jpg?width=1500&height=1010&name=Chef%20Todd%20Edwards.jpg) ### Pulling Back the Curtain to Show What Happens Behind-the-Scenes October 15th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/pulling-back-the-curtain-to-show-what-happens-behind-the-scenes) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DMS%20BM%20hybrid%202004.jpg?width=1432&height=966&name=DMS%20BM%20hybrid%202004.jpg) ### The Fandom Playbook: My New Book and Companion AI Chatbot September 24th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-fandom-playbook-my-new-book-and-companion-ai-chatbot) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stefano%20Paciotti.jpg?width=1500&height=1084&name=Stefano%20Paciotti.jpg) ### The Ham Whisperer of Rome: How Stefano’s Honest Videos Won the World’s Heart June 24th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-ham-whisperer-of-rome-how-stefanos-honest-videos-won-the-worlds-heart) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LinkedIn%20comments.jpg?width=1114&height=737&name=LinkedIn%20comments.jpg) ### Comments Are the Key to LinkedIn Engagement January 29th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/comments-are-the-key-to-linkedin-engagement) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kolkata%20Chai%20Ani%20and%20Ayan.jpg?width=1236&height=858&name=Kolkata%20Chai%20Ani%20and%20Ayan.jpg) ### Brewing Authenticity: How Kolkata Chai Co. 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