Year In Review: Top Ten Internet Businesses 2004

The internet boom hit a high mark in 2004. With old standbys and new emergences, the top ten internet businesses 2004 show a variety of companies all with one thing in common: they have adapted well to the World Wide Web. Many companies have difficulties and struggle amidst the huge ocean of the internet, especially since it is quite difficult to maintain a personal face. The companies in the top ten have not only succeeded in the business sense, they have invaded out daily life and have become a household name. From meagre beginnings, these top ten entrepreneur companies have mastered this new medium and are an inspirational to any budding entrepreneur interested in starting an internet based business.

The Internet search engine Google was the top internet business of 2004. The world's largest search engine receives over 200 million hits a day. Businesses pay Google to have an ad for their website appear to the right side of the user's search. The paid advertising targets consumers seeking information. Google's initial public offering gave it a market capitalisation of over $23 billion dollars, placing it between Yahoo and Amazon.com. In addition to becoming an economic success, the company's name has invaded our language. The verb "google" entered the dictionary with a definition meaning "to look someone or something up on the internet." The essence of a truly successful business is not only one that makes money but also serves its clients to the utmost potential.

The online auction site eBay.com continued to expand its services and customer base throughout 2004. As the industry leader it boasts over tens and millions of members and has websites in over 17 countries. eBay.com generated over $3 billion in revenues off of a record $34 billion dollars in Gross Merchandise Volume.

Amazon.com continues to be the world's number one internet retailer with 2004 sales in excess of $6.9 billion dollars. The retailer continues to expand its offerings and partnerships with other retailers. Recently Amazon.com rolled out a9.com, which provides consumers with expanded search options to find merchandise on Amazon.com's website. As part of the Tsunami relief effort and in conjunction with the American Red Cross, Amazon.com set-up an online donation channel, which raised over $13 million dollars.

Yahoo Inc. provides comprehensive global internet services. It remains the most visited website with over 3 billion page views per day. Yahoo launched its own search engine technology after dropping Google-powered results. Boasting free and paid email accounts and website complete with design tools, many pleased clients are using Yahoo.

Expedia, the Washington-based travel company has revolutionized the entire travel industry. Allowing individuals to serve as their own travel agents and search a database of airfares, rental cars, and hotel rooms, Expedia has allowed everyone to gain access to the phenomenal travel deals that would previously be reserved for insiders.

Technology giant Microsoft launched the Microsoft to serve a variety of needs for a consumer. Boasting email, news, chat software, and website hosting, MSN is one of the most visited websites on the internet.

America Online has found a great deal of competition with companies like MSN and Yahoo! but is still one of the most popular internet service providers out there. Boasting an entire network of satisfied customers, AOL goes beyond the service of other providers. Many individuals new to the internet choose to use AOL due to its ease of use and availability all over the globe.

Netflix has become an increasingly popular option for many movie-renting customers. Instead of having to travel to your local movie store, the movies are shipped directly to your home. You have an unlimited number of rentals and pay a nominal monthly fee for the service. By lowering its fees in the middle of the year to compete with lower competitor prices, Netflix drastically increased its clientele.

With the popularity of burning audio and video files to create your own CDs, many copyright issues have taken center court. Instead of illegally trading music for free using person to person programs; Real.com has a wide array of songs available for legal download for a nominal fee. Additionally, Real.com offers a variety of free and pay media players so individuals can play MP3s, CDs, DVDs, and any other type of media file directly on their computer.

The last internet company in the top ten is online retailer and technology giant Apple. Their website Apple.com boasts an amazing number of customers each month, as it provides a forum to purchase Apple products along with different programs necessary for maintaining your Apple computer, iPod, or any other electronic product sold by the company.

John Evans runs http://www.SuccessAlert.com, and has written the book Success Alert - Conversations with Successful Internet Entrepreneurs which has been widely acclaimed in a variety of media. If you want to hear about Top Ten Internet Businesses 2004 this book is a must-read!

---

Heres A Quick and Simple Way To Find Hot Niche Markets

"Here's A Quick and Simple Way To Find Hot... Read More

Blog and Ping ? A Search Engine Traffic Bonanza

Everyone is talking about blogs these days as the magic... Read More

The Website Marketing Strategy that Never Fails

Developing a successful web site takes more than simply building... Read More

Are You Limiting Your Income?

When first starting out in internet marketing, I was afraid... Read More

Basic Rules For Effective Email Marketing

If you want an email campaign to succeed, you don`t... Read More

Discover How To Find The Gold Online

Finding the GOLD!!!G'Day from the kitchen table of Scott WilsonTime... Read More

An Approach to Advertising on the Internet

Budweiser has the frogs. McDonalds has Ronald. Goodyear has the... Read More

Bring Spirit Into Your Online Business

For people who have decided to strike out on their... Read More

In Depth Analysis of a Successful Niche Product

The product is about teaching your parrot how to talk.... Read More

How To Make Your Market Throw Their Money At You!

The use of free, relevant and meaningful content can single... Read More

Using This One Simple Word Helped Triple My Sites Profits

This article is very important.In fact, the chances are it... Read More

Local Search by Internet Search Engines is as Essential to Your Business Survival as Your Telephone

Your Enterprise Won't Survive Unless People Find ItWhether you're a... Read More

Consumer Confidence Increased With Paypal

In the last year I have met people that have... Read More

Online Sales: 10 Magical Online Sales Tactics To Sell Your Products Faster

There are certain magical tactics that work so well that... Read More

Its All About The Leads: Publishing to Capture Profits

All online businesses are nothing more than lead capturing machines.... Read More

To Survey Or Not To Survey

I have learned over the years that when it comes... Read More

How To Actually Make Money In Network Marketing

Most people that I know who are, or have been... Read More

Multiple Internet Profit Streams

Have you been searching without success for a way to... Read More

In Internet Marketing You Must Have a Strategy

When you make the decision to start an Internet business... Read More

Is that Niche Really Going to Make You Money?

Find a niche; pick a niche, niche markets will make... Read More

List Building Through Cooperative Partnerships....

This is a little tip I got from Alex Sampson,... Read More

Internet Marketing Online: 10 Flaming Hot Ways To Fire-up Your Sales

Why do some websites sell more than others?Why are some... Read More

Autoresponders Are the Key to Freedom from the Burden of Emails

In today's business world emails are essential to the success... Read More

Internet Marketing Online: How To Help Yourself By Helping Others

If you want to go far in business, and be... Read More

3 Simple Steps for Revealing Marketing Secrets of the Experts

Learn the easy method I use to reveal marketing secrets.... Read More

Advertising Sucks! Long Live The Web!

How much does an advert in Yellow Pages cost? How... Read More

Chasing New Business?

As well you should. New business is what makes the... Read More

Targeting Online Customers

Although generating online traffic is an important goal of any... Read More

The Power Of Giving

1.Why give away what you could sell?That's a fair enough... Read More

Why Real Estate Agents Need Their Own Website

It is difficult to for a real estate agent to... Read More

Sales Marketing: Ten Magnificent Marketing Ideas To Amplify Your Business

You can magnify and expand your business if you have... Read More

Online Business Mistakes

Everybody makes mistakes, but nobody likes to talk about them.... Read More

Weblogs, Podcasting, and RSS Newsfeeds in the Marketing Mix

Weblogs and Podcasting in the Marketing MixIt is rare that... Read More