The Average U.S. Internet User

The Gartner Group, Inc. indicates that the average U.S. Internet user is 41 years old, gender neutral, married, with 2.81 children, employed, has an income of $65,000 and uses a PC at work.

The findings showed that 70 percent of all Internet users started using the Internet in 1998 or earlier. At the end of 1998, 108 million U.S. adults used the Internet. Today, 127 million U.S. adults use the Internet. Eighty-six million U.S. adults shop on the Internet, and 58 million users have made a purchase within the past three months.

The information collected also projects worldwide online holiday sales to reach $19.5 billion in 2000, an 85 percent increase over last year's revenue.

The best ways to market to these people are:

1. Improve navigation, these people are time impoverished and cherish their relaxation time. Make it easy to do business with them.

2. Web site should be intuitive and remember the information previously collected from the customer. Don't make them fill in redundant information, pre-fill the forms, or remember what they wanted last time they were there.

3. Provide "one-click" check out, just like the hotels, don't make them stand in line to get the information or validate information.

4. Be pro-active; send out advisories or let them know when something of interest is now available.

5. Make them feel secure with improved privacy statements and visible secured areas. Keep non-intrusive; forget pop-up windows that they have to close

6. Overall make the site friendly, just like Sam Walton, you need to have greeters when someone first gets there, make sure to smile and welcome them.

About the Author


DBMarkets@aol.com
http://www.msdbm.com