The Reston, Va.-based comScore, an Internet measurement company, recently released a report highlighting the major trends in U.S. Internet activity in 2007. According to the company, research findings reflect both online and offline worlds.
The top-gaining site categories offer stock photographers and agencies an out-of-the-industry perspective of issues most popular with the general audience. Political, women's community and celebrity coverage Web sites experienced the highest increases in the number of unique visitors last year.
Political Web sites experienced a 35% growth. Politics will continue to remain top of mind as the presidential election draws closer. In addition, this election is expected to generate record-breaking levels of interest. Clinton and Obama would each make history if elected.
Women's community sites also jumped 35%. The top properties in this category, Glam Media and iVillage, experienced the strongest growth. Both cover health, beauty, pregnancy, entertainment and lifestyle.
The third top-performing category can thank Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. comScore says that celebrity news coverage is booming, sites in this category growing at the rate of 31%.<p>
The top 10 list also includes classifieds, career training and education sites, which continue growing at over 31%, taking a larger slice of the pie from their traditional offline competitors each year. Gay and lesbian, consumer-product retail, finance, teen and religious properties round out the list, with growth rates ranging from 28% to 20%. The three fastest-growing individual properties are Everyday Health with 349% growth, Glam Media at 213% and OfficeMax at 199%.