The rate of growth of the internet in the United States has slowed significantly, according to recent research from Cyber Dialogue. One consequence is that online marketers are having to steal visitors from their competitors and raise customer service standards. Cyber marketers can no longer count on a rising tide of new users in the US to raise all boats, observed Cyber Dialogue VP Thomas Miller. His report identified three groups of adults who are not flocking online. One group simply can’t afford net access or even a PC. A second group simply believes it has no need for the internet. The third and most surprising group consists of adults who have tried the net and discontinued use. This segment came to 27.7 million adults in September 1999. The bottom line: close that sale. The name of the game today is to increase your share of your online customers’ wallets, not just your share of online eyeballs, Miller concluded. รก
