The internet is still in its new and emerging phase of growth. There are still thousands of untapped opportunities on the internet. The rise of internet businesses will continue to grow with no signs of slowing down in the near future.
What is driving internet growth?
- Increasing number of internet users
- The increase of people using the internet as a primary source of information
- The ease of internet communication
- The upcoming of the internet generation
Increasing number of internet users
It is estimated that about 40% of the world population are on the internet. These percentages are expected to double in the coming years.
The internet will continue to be the #1 source of information
The number one reason people go on the internet is to find information. As life becomes more complex, the internet will keep being the number one source of information on how to simplify and live a better life. People are going to keep seeking information on a variety of topics ranging from how to treat an insect bite to how build an online business.
The ease of internet communication
As life get busier, the internet will be one of the primary ways of communication with family, friends and acquaintances. Times are changing and face to face communications are becoming a rarity. People now look to the internet to relate to others.
The upcoming of the internet generation
There is a whole generation of children that are being raised under the internet regime. When these children grow up, all they will know is how to use the internet to meet their needs. These same generation will seek to make a living online.
The problem with internet business growth
With the increased use of internet users, internet businesses have sprung up to provide the information to feed the needs of information users. The better an internet business knows how to meet a user’s needs, the better the business does financially.
Anyone can start an internet business relatively quickly, the problem is not everyone know how to run one. There are a lot of financially solid businesses on the internet with a small vision. Most internet businesses do not start out with a clear picture as a result the average internet business owner lacks a propensity to grow beyond the founder. Moreover, most internet businesses are not built to sell. The cash flow of some internet businesses are solidly tied to search engine algorithms which are not dependable sources of future cash flow.
In a recent internet study I conducted of just over 1,000 internet businesses, I was able to develop the chart below:
The majority of internet businesses in the survey still identify themselves as consultants/ freelances with no future sustainability plan.
To combat this problem, the vision of the internet entrepreneur will need to expand. This will also mean that the business skill of the internet business owner will need to go beyond search engine optimization and building effective sales funnels. Only those who are able to create a vision strong enough will ride the tides when the internet explosion happens. The internet rich will get richer and those who refuse to learn will be weeded out.