|
 It has
been said that if you ask two economists the same question, you will get
three different answers. The same is true when it comes to estimating
the number of active Internet users. Due to the nature of the Internet nobody
knows exactly who or how many people use the Internet. There are, however, a
number of decent surveys and estimates that attempt to answer these questions.
An estimated 143 million
Americans, or 54 percent of the population, surfed the Web in 2001, 26 million
more than a year earlier, according to the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration, a part of the U.S. Commerce Department that based
its findings on Census Bureau data. From December 1998 to September 2001,
Internet use in households earning less than $15,000 per year rose 25 percent
annually while usage in households earning more than $75,000 increased 11
percent, the report said. Among African Americans and Hispanics, Internet usage
in the last year increased by 33 percent and 30 percent, respectively. The
survey also found:
Forty-five percent of the population now uses e-mail, up
from 35 percent in 2000.
From August 2000 to September 2001, residential
use of high-speed, broadband service increased to 20 percent from 11 percent.
Single mothers with children posted the highest growth rate among different
types of households at 29 percent.
According to the Internet
Marketing Letter Volume 2, Issue 5 November 18, 2000, the overall web user base
grew by 22.4% over the last year, while the female base grew by 34.9%. Females
now make up 50.4% of the total web users. Another study reports for those in
the 25-44 age groups (53 percent own a personal computer), and families with
incomes over $75,000, 75 percent have computers at home. Another study reports
almost 44 million U.S. adults, or 23 percent of the adult population, are on
the Net. Almost half (49 percent) of adult users are between the ages of 35-54,
while 18-34 year olds account for 43 percent of Net users. Another study found
the average income for net users was 50-60 thousand dollars, 80% were from the
U.S. and that 56% used the Net for entertainment and 51% used it for work.
According to a FamilyPC reader survey,
83% of families polled were online in 1997 -- up from 50% the previous year.
Here are some
interesting numbers reported by Frank Feather in his book,
Futureconsumer.com: The Web Lifestyle in 2010
- Information technology
accounted for 36 percent of U.S. economic growth in 1999;
- More people are employed in
America to build PCs than cars;
- PC sales exceeded TV sales in
North America in 1994;
- North American e-mail
exceeded "snail mail" in 1995;
- Telephone data traffic
exceeded voice traffic in 1999; and
- Data traffic is now doubling
every 100 days.
ECommerce
According to Nielsen Media
Research, the number of people making online purchases increased 37 percent in
the last 12 months. Books, computer hardware and software are the items most
people purchase via the Web. The study shows that 5.6 million people purchased
books online, while 4.4 million people bought computer hardware, and 4 million
people purchased software. Among customers 16 to 24 years old,
CDs/cassettes/videos and clothing were the most popular items. People 50 and
over favored books. Overall, men favored computer hardware, while women tended
to buy books. [InfoBeat, October 08, 1998]
- Most major corporation either have or
are planning a Web site.
- According to a survey by Price
Waterhouse, nearly 80 percent of global CEOs think electronic commerce will
reshape competition in their industries.
- In a report from the Travel Industry
Association of America, making travel arrangements on the Internet is a big
business, and getting bigger. The report says online bookings for air travel,
hotels, car rentals, and other travel products jumped from $276 million in 1996
to $827 million last year and predicts that number will grow to almost $9
billion by 2002.
- According to a recent article in
Interactive Week, "Online shoppers spent a whopping $1 billion during last
year's fourth quarter and analysts are forecasting Web sales to double in
1998's fourth quarter." "Analysts at Jupiter Communications estimate that 16
million people will shop online this year, up from 10.3 million in
1997."
Some Valuable Demographic
Resources
The World
Wide Web hasn't even begun to reach its full potential. If we know anything, it
is this: the Internet is growing very, very fast. Just last year, it is
estimated that World Wide Web traffic grew by 1,713%! With the integration
of television and the Internet which is now taking place, future growth is
predictably EXPLOSIVE. It won't be long before having an Internet presence will
be as common as a listing in the telephone directory.
Now that
you understand the immensity of this web, you might be asking, "What does it
all mean for me and my business?" If you have been paying attention you've
already answered that question, but if you still need some ideas,
Click Here for Reasons You Should Have A Web
Presence. |
