How many worldwide websites are there?

According to recent research, the worldwide web is now host to over a billion websites:  this highly significant landmark has been reached approximately 25 years after the worldwide web came into general use in about 1992.

Although a large proportion of the total websites remain unused, it is remarkable that each day, their number continues to increase exponentially. Other curious facts relate to the total number of:

• Internet users around the world (about 2,973,243,408);
• Emails sent each day (about 111,060,633,645);
• Blog posts posted each day (about 1,909,835);
• Tweets tweeted each day (about 351,956,234).

Generally speaking, the problem with most websites is that they have never been updated: although the Geneva-based web was created on 12^th March 1989 and a large number of websites subsequently grew out of that, in many cases their evolution has been virtually nil.

Of course it is often the case that the people in charge of these platforms have been unable to keep up with all the changes resulting from progress made over the years: changes which have modified users’ habits and behaviours, while transforming both the way they do business and how they communicate.

This is apparent in our day to day behaviour:  we use Internet to look for information about people, companies and objects, but also to purchase services and products ranging from clothes to household items, including food, electronics, insurance and holidays etc.

Despite all this however, many businesses fail to realise the importance of having a site which meets people’s needs effectively. In order to achieve this, factors such as compatibility with mobile devices, visibility and rapidity are especially important.

Luckily, many businesses have learned how to interact with their users effectively, by exploiting their sites to the full, but also through the use of Social Networks and blogs:  fundamental tools which allow a company to communicate and spread its message to great effect.

Of course, as mentioned above, the number of websites around the world continues its relentless increase, but, in order to achieve success, it is essential to make the effort to understand and exploit fully the incredible potential offered by the web.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith