While the global economy has sputtered, online activity keeps pushing upward. There are more people online than ever who spend more time and money online than ever. People now say the Internet is their most trusted source of information. So having the right online marketing strategy is critical.

Over the past 10 years, the Internet has gone from novelty act to the dominant hub of information. By the end of 2008, there were more than 1.5 billion people online worldwide.

Google search volume grew 38.4% in 2008 while the other major search engines saw volume increases of around 15%. That's pretty healthy growth by most standards. What are you doing to secure your online future?

Here are facts you should know:

• Internet use by consumers has surged: Consumer use surpasses business use in 2008. (See chart below.)
• Time Spent Online Increases: The number of hours spent online has exploded to an average of 15.3 hours per week, the highest level ever recorded.
• 83% of Internet users say that most or all of the information on Web sites they visit regularly is reliable and accurate.
• Digital Demand for Services Strong: The average number of annual online purchases for adults has increased to more than 36 purchases per year.

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