Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Short Takes: 3.19.08

Here are some interesting XM and online marketing news items and links for your perusal:
  • Social networks aren't just for kids. According to eMarketer, affluent Internet users are flocking to social networks, too. The rate of affluent participation in online social networks increased dramatically to 60% in January 2008, from 27% in January 2007. The study noted that, on average, affluent US Internet users are members of about three online social networks and have 110 online connections through these sites. The report notes that luxury goods companies have been slow to embrace the Internet and now, "luxury needs to catch up quickly."

  • Apparently the affluent aren't the only people being ignored online. A new study finds that a majority of Internet users 45 years and older believe online content is focused on younger age segments. And more than two-thirds (72.5%) of respondents 45-54 years, and 83.2% of respondents 55 years and older say online advertising is focused on people younger than they are. The study also revealed the unsurprising fact that Internet use is still growing in older demographics: 62.8% of respondents 55 years and older say they are visiting more sites today in a typical week of web surfing than they were one year ago.

  • For a five-second reminder of the importance of design and usability as part of the brand experience, check out Stuff That Happens for a visual summary of an Apple product, a Google Web site, and your company's site.

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