Web Site Considerations

Web Site Considerations

Even though Internet users are a small percentage of the total population it is in this group, which 92% of senior executives of large corporations and government belong. They are representative of 24 different countries. All have education, money, and disposable income and are prepared to spend large sums of money on luxury items, travel or investments. A study done in June of this year, by the University of Texas, indicated that the Internet economy indirectly generated $301,393 million in revenue, e-commerce was responsible for $101,893 million and directly employed 481,000 people. It has been estimated that the US Internet economy has grown by 174.6% since 1995.

When designing an e-commerce web site to tap into that large market, given that among the consumer group are a large variety of operating platforms, it is important to consider the following points: 1) The male, female split is 54%, 45% respectfully 2) 47% of the Internet population are college graduates, an additional 37% have attended college 3)43% of the net citizens are 18-34 years old and 49% are 35-55 years old. 4) Most PC users on the Internet have their monitors set to a less-than-optimal resolution of 800 x 600 pixels. 5) The most popular browser plug ins are Live Audio, Quick Time, and NPAV132 (combined total 36% of Internet viewers have these plug ins installed). 6) Slightly more men than women purchased on line but 1/3 the buyers spent $300 or more. 7) 79% of the net surfers are using a 4.0 series browser or better to view sites, but only 6.73% of this group use I E 5.0 8) That leaves 21% of the group using older browsers, which in many cases are unable to utilize Java, and Java Script both popular "newer program languages" used extensively by web designers and authors. Many people still prefer to use the older browsers because a large number are owners of old 386 computers and Apple II series which do not have the computing power to replicate the newer Internet technologies on the "home machine".

The Internet is a global technology, many countries outside North America, have very poor quality telephone / telecommunication systems and they are expensive. In Europe telephone rates are determined by the "second". Each "second" you use your telephone you get charged; imagine the high cost to a European Internet user who waits for a large graphic download!