Once considered primarily a man’s territory, the Internet has become a popular destination for women. Today, over half of Internet users are female. But women are doing more than browsing websites and shopping. They are making their presence known.
The nature of the Internet has made it possible for women to overcome hurdles they faced in the past. Women who pursued stereotypically male hobbies such as technology, for example, had few opportunities to be heard before the Internet came about. But now they can purchase a domain and hosting account and publish their findings and opinions for all the world to see.
Women and Blogging
Blogging is one of the areas online where women have been making great strides. Some figures indicate that nearly half of all bloggers today are female. That’s up from less than twenty percent just a few short years ago.
While “mommy bloggers” have taken the Internet by storm, there’s a lot more to women’s blogs than the details of their kids’ soccer games. Women are blogging about every subject imaginable, from crafting to politics. There are even entire online communities dedicated to female bloggers, such as BlogHer.com. Many female bloggers make money by selling advertising and promoting affiliate programs on their blogs, and for some it’s a full-time job.
Women and Internet Marketing and Media
Internet marketing is a lucrative field, and it has become increasingly woman-dominated. This field is particularly popular among moms, because it provides the opportunity for them to make money while staying home with their children. And since the Internet is open 24/7, they can automate product delivery to create a great deal of flexibility in their schedules.
Women have proven their ability to master such online marketing tasks as website building, search engine optimization and email marketing. Some have taken formal courses on these subjects, while others have taken advantage of the wealth of information the Internet has to offer to learn about them. Combined with a passion for their selected niche and a willingness to adapt to and adopt new technology, these skills can propel women into the limelight and help them build a successful business.
A growing number of women are podcasting and creating online videos. This may be undertaken as a hobby or as part of online marketing efforts. Either way, it gives them an unprecedented opportunity to be heard.
Women have become a force to be reckoned with online. They are sharing their knowledge and opinions and building successful businesses, and they are doing so on their own terms. The World Wide Web has leveled the playing field for women and made it possible for them to be seen and heard like never before.
