2008 Year in Review for Canadian Internet Marketing & Website Properties

Unlike our 2007 Year in Review list, 2008 saw more companies modifying their offerings to Canada. We saw increased spending on marketing initiatives with some entrants of US web properties, though fewer than the previous year. Here's what we have for 2008:

February 2008

• Songwriters association proposes fee of $5 for Canadian Internet users for the ability to download "illegal" music files

April 2008

• Canada's (.ca) domain name registration hits one million
• "Canadian Online Drugstore" is the second-most used subject line for spam e-mails, right behind "Re: hi.”
• Canadian Travel Internet Marketing Conference Presents Industry Experts from Yahoo!, Travelocity, and Ice Portal at the 3rd Annual Event
• comScore launches Video Metrix in Canada, France, Germany and UK

May 2008

• Google AdSense Mobile reaches Canada
• Facebook gets a facelift (one of its largest user base being Torontonians)

June 2008

• CIRA implements changes to the dot-ca WHOIS search tool to protect the privacy of domain name holders
• Google 411 launches in Canada
• iTunes offers movies in Canada
• Search Engine Strategies Conference in Toronto

July 2008

• Canada leads the world in online banking with 67.1% of Canadian internet users banking online

August 2008

• IE8 Beta 2 release
• Starbucks Canada Offers Free Wi-Fi
• Hit TV shows finally come to the web in Canada, as Canwest Broadcasting announces over 50 hit programs online

September 2008

• Canada leads globally in broadband access, report says
• Overstock.com, online discount retailer starts shipping to Canadian customers

October 2008

• CIRA starts Domain Name System Security (DNSSEC) implementation
• Microsoft Office Live for Small Business officially launches in Canada
• NewEgg, a consumer electronics e-tailer launched a Canadian website
• Saks Direct (aka Saks Fifth Avenue, e-commerce div. of Saks Inc.) accepts orders from Canada on its US website
• Amazon's Canadian website launched new electronics store (previously sold mostly books and music)

November 2008

• Google walks away from Yahoo deal
• Twitter shuts down SMS in Canada
• The Open Source project donates another $100,000 earlier this year to support the ongoing collaboration between Mozilla and Seneca's Centre for Development of Open Technology (CDOT).
• Canada awarded second place as a world brand

December 2008

• CBS Radio will power Yahoo's free Internet radio service, Launchcast Radio
• Rich Riley to Head Yahoo! Europe and Yahoo! Canada

Looking back, 2008 turned out to be a mix bag of initiatives, start-ups, shut-downs and expected increases in usage statistics. Surprisingly, one of our predictions for 2008 – that Canada would see more legislation around Internet marketing tactics like email and spam - didn't come to pass. If we missed anything, let us know. Looking forward to more in 2009!