10 March 2008, 16:01 PM
  • With Over 875 million consumers having shopped online (85% of the world's population) and new figures showing that internet shoppers are up by 40% in two years, it is clear that web businesses are booming.

The latest Nielsen Global Online Survey on internet shopping habits shows that globally, more than half of internet users have made at least one purchase online in the past month. “The Internet is no longer a niche technology — it is mass media and an utterly integral part of modern life. Almost no aspect of life remains untouched by online media. As our lives become more fractured and cluttered, it isn’t surprising that consumers turn to the unrivalled convenience of the internet when it comes to researching and buying products,” said Jonathan Carson, president, international, Nielsen Online.

Although books, clothes, shoes and multimedia are the most popular purchases, the desire to buy food online is becoming increasingly widespread as consumers seek an easier way to fit food shopping into their busy lives.

According to Nielsen, online shoppers tend to stick to the shopping sites they are familiar with, with 60% saying they buy mostly from the same site. “This shows the importance of capturing the tens of millions of new online shoppers as they make their first purchases on the Internet. If shopping sites can capture them early, and create a positive shopping experience, they will likely gain their loyalty and their money,” saidsaid Bruce Paul, VP, Customized Research, Nielsen U.S. 

In selecting sites on which to shop, one-third used a search engine or just surfed around to find the best online store. One in four relied on personal recommendations. “Recommendations from fellow consumers — whether they are people they know or fellow online shoppers — play an enormous role in the decision-making process.”

So, if you’re still debating whether an internet presence is the right move for you, this should provide a little food for thought.