Study: Internet use in U.S. homes dips

US tech marketers, heed the signs of an important shift in priorities: "Americans are spending slightly less time online that they did a year ago, while some of their counterparts in Asia and Europe are logging longer hours on the Net. "

"Acquiring users in markets that are currently in their growth stages will lead to a loyal user base that will pay dividends for Internet companies in the future,"

No consumer-oriented business plan can afford  to ignore key international markets from the get-go.  The old conventional wisdom of "we'll get it right in the US first and move overseas afterwards" dangerously ignores the unique branding opportunity offered by high-growth markets and provides local competitors with the opportunity to establish themselves. By the time you will be ready to attack their domestic turf, it will be too late or too expensive for you to dislodge them.

8:29:49 AM