Published: October 01, 2006 12:33 pm      

Online business heats up in ’06

Now that Allegany County and Mineral County are targeting expansion of their technology infrastructure, either through Allconet 2 or other resources, the fact that there is a trend of hot Internet businesses may be of interest to local residents.

Recently I received a release from a Bakersfield, Calif., media group on what they consider the top 10 list of hot Internet business trends for 2006.

More and more where there is access through expanded technology, entrepreneurs are discovering new niche businesses online.

As was pointed out to me recently one of the most popular buying and selling sites on the Web was started by one person.

Joyce Mote of the Web site, NewCashForYou.com, said that many of these trends have been the direct result of online technology wile others are examples of how everyday businesses can be transformed into online businesses.

You can find examples of such businesses throughout our region by those who have ways to access the technology and expand their entrepreneurial efforts.

Let’s look at the 10 industries and the most popular online businesses for each.

* Food Industry — This can include specialties such as herbs and herbal tea, chocolates, do-it-yourself menus, one product restaurants, even grocery shopping and personalized diets.

* Online Security — Still a concern for online businesses, especially for those that store lots of data. Businesses offering security software and third party security services such as shredding, site surveillance, secure database storage and data backup will continue to be popular.

* Presonal Technology — We all use cell phones and millions use online games which has opened the door for businesss that offer personal technology gadgets and devices. Cell phone add-ons from covers to downloadable music and ring tones are among the most popular.

* Home Improvement and Decor — Do your own decorating and remodeling with a wide range of items found online. Businesses offering products in home and garden decor or remodeling are appearing all over the Internet. I can think of several local businesses that would benefit from an online presence.

* Products for Children — Unique toy business, educational software sites, fund and game sites, children’s clothing and many others can be found online.

* Travel — I’m just catching on to this one. From booking airlines, rail and other modes of travel to car rentals, hotels and special events, it’s all online when you find the right Web sites.

* Health, Diet and Fitness — Already briefly mentioned under the food industry, products to help one stay health, or lose weight are going strong on the Internet. You can also do medical billing online, refill prescriptions and purchase other health care products online.

* Internet Marketing — Search Engine Optimization companies, which keep track of search engine patterns, have been very popular. There are also Web content companies and writers that tie into the SEO market as well.

* Staffing — Online staffing companies are becoming much more popular and I can think of at least two in the local area that if they don’t already have an Internet presence, would benefit from one. Many companies are using third-party staffing services to ease their hiring burden and reduce staffing costs.

* Unique Products and Services — What better place than the Internet for entrepreneurs who want to test out new innovative products. These can encompass almost anything you can think of.

According to Mote, “The Internet has opportunities for almost anyone, from single moms who want to work from home to millionaires who are forming anew corporation.”

Mote also noted that the trends for these 10 industries also is likely to continue in 2007.

Mona Ridder can be reached at mridder@times-news.com.