The Internet is constantly evolving.  First we connect through phone lines, now we connect at lightning fast speeds through fiber optics.  Graphics used to be large and blocky, now we have crystal clear pictures and even moving video.  Anyone remember 5 1/4 floppy disks?  We can fit thousands of those on one little jump drive now.  When we see how quickly computers and internet technology have grown in the last few years, there's no telling where we'll be just a few more years down the road.

Every day more and more people are using their computers to do their footwork.  The Internet is a popular means of gathering media, doing research, and of course - conducting business.  Many people reach for a keyboard instead of a phone book or newspaper these days to research products and services.  Once all you needed was a sign in the front window and a telephone to run a business - but no more.  Business owners with a poorly designed online presence - or even worse, no presence at all - will quickly be passed over.  It is important for any business these days to develop and maintain an online presence to stay in the game.

Here are a few of the latest web statistics and trends:

• In the US, approximately 74.4% of the population use the Internet.
• Americans now spend on average of 11 hours per week on the Internet outside of work.
• The average time spent on a website is 51 secs.
• In 1998, Google logged 10,000 searches per day.  Only one year later, in 1999, that jumped to 500,000 searches per day.
• In July 2008, Google logged and average of 235 BILLION searches per day.
• As of February 2009, Google was reported as handling 73% of all searches performed on the Internet.
• As the monitor resolution and Internet speed is advancing, the trend has shifted to the use of over-sized photo or illustrated image as a website’s background to enhance the visual effect of the site.
• In 2008 more and more companies turned back to the use of a site map to assist site visitors and web spiders in finding all the pages within the site.  Toward the end of 2008 and into 2009, that trend has turned to the use of the site footer as the site map.
• It is reported that 42% of US companies still do not have a website.

It is important for a business to not only be familiar with the Internet world, but to jump in with both feet and become a part of it.  We at On Digital Ground are always happy to provide a spring-board to assist with the jumping.  We can answer any questions and provide examples of how internet marketing can allow you to develop new relationships with customers, and increase your business's profitability in an online world.

Ready . . .set . . . jump!