The fact is that people like to do business in different ways. There will always be a segment of the population that prefers to walk into a store and make a purchase rather than shop online. However, buying products and services online is taking off. No longer is it just a curiosity, but shopping online is becoming mainstream. As consumers spend more time online, wise marketers are spending more of their advertising budget online. They understand and know who their audience is. Three distinct market groups are emerging: buyers, consumers and surfers. Here's an overview of these groups:

Buyers

Buyers are business professionals who may be executives, engineers, managers, researchers, in fact anyone who spends most of their working day online. This lucrative market segment does not get the attention it deserves. Often these people are responsible for making purchasing decisions that require sourcing supplies, materials and services all under very tight time pressures. What a perfect target for online advertising! Make sure you don't discount these very influential buyers.

Consumers

This category includes the home computer user who routinely checks out commercial online services. This group is a gold mine. They're already receptive to making purchases over the Internet. Marketers only have to make the online shopping experience easier and this market is hooked. No longer will consumers be heading out to the mall for goods and services, they'll be shopping online in droves and loving it.

Surfers

Surfers are the online fun seekers. They use online technology as a form of recreation, to play games, get music and expand their knowledge. They are typically younger and fickle. And these people have short attention spans. They move all over in cyberspace. If something catches their attention, they stick around. If a little bit of boredom sets in, they're off again and surfing elsewhere. This is the most challenging group to market to, but one with a huge potential. Surfers are an impulsive bunch. If a product catches their eye, they'll buy online with no second thoughts. It's a bit like positioning the candy at the check out counter in the supermarket...you have a captive audience who finds it hard to resist temptation.

When planning your advertising strategy consider the three market segments. They are all different, but each one deserves attention. Your bottom line depends on it!