The Internet is the new Gold Rush. There are millions of people who are staking their claim in the hopes that their start up will be the next Apple or Microsoft. In the years that the Internet has been around many new companies have found their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Many successful giants have even taken their online success offline. On the other hand, many internet companies have been dismantled by a finicky audience and changing trends. The top 10 biggest internet companies in 2012 are some new companies, but also several veterans that continue to change and evolve with the ever-changing trends.
1. Amazon.com
Mostly known for selling books, movies, and music, this Internet giant quickly become a force to be reckoned with and continues to lead internet commerce. Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos leads this company with a hard vision to be the world’s largest retailer. It looks like he is getting there. Amazon.com sells much more than books, music, and movies. In fact, they have millions of items in their inventory and even sell used merchandise through their Amazon Marketplace program. In 2011 alone they posted over 650 million dollars in profits.
2. Google
The most used website on the Internet is that of Google.com. Anyone who searches for anything is going to turn to this internet giant. Posting an earnings revenue that continues to rise, Google is more than just a search engine. With its new Chrome browser, the Android OS, and Adwords and Adsense, Google has a firm hold on all things tech.
3. eBay
Second only to Amazon.com as a retailer, the online auction site, eBay, dominates the landscape. Having fallen on hard times in 2010 and 2011, it is making a tremendous comeback in 2012. Posting increased revenue and being more available to both sellers and buyers through mobile apps, eBay continues to maintain a strong internet presence. No longer the domain of the odd and unique, eBay is now used by millions of retailers selling new items.
4. Facebook
This is the year of Facebook. Going public with its own IPO, the social networking giant has proven that people want to know when someone is jogging, cooking dinner, changing dirty diapers, or enjoying a margarita by the beach. With numbers that make even Amazon.com take a second look, Facebook continues to climb the ladder or internet domination. With over 700 million users and over $3 billion in profits, look for Facebook to be a major force in how the internet progresses.
5. AirBnB
Who would have thought that a virtual world of sharing apartments and spare rooms would be one of the largest internet companies of 2012. AirBnB is a real-world, but virtual, hotel chain that allows people to share their apartments and spare rooms. This model of sharing is not exclusive to tangible products, but also where people vacation and spend their time. With an increase of 500%, AirBnB is another leader in how the internet is evolving and changing.
6. Dropbox
Welcome to the cloud. No longer just a theme for a commercial to sell Windows 7 computers, the cloud enables people to do business in ways never seen before. This easy to use file sharing cloud system is the largest of its kind. Dropbox now boasts over 45 million users and over 2 billion files uploaded. The concept is simple. Upload a file, webpage, picture, or note to dropbox and you can share it with coworkers or across your devices.
7. Badoo
Badoo set the internet on fire in 2012 as one of the fastest growing dating networks in history. Launching in 2011, Badoo gives its users several great ways to meet people online through Icebreakers and Interests. Now with over 133 million users and available in over 30 languages, Badoo sets its sights on even bigger heights for the coming years.
8. TenCent
The land of the rising sun is now land of the internet giant. TenCent is the largest internet company in China. This giant is Facebook like in its numbers and is starting to march towards the west. Through its recent partnership with Zynga and a purchase of California-based Riot Games, TenCent is making sure that it has its hands deeply entrenched in all things internet and mobile.
9. Pinterest
Sharing pictures on the Internet through mediums like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are easy enough, but do not have the beauty of Pinterest. More like an Internet billboard, Pinterest has captured the hearts of the online world and then some. Just recently the website has surpassed the 10 million monthly unique visitors; the fastest of any other website in history. Because of this Pinterest continues to rise to the level of Internet supremacy.
10. Zynga
As Playstation and Xbox are to the gaming console world, Zynga is to the online gaming world. This gaming giant has exploded with many games like Farmville, Words with Friends, and Zynga Poker and shows no signs of slowing down. Hiring new programmers and designers, the social gaming movement continues to move full speed ahead. Look for Zynga to move into other areas and continue to move the conversation of the Internet into more social avenues.
The Internet is a world where anyone can make something happen. As it continues to evolve, be shaped by those who are constantly involved in the conversations, and innovates according to new technologies the possibilities are truly as endless as the stars. These top 10 internet companies of 2012 are just an example of what regular people can do when an idea strikes them.
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