Great web design for the next billion users

Some time this year, the number of Internet users reached one
billion. Billion with a "b." If you count to one billion at one
number per second, it would take you over 31 years to finish. It has
taken the Internet 36 years to count that high, says web usability
expert and former Sun Microsystems engineer Dr. Jakob Nielsen. The
next 10 years will bring the second billion, growing at an annual
rate of 18 percent, and will include unprecedented numbers from Asia
and senior citizens-and that has huge implications in e-commerce.

Statistically, says Nielsen, the one billionth online user was a
24-year-old woman in Shanghai. Only 23 percent come from North
America, leaving 24 percent in Europe and 36 percent in Asia. By
2015, though accounting for nearly one-third of e-commerce, North
Americans will consist of only 15 percent of Internet users.

"This means that for e-commerce to fulfill its potential to double,
sites must be more systematic at following the e-commerce usability
guidelines. Selling to the 200 million early adopters was easy. The
800 million mainstream users who are now starting to shop need much
smoother sites; the next billion will require even higher usability
levels," writes Nielsen.

As the entire world moves closer to jacking
into the Net, usable website design will be crucial to earning a
share of the world market. Nielsen gives guidelines for setting up
websites for international use as well as helpful hints for marketing
to the senior citizen crowd.

For e-business professionals, seniors should be a hot demographic.
They typically have more buying power than others, but less
knowledge of how to buy online. In fact, once on line, it takes the
typical user up to 3 years to become comfortable buying online. That
will change as the Baby Boomers retire and websites become more
user-friendly.

Tapping into the foreign market is an exercise in cultural diversity.
It goes beyond English by making sites readable in other languages.
It includes different weights, measurements, dating systems, and
reading styles.

Unless you intend to limit your market to one continent and only a
third of its potential, then an all-encompassing approach to web
design will become increasingly important.

CD WebMaker stays on top of the usability issues by using leading-edge programming languages and code validation techniques. Contact us today about an all-encompassing approach to web design.