New stats by Internet traffic measurement firm comScore indicate the total global number of Internet users surpassed one billion in December.

According to comScore, nearly 416 million people from Asia Pacific are plugged in, comprising an astonishing 41% of users worldwide. Europe ranked second with about 283 million users, and North America placed third with 185 million users.

comScore’s CEO, Magid Abraham, calls the millstone “a significant landmark.” The report counted only Internet users 15 years or older who logged on from home or work PCs. Exclusion of the growing population who access the web via personal devices could be an indication that Internet use is even greater than we suspect.

“The second billion will be online before we know it, and the third billion will arrive even faster than that,” suggested Magid.

Google is preparing to launch a service that could make desktop computers a thing of the past, reports The Guardian.

The Google Drive, or ‘GDrive’, slated to be launched later this year, will enable users to access their personal files and operating systems from Google’s servers via the internet.

“The PC would be a simpler, cheaper device acting as a portal to the web, perhaps via an adaptation of Google’s operating system for mobile phones, Android,” reported David Smith, The Guardian’s Technology Correspondent. “Users would think of their computer as software rather than hardware.”

Critics are concerned about Google’s increasing power, considering its reach and access to vast personal information. A hacker’s dream? Others worry about having all their eggs in one basket, in the event of server crashes or Internet downtime.

Call Google the best thing since sliced bread, or a monster to be feared, this appears to be the direction the Internet is headed. Clever? Definitely. Wise? Time will tell.

Read the full article here: Google plans to make PCs history.

A team of researchers from China are predicting the Internet will double in size every 5.32 years. If this proves to be true, Microsoft and Google aren’t battling for the Internet – they’re battling for the world.

Read Internet Growth Follows Moore’s Law Too.

China’s population of Internet users grew 42% in 2008. The country now boasts nearly 300 million users. According to China’s Internet Network Information Center, the number has doubled since 2006.

China has overtaken the US as the number one user of the World Wide Web. Its national average for Internet penetration is 22.6% compared to a global average of 21.9%.

According to BDA, a Chinese research and consulting firm, the quality of content, advertising, and e-commerce is better in the US. However, E-commerce is expected to grow incrementally in China—the numbers represent tremendous marketing opportunities.

Reading from the web is different than reading hard materials. Heat maps used in eye tracking studies reveal people typically read web pages in an uppercase F-shaped patters: two horizontal stripes followed by a vertical stripe.

Since web pages are read differently, they must be written differently to optimize their use.

According to usability expert Jacob Nielsen, it’s important to remember a 3-S approach to web writing:

• Succinct – write no more than 50% of what you would write for hardcopy.
• Scannable – key information should be visible in the first two paragraphs.
• Short – people hate scrolling; use links to split information over multiple pages.

Crafting compelling prose that convey key messages can favorably influence visitors, affecting your bottom line.

.Pro domain registrations increased roughly 1,000% compared to January of last year, advised a source at one of the .pro domain accredited registrars.

While this is a massive percentage increase, .pro registrations are expected to continue growing rapidly, likely dwarfing growth rates of other domain extensions.

Another domain extension that hopes to create some buzz this year is .tel. The .tel domains will allow you to store and manage contact information and keywords directly in the DNS without the need to build, host or manage a website.

Registrations for .tel open up at premium prices on Feb. 3, 2009, and general registrations begin March 24, 2009.

Given the .pro domains’ registration standards and credibility, they are expected to make a mark with mainstream Internet users by the fall of 2009. Meanwhile, several top .pro domains are still available on the market.

Not sure? Take this short quiz.

1) A client shows his expertise in web design by:

A) Providing useless second-guessing.
B) Making references to what his spouse might think.
C) Being able to create your likeness on a spreadsheet using a Sharpie and some old pipe cleaners.
D) Listening to your ideas because that’s why he hired you in the first place.

ANSWER: D of course, but that usually only happens in an ideal world where dogs and cats walk hand-in-hand sharing ice cream.

2) How do you reply if your client looks over your shoulder and says, “I use to dabble a bit in art!”?

Continue reading →

I got to participate in a debate last week about the future of newspapers. Some say they’re dying; others insist they’re here to stay.

It seems most newspapers won’t be able to replace their traditional business with an online alternative. With each day, they become less relevant. In Vancouver, there’s a classified ad publication that used to be a leader in its field. Today, trying to compete with the likes of Craig’s List, it’s clinging on to a mere few pages.

Consumers are spending more time online, and that’s where the advertising dollars are going.

Hence, one can claim it’s ultimately consumers – not technology – that are burying the once-loved pulp chronicles.

If you’re planning to buy .pro domains for marketing, sales or SEO, it appears 2009’s the year to cash in on great deals.

The fact is all the valuable .pro domains have not yet been snapped up. And it’s not because the general public doesn’t recognize the value in the .pro domain extension. People just don’t know it exists.

As noted in recent .pro-related comments (thanks Alex), RegistryPro and Hostway could better serve the domain extension and Web world at large by marketing .pro domains or delegating the duty to other organizations. A few press releases and updates would get the ball rolling.

There was increased interest in the .pro domains in 2005 when their prices dropped to $99. Registrations reportedly reached almost 7,000 by January 2008.

Now the .pro domains are selling for less than $30. For instance, Network Solutions offers the domains for $29. If you’re looking for after market treasures (which can cost you upwards of $10,000), you can also look for investments and opportunities at reputable domain resellers, such as sedo and afternic.

The Internet provides a lot of web content. It’s unlimited. And that’s a problem.

Sure, as a business, the Web extends your reach to millions of prospects around the globe. But it’s also the case with your competition. They’re always just a click or two away. It’s true in almost every market.

Faced with infinite choices, consumers are often inclined to jump on the cheapest or the biggest.

Still, your business can get a share of the action. But you need to clearly define your unique selling proposition (USP) — the distinct advantage or benefit that sets your business apart from the competition.

Identify what your business does to provide customers superior results and value. Talk about your quality, service, speed, experience, prices, customer service or selection — and convey what it means to your online visitors.

Unique business offerings drive customer demand — even on the information-inundated Web.