While the recent ABIS results sent a very positive message to the local industry, Eve D from myZone.co.za, believes that there is so much more that needs to be done.
1.8 million Internet users in SA seems like a lot to some people but when you look at the number of Web-sites in SA, it becomes obvious that no local Web business can expect to survive or become profitable until the number of Internet users increases dramatically.
Whilst there is undoubtedly exciting growth potential and an increase in local Web site traffic, we need to remember that local Web businesses need new members and not just higher traffic from those who are already accessing the Web.
To achieve this we cannot afford to place all our eggs in one basket and hope that the four or five really good local Web sites will entice more people. Owners of smaller Web sites ride on coat tails of the marketing budgets of these giants, but it is now time for each site to be deemed exceptional as a standalone site.
Right now, the Web is at a stage where it needs to become far more user-friendly and useful to the public at large, before we see any major improvements in unique traffic. If every telephone subscriber has the yellow pages, why is it that every homeowner with a computer does not have Internet access? Why do we not see more people going out of their way to access the Web? The usual reason cited is that computers are expensive and Telkom costs are too high. That is true, but surely we have now reached a stage in South Africa where the Internet has to be taken seriously by all players, not just the computer savvy 1.8 million that are accessing it?
Perhaps new users need a better reason, reward or incentive to access the Web. Sites like myZone.co.za that offer rewards to users for surfing the Web, or XsiNet that offers free Internet access are steps in the right direction. Another is to ensure that the Internet experience is useful to all. The only way we will achieve this is if we engage everyone in building a Web for the people by the people, giving them what they want. Internet opinion 1
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