Broadband users 'online to socialise'
Broadband users 'online to socialise'
By Noel Mellor (Wed, 1st July 2009)
A new study has looked at the behavioural patterns of broadband internet users and concludes the majority of surfers are now going online to talk to other people rather than for business or shopping.
The Ruder Finn Intent Index revealed that an estimated 80 per cent of consumers are now going online to engage with others via networking portals such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.
However, the research noted that web marketers should not lose hope, as the retail sector is not dead, but has instead changed direction - with more of a focus being placed on how to connect with the public.
Kathy Bloomgarden, co-chief executive of the company behind the report, said that it was targeting the "underlying motivations" of people's online activity that would help advertisers succeed in attracting people and simply having a web presence is no longer enough to sustain a successful campaign.
Marty McGough, director of Ruder Finn Insights, added it had addressed this change in consumer focus with an online tool that helps provide a better understanding of current trends.
"The Intent Index shows a congruency and similarity among Internet users regardless of traditional demographics," he said. "This marks a real paradigm shift in how we use online communications tools."
In other news, social networking and micro-blogging website Twitter announced this week that it had made some changes to the ways in which its users message, unfollow, mention and block other account holders.
The changes also allow visitors to view the streams other people are following that they may be interested in adding to their own lists.
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