 By
Susan Dunn
1. According to Nielson NetRatings, the US accounts for 29%
of the global Internet access universe, Europe, 23%, Asia-Pacific, 13%, and Latin
America, 2%.
2. The US still leads in web usage. As of May '03, the number
of sessions/visits per month for US individuals was 30 at home, 66 at work with
25 hours spent online. Figures for the UK: 23 sessions a month (home and work
combined), average time spent, 11 hours. For Australia, 25 sessions per month
(home and work combined), with 13 hours spent online.
3. Genex and Jupiter Research both report consumers will forego
low prices and brand-preference if they have a poor online experience. 65% of
the US Internet users surveyed said they won’t patronize a poorly designed
sit even if it's their favorite brand.
 4.
According to Pew Internet & American Life Project, 76% of Americans use the
computer. The average American Internet user is young, white, employed, well-educated,
wealthier, and suburban. Gender is balanced equally among Internet users. For
instance, the highest percentage of users have a household income over $75k a
year and some college.
5. 47% of all US users fall in the
age range of 30-49.
6. When asked to describe what the
Internet was like (meeting place, bank, peep show, library, shopping mall, school)
51% chose the term “library.”
7. 29% of online consumers are “both
relatively high-spenders and inclined toward merchant loyalty,” says Jupiter
Research, “so long as the merchant provides a positive online experience,
including an easy-to-use Web site.”
8. “High or hidden shipping charges have led 44% of
buyers to reduce their purchases at certain stores, and 36% of buyers have stopped
buying because they have been required to register at certain stores.
9. According to Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Sweden
has overtaken the US in terms of “e-readiness,” defined as “the
extent to which a country’s business environment is ready for Internet-based
commercial opportunities… Ranking is based on factors such as connectivity
and technology infrastructure, business environment, consumer and business adoption,
social and cultural infrastructure, and legal and policy environment and support
services.” They attribute the downturn in the US economy for the new dominance
by Scandinavian countries in particular.
 10.
580 million people worldwide now have Internet access,
as opposed to 563 million in the 3rd
quarter of 2002. Leaders: The US posted the largest increase in number of adults,
but as a percentage of population, Spain saw a 22% increase. Germany, the UK and
Italy have the largest at-home Internet populations in Europe. Sweden, Hong Kong
and the Netherlands and Australia have the most mature Internet markets. (Nielsen
NetRating, 2003)
11. According to CyberAtlasInternet,
a sample of e-commerce sites recorded a 72.5% failure rate. The week before Mother’s
Day (2003), TeaLeaf analysts uncovered Web application errors in 75% of the gift,
card, candy and flower sites they examined, with almost 65% attributed to user
failure errors, which typically go undetected by site administrators.
About the Author:
(C) Susan Dunn, The EQ Coach, brings emotional intelligence to the workplace
with individual and executive coaching, workshops, presentations, Internet courses,
the EQ Learning Lab and ebooks. Visit her on the web at http://www.susandunn.cc
and sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE EQ ezine.
Please put "EQ ezine" for the subject line. EQ Alive! - http://www.eqcoach.net
- the tools and training you need to coach emotional intelligence, for coaches,
managers, therapists, counselors. Classes starting monthly.
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