The Government Says it's Time to Get Online
For just over £100 the government believes that it can get people online and keep them there for the foreseeable future. Approximately 9.2 million adults aren’t online in the UK today, and this scheme is part of a trial to get them connected to the web in a sustainable manner by the end of 2012.
Race Online’s goal is, alongside distributor Remploy, to sell over 8,000 PCs over the next calendar year. Prices are starting from £98 for a refurbished PC and net connections from just £9 a month. So what’s included in the packages? Hardware-wise, people will have access to a flat screen monitor, mouse and keyboard, delivery and a warranty, and a helpline should any problems occur. The software is expected to be Linux, or another open source platform.
If the scheme helps get people who are put off by high computer prices – or simply just aren’t able to afford personal computers and high internet charges – then it will be great news. Not just for the people themselves, but for the wider economy as people discover a whole new way of shopping online.
Sales figures for many online outlets rose during the Christmas period, as more and more people discover the benefits of shopping from the comfort of their own homes. "In the internet age, we need to ensure that people aren't being left behind as more and more services and business move online,” said Prime Minister David Cameron about Race Online 2012.
With more people making the jump online then that’ll no doubt mean search queries will increase over the coming months if the campaign gets off to a good start. SEO and techniques such as PPC management will be more crucial than ever for businesses to set themselves apart and get that new traffic to visit their site. The future’s looking bright for search marketing, and it’s great to see initiatives like this being rolled out nationwide to help more people get online.
