With all the talk of opportunities in business-to-business internet commerce, one might think that the consumer side is lying dormant. Not so, says Joyce Mote, representing a web site called NewCashForYou.com. She offers her Top 10 list of the "Hot Internet Business Trends for 2006." Number one finds the food industry doing a "booming" business online. Consumers are tired of familiar local foods and are venturing onto web sites to buy unusual items, Mote claims. Popular specialty products include herbs and herbal teas, chocolates and do-it-yourself menus. Mote's second trend concerns security, still a major concern for online businesses. Vendors offering security software and third-party security services, including shredding, database storage and site surveillance, are finding favor with buyers. In the area of personal technology, Mote uncovers a not-so-surprising trend: the popularity of cell-phone accessories, from covers to downloadable music and ring tones. Other big areas of activity this year include home-improvement items and products for children, such as educational software and clothing sites. The travel industry is also doing well online, Mote says. Consumers are using the Web for travel booking and car rentals, among other things. Rounding out Mote's top 10 are trends related to health, diet and fitness, including sales of vitamins and diet pills; internet marketing, featuring search-engine optimization; online staffing services for business, and the use of the internet for testing new and innovative products, such as robots, custom gift baskets and nanotechnology.
