Top Gaining Site Categories for October 2008
Retail - Department Stores ranked as the top-gaining category in October with a 49-percent increase to 2.4 million visitors, as users sought items for both the upcoming holidays, as well as the approaching winter season. Financial-related categories gained during October as a result of market turmoil both in Japan and throughout the world. Personal Finance sites grew 11 percent to nearly 13 million visitors as people were more keenly interested in the health of their finances during the economic downturn. The Business/Finance category experienced a 9-percent increase to nearly 22 million visitors, propelled largely by visitors seeking the most up-to-date financial news and information during October.
Top Gaining Properties for October 2008
News and financial-related sites represented a large portion of the top- gaining properties for October. Information sites saw increased traffic due to news of the tumultuous financial markets as well as interest in the four Japanese professors who were announced as Nobel Laureates for 2008. Traffic to Sankei Shimbun grew by 20 percent to 9.6 million visitors, Asahi-net.or.jp, was up 19 percent to 3 million visitors, and TBS Group increased 17 percent to 5.5 million visitors. Personal finance site Mizuho Financial Group grew by 13 percent to 3.6 million visitors.
Bellemaison.jp, one of the largest online retail sites in Japan and the top-gaining property for October, grew 41 percent to 2.6 million visitors as people sought seasonal and holiday retail items. Recipe site Cookpad.com increased 11 percent to 3.4 million visitors as winter cooking ideas and holiday recipes gained seasonal popularity.
