As we react to the recession and tighten our belts it seems secondhand is one of the big keywords in web searches nowadays. Hitwise says “UK consumers are increasingly turning to the Internet to help them deal with the financial pressures and insecurities brought on by the global credit crunch”
Hitwise reports that UK Internet searches for second hand goods have increased by 22% over the last 12 months, while Classifieds websites have experienced a 47% increase in traffic over the same period.
The number of UK Internet searches containing the word ’second hand’ increased by 22% between the weeks ending 13 October 2007 and 11 October 2008. During the 12 weeks ending 11 October 2008, UK Internet users searched for over 22,000 distinct terms containing the phrase ’second hand’ with searches for ’second hand cars’ proving to be the most popular.
Top five UK Internet searches containing ’second hand’, 12 weeks ending 11 October 2008
1. second hand cars
2. second hand books
3. second hand car prices
4. second hand furniture
5. second hand bikes
UK Internet visits to Freecycle the website that enables people to recycle their unwanted goods by passing them on to others, increased by 35% between September 2007 and September 2008.
“The community aspect has played an important role in the success of Freecycle and lots of people are searching the web for lists in their neighbourhood,” commented Robin Goad, Director of Research for Hitwise. “The site is currently most popular in Wales and the West Midlands and is used most by people with families”.
In one quote from the Hitwise press release they say “Property searches have fallen, but traffic to House and Garden retailers has reached a new high as people look to cocoon themselves in their existing homes”
Well that’s interesting but I don’t think the DIY Retailers are feeling the benefit just yet!
Tags: internet searches
