Over 96% of Fort Myers-Naples area adults have access to the internet, according to Nielsen. Almost 63% of these consumers spend more than five hours a week connected.
Nielsen reports that Southwest Florida consumers go online to stay connected to friends and family; research products and services; learn the latest news, and obtain directions to where they are going and know what the weather will be when they get there.
Here are some of the many reasons why Fort Myers internet users go online each month
- Social Media: 77%
- Weather: 52%
- Online Banking: 50%
- Maps/Directions: 48%
- Product Reviews: 39%
- Current Events: 37%
- Restaurant Reviews: 31%
- Sports Scores/News: 29%
- Real Estate: 14%
- Job Search: 14%
And, of course, there is shopping. Over the past six months, according to Nielsen, 73.9% of Fort Myers consumers shopped online for every imaginable product and service including, cars, golf clubs, office supplies, wedding rings, mattresses, tires, medicine, shoes, socks, and eyeglasses.
To reach local consumers while they are online, Fort Myers businesses will spend $260 million for digital advertising in 2020, according to Borrell Associates. Here is how the money is being spent: