When I started Techlife I wondered, “Who will read it? What kind of people will be my audience?”  “I don’t know.” At first I imagined Homer Simpson who when asked to “press any key”, exclaimed he couldn’t find “the” any key.  Quickly I realized the audience was not only smarter, but better looking too.  This was because I was approached again and again by smart (and good looking people) asking tough questions.

My response at first to these question is often, “Wow, another good looking Techlife reader!”  Which masks the real answer, “I don’t know.” In technology there is one thing I do know, change is constant; like a shark if you aren’t swimming forward, you’re dying.  So as the resident tech shark, I often admit “I don’t know.” Followed by research to find the answer.

Techlife has covered Digital Ethnography (understanding the way humans use digital forms of expression to interact using a combination of modern delivery mechanisms and mediums) and how information washes over all of us with the sheer massiveness, the brute force of the knowledge surrounding us on all sides.  Enjoy and marvel at these facts.  Be sure to read the last sentence.

Every minute, 24 hours worth of content is uploaded to YouTube.
YouTube Blog, March 2010

Almost 90% of consumers today use the Internet to research vehicles, up from 61% in 2005.
CapGemini, ‘Cars Online 09/10’, October 2009

64% of C-level executives conduct six or more searches per day to locate business information.
Google, Forbes, BtoB, June 2009

Gambling revenues are forecast to top £750 million for the World Cup (up 25% on the 2006 tournament), driven by football’s rise in prominence in the betting industry, the wealth of bets available and the increase in more convenient betting platforms, such as online and mobile.
Mintel, April 2010

47% of IT professionals watch YouTube videos to research products and potential purchases.
B2B Marketing Online, March 2010

The online alcoholic drinks market has doubled in size over the past five years, going from a niche £370 million in 2005 to £745 million in 2009.
Mintel, April 2010

Nearly two million people in the UK use their mobile phones for a growing number of services, from text alerts that confirm when they have been paid to transferring money between accounts.
Times Online, February 2009

20% of all searches in last 90 days have not previously been seen on Google.com.
Google Internal Data, April 2010

By election day, fully 25% of people who pulled the lever for Obama were already connected to his campaign electronically.
New York Magazine, January 2009

82% of internet users go online to source local information.
“The Internet in Britain2009”, OxIS (Oxford Internet Surveys), June 2009

Online user reviews have a huge influence on consumer electronics purchases, with 43.7 percent of purchases affected by word of mouth.
BIGresearch as cited by Bazaarvoice.com, December 2009

Smartphone users are 4x more likely to browse the internet and 50x more likely to use search on their phones than non-smartphone users.
ComScore Inc, December 2009

34% of Brits spend a whole day trying to find the best holiday deal online.
Greenbee.com survey, January 2009

These facts are amazing.  It’s no wonder with so much content, time and energy devoted to us working online; it also means we need to filter away even more superfluous information.  Now, good looking reader, yes you.  Pick a single fact from the list and memorize it.  When you are out with friends, colleagues and family at the right moment inject it into the conversation by saying, “I know…”

Credit to Google UK for compiling a resource with the latest facts and insights.  Special thanks to My Dad for reading and commenting, he’s one of the smart, good looking readers.