A Woman's Web

From eMarketer via Yvonne at Lipsticking.

While the ratio of females to males in the general population is expected to hold steady through 2009, that won't be the case on the Internet," says Ms. Williamson. "Cultural, societal and Internet business trends are combining to shift the balance toward women. Because of these factors, eMarketer projects that the female majority online will become more pronounced over the next five years — and that will have a transformative effect on content, commerce and marketing."

"The Internet allows women to get more done in a shorter time; shop, plan trips, look for homes. And it also gives them another way to communicate besides the phone," says Mary Hunt, New Media Catalyst, Interpret-Her. "The Internet allows women to be social and pro-active at the same time."

Ms. Williamson adds, "The rising influence of females online is something that can't be ignored".

As the female influence grows across the Internet, companies will need to use techniques that appeal to females, including word of mouth marketing, e-mail and relationship-building.