More Consumers Online - Are You Grabbing Their Attention?

MASTERING MANAGEMENTMore Consumers Online - Are You Grabbing Their Attention? DIAMOND BAR, CA (March 22, 2006) - According to a recent article from AdAge.com, more than two-thirds (68 percent) of all home-Internet users have broadband connections. The article also cites that consumers are now spending 30.5 hours a month in front of their computer screen as a result of broadband service. Broadband Internet service allows consumers quick and easy access to the Internet and entices them to spend more time in front of their computers because the service is always on. Broadband Internet connections allow consumers to access the Web without a long dial-up process, enabling consumers to "jump on and jump off, rather than set aside a block of time to use the Internet," says Jon Gibs, senior director of Media, Nielsen/NetRatings.  Furthermore, Web sites that offer streaming video have seen growth in the number of visitors to their sites. For example, Yahoo's video search site has seen growth of 148 percent from last year. Again, the proliferation of broadband Internet connections allows consumers to effectively stream videos that were nearly impossible to watch using dial-up connections.  The increasing use of the Internet makes it a valuable tool for the automotive aftermarket to communicate and advertise to their customers.Why should this matter to you? * When consumers spend more time on the Internet and have a faster and more effective means to viewing Web sites rich in content, there is more of a chance that consumers will repeatedly visit these sites to research and purchase products and services for their cars and trucks. * Automotive manufacturers and retailers that offer streaming-video product demonstrations can gain a competitive advantage because consumers gravitate toward Web sites that offer streaming video.  * It is important to have your customers repeatedly returning to your Web site, and rich media content will draw in more consumers because their broadband connections allow quicker access. (Source: SEMA eNews, AdAge.com)