by Playfuls Staff |
23rd November 2006
comScore Networks today revealed the top U.K. Internet properties for October, based on data collected through its comScore World Metrix audience ratings service. Google Sites (not including YouTube) edged out Microsoft Sites in October to become the most-visited Web property[more] in the U.K. for the first time, followed by Microsoft Sites and eBay.
“We have watched the popularity of Google consistently grow over time,” said Bob Ivins, managing director of comScore Europe. “While the current month-over-month increase was small, it was just enough to earn them the number one spot.”
Added Ivins: “Also notable was YouTube’s 24 percent increase in traffic in October. YouTube’s ascent in popularity around the world and in the U.K., demonstrated by the site’s month-after-month double-digit percentage increases, has been remarkable.”
Retail sites represented nearly half of the top 20 gaining sites in the U.K. in October, indicating an early interest in holiday shopping. Leading the top gainers were Woolworths Group plc with 2.6 million visitors and HMV with 2.4 million visitors, growing 65 and 30 percent, respectively. U.K. traffic to the Wal-Mart Web property, which includes ASDA, grew 14 percent to 2.3 million visitors. Littlewoods Shop Direct Group grew 12 percent to 3.9 million visitors, followed by Tesco Stores (also a top 20 site), which grew 12 percent to 6.7 million visitors. Other retail sites rounding out the list of top gainers include Marks&Spencer, up 10 percent to 2.4 million visitors; Play.com sites, up 10 percent to 3.6 million visitors; and Dixons Stores Group, up 10 percent to 4.2 million visitors.
In addition to shopping, Britons were apparently busy booking holiday travel in October, with traffic to British Airways gaining 26 percent to 3.5 million visitors and British Midland gaining 11 percent to 2.6 million visitors.
Online advertising by banking sites Bank of America and HSBC paid off with sizable traffic gains in October with Bank of America growing 23 percent to 2.7 million visitors and HSBC growing 14 percent to 4.9 million visitors.
“Banks have invested in online advertising ahead of retail spending this holiday season, offering low rates on credit cards, as well as refinancing opportunities,” Ivins commented.
