February 25, 2004

By: William Armstrong
Website: http://www.1st-in-cars.com

Traffic To Auto Web Sites Spike Higher, According To Netratings

Nielsen-NetRatings, the global standard for Internet audience measurement and analysis, reports that the automotive category experienced a 24 percent increase during the week ending June 1st, attracting nearly eight million surfers from home.

The stock market’s recent rally and more stability in the Middle East may be drawing consumers back to big-ticket items, like automobiles, said Patrick Thomas, senior Internet analyst, Nielsen//NetRatings. Ongoing dealer incentives, such as zero percent financing and cash back rebates as well as clearance sales for 2003 models, provide consumers with additional reasons to make a purchase. Traffic from home to MSN Auto jumped 75 percent to more than one million unique visitors, as compared to 603,000 visitors during the previous week.

Forty-one percent of the audience traffic accessed the MSN Autos Window Shopping Page, where readers were able to view top selling vehicles. Honda’s Web site, garnered 382,000 surfers from home, representing an increase of 61 percent during the week ending June 1st, while Cars.com attracted 58 percent more surfers from home. Rounding out the top five, traffic to Autobytel and Kelley Blue Book surged 44 and 42 percent, respectively.

Forty-seven percent of Autobytel surfers visited the Select a Vehicle page, where surfers stated the intent to purchase in the next 30 days, chose their desired vehicles and provided contact information for local dealers to take advantage of no-haggle pricing.

Additional Highlights from Nielsen//NetRatings’ Week on The Web:

• Dropping Interest Rates Drive Up Traffic to Loan Sites Traffic to various loan sites have been on the rise as interest rates continue to fall, according to Nielsen-NetRatings. Lendingtree.com spiked 57 percent at home for the week ending June 1st with nearly half of the site’s 339,000 unique visitors requesting a refinance mortgage quote.

Traffic to Bankrate.com jumped 27 percent to 422,000 unique visitors. Twelve percent of its audience visited the refinance page where users can obtain the latest rates for any state.

About The Author:

William Armstrong is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-cars.com.  Great car accessories and parts plus financing, insurance and leasing tips.