Now the figures for Internet use are staggering and the numbers increase every day. In fact, most experts agree that no other form of communication has increased as caught on as quickly or evolved as rapidly as the Internet. Not the telegraph, telephone or television. Nothing. Twenty-five years ago, projected growth of the Net was still expected to be primarily in tech and education sectors. Today nearly everyone is wired and it’s become part of the world landscape. How many people are online? It changes every single day, but the figures show impressive growth and is increasing rapidly. According to eMarketer, Internet use fall in any given month was:
With the world population increasing every year and the cost of Internet technology steadily decreasing, it would seem only natural that as time goes by growth of connectivity will only continue. In fact, projected growth estimates that by 2007 over 1.2 billion people will be online each month. That’s a phenomenal audience! For anyone who has considered a home based business, the growth of the Internet is a dream come true – it means the market will only grow for any product or service they might offer. And with the steady growth of the Internet has come the growth of consumer confidence with online shopping. Will Online Shopping Continue to Increase? As increased confidence in online shopping has taken off, the number of people who shop online has continued to rise in a steady arc, and the amount of money spent on purchases has also increased. In fact, global commerce revenue from Internet purchases since 1998 is projected to be over $590 billion by the end of 2004. There are a variety of factors that shape the habits of Internet shoppers, and all of them indicate projected growth over the next five years. In 2003, $52 billion was spent in online purchases, and growth is expected to be approximately 21% per year in the foreseeable future. With 88% of online consumers during last year’s holiday season (traditionally the most difficult time to satisfy shoppers) saying they were happy with their Internet shopping experience, it’s no wonder marketing experts see continued growth in the cards. In fact, 5% of all retail spending will be done via the Net by 2007, and influenced by Internet research 34% of the time by 2007. Today, the typical online shopper is a male shopper about 42 years of age with income averaging $61,000, but women are rapidly closing the gap, with marketing experts projecting that the typical shopper by mid-2004 being either male or female (about a 50/50 split), with income of $65,000 and a college education. Growth of consumer shopping on the Internet will continue to fall along the lines of educated professionals. With the Internet constantly growth not projected to end any time soon, and marketers projecting an increase not only in consumer confidence but in spending levels and numbers of online shoppers, it’s obvious that a legitimate home based career can be built on the opportunities available in Internet marketing and online retailing. There are affiliate programs, web publishing opportunities and shopper’s guides that all earn good income based on the needs of Internet shoppers. Now’s the time to explore these opportunities. Related Items
About The Author Lori Wilkerson
is a full-time freelance writer who loves her work because it
gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world every
day. Right now, she knows a little bit about almost everything,
and a lot about
the advantages of
working from home in a
profitable homebased business.
She has two dogs who are spoiled and one teenager who is not. Related Topics
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