Fifty-eight percent of 13,000 consumers surveyed recently have been driven to make a purchase in a store or over the phone by a marketing email, according to the recently published The Global E-mail Attitudes Survey.

While websites are the preferred place for consumers to opt in, the survey revealed that they’re also very willing to subscribe to email messages offline, such as when placing a catalog order (46 percent), at the point of sale (29 percent) or via SMS text message (13 percent).

In addition, two-thirds of consumers said email-inspired purchases have prompted them to further research a brand and its products. More than half said it spurred a peer recommendation.

More opportunity for pass-along and social media activity abounds too; roughly half of consumers revealed they’re willing to act as brand advocates in order to connect email content, such as special offers and promotions, to social networks.

The study showed that this activity is highest in the Asia-Pacific region.

The survey from e-Dialog consisted of interviews with 13,000 consumers across 13 countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Australia, South Korea and China. It was conducted on behalf of e-Dialog’s Centre for Digital Marketing Excellence byLightspeed Research in April 2010.