The internet: how it affects your business and what your customers want to see.

24 x 7 x 365

What started as a device for American universities to exchange information and the US military to maintain communications in the event of attack has grown in to a vast network of computers that allows all of us to share information, communicate and buy and sell products with ease.

This allows every business to be open for customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

It's big and getting bigger

There has been amazing growth over the last 10 years:

• from 0 web sites to 40 million in the past 10 years
• from a handful of users to an estimated 580 million - that's 10% of the world's population
• 46% of UK households have internet access - and growing
• over 1 billion people will be online worldwide by the end of 2005 (NUA)
• over 2.5 billion web pages are indexed by Google.

A brief history of the internet...

• 1967 - the first experimental 'internet' was created by Englishman, Donald Davies.
• 1970 - the internet begins life as a communications system for US universities and military.
• 1976 - the Queen sends her first email.
• 1990 - first commercial internet connections.
• 1992 - 0 web sites
• 1994 - order a pizza online with Pizza Hut.
• 1995 - www.business.com registered for $50.
• 1997 - www.business.com sold for $150,000
• 1999 - www.business.com sold for $7,500,000
• 2002 - 40 million web sites and growing!

A complete internet history time line.

Why do I need a web site?

Here are just a few reasons:

• it's open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• it's very cost-effective when compared to traditional advertising. £2000+ per year for a Yellow Pages advert? £200 for a box advert for just one evening in the local paper? Compare that to £500 for a web site with annual costs of less than £200. No competition!
• it can be interactive - a feedback form allows your customer to communicate with you when they want
• it can reach customers you would otherwise not have access to... selling ice to Eskimos has never been easier!

A report by Forrester Research (Nov 2002), as reported on the BBC, shows that:

• online sales will double from 2002 to 2003
• 19% of Europeans now shop online
• 41 million consumers have made internet-influenced purchases in the past year
• public confidence in internet security means people are comfortable giving out their credit card details

Bad web design

Although the web is now ten years old it seems many web sites are not providing an experience that makes people want to return to them. Retail Forward Group published some of the biggest frustrations experienced by users:

• pop-up windows when visiting a site
• too many advertisements
• congested web pages (too many images or too much information)
• slow load times
• confusing navigation

After the initial excitement of seeing a kaleidoscope of colours, revolving graphics and impressive animations people are realising the internet is simply a fantastic tool to get information quickly and efficiently.

Some more interesting facts:

• "40% of visitors do not return to a site if their first visit results in a negative experience" - Forrester Research
• "83% of web users have left sites in frustration due to slow load times or confusing navigation" - NetSmart Research

We've learnt from others' mistakes

When we design a web site we take in to account what your customers want - simple, clear, easily accessible information provided as quickly as possible.

1 Cog Web Design builds web sites that work.