China Becomes Largest Net Nation

[inbound]

The BBC has an article on China having 253 Million Internet users. [news.bbc.co.uk] The USA had 223 Million users in June, although a much higher proportion of Americans are online.

Any ideas on how this might effect western webmasters? For example, does anyone know how many of these 253 Million people are good English readers?

[bill]

It was bound to happen sooner or later: It's official, China is No. 1 nation in Internet users [webmasterworld.com]. They'd been predicting it for years. The US market is pretty much saturated now while these developing countries with larger populations are now coming online.

does anyone know how many of these 253 Million people are good English readers?

Very few. How good is your Chinese? ;)

[JamieBrown]

China's internet penetration is only 16%, compared to other countries like the UK (66%), USA (71%), Netherlands (87%) or Norway (88% - the highest I think). The potential for further growth is huge.

This may sound like a significant milestone, but I think its probably only the very beginning.

[DrDoc]

I am having severe Firefly/Serenity flashbacks whenever I read about China's growth.

[redstorm]

If your guys have read the 2nd Quarter Financial Statements from Sohu.com Inc, you will even more amazed by its growth speed: Sohu.com Inc's GAAP net income of US$40.2 million or US$1.02 per fully diluted share. GAAP net income increased by 604% year-on-year and 86% quarter-on-quarter

[caine]

Asia is so open/needs SEO - learn one of the big languages, and get marketing.

From what i can see its a very juevinille market, waiting for someone to come popping cherries ¬

[Green_Grass]

We must remember it is a censored market.. So may users.. but seeing only the govt's version of the internet. That can't be good.

[JamieBrown]

We must remember it is a censored market..

True, but one that seems to be improving. For a country that hasn't had freedom of press yet, they're making remarkable strides. I don't see the Great Firewall of China lasting decades - for one its unmanageable and impractical, but more importantly the attitude of the Chinese government seems to be slowly but surely changing.

That can only be a good thing!