Consumers who are staying home because of the economic downturn are spending more time online according to SmartHouse who have witnessed a 20.95% increase in unique visitors over the first 16 weeks of 2009.
Between January and the second week of April SmartHouse has reached over one million consumers who have read over 2,300,000 pages of SmartHouse content according to both Google Analytics and Nielsen Digital research.
Among the sections to have witnessed big jumps in traffic are content, sound, Blu ray and flat panel display.
Also proving popular are notebooks and home office gear said Nicole Bence Sales and Marketing Director at 4Square Media.
“Niche web sites like SmartHouse are becoming extremely important in the lives of many consumers. They are a trusted source for information on products and services that are playing a key part in the lives of consumers during the economic downturn. While consumers are not spending on activities outside the home, they are spending on what they do inside the home” Said Bence.
“Recent Nielsen Digital Research conducted among the SmartHouse target audience coupled with our own research show that the average SmartHouse consumer has money to spend but is being extremely selective on what they spend. It appears that consumer electronics purchases are being seen as stress busters with many researching new content sources and players. We have also seen a big increase in interest in two channel sound and wireless as well as our review sections particularly when we have reviewed flat panel TV’s and notebooks” she said.
David Richards is the CEO & Editorial Director of 4Square Media.
