Close to 50 per cent of Canadians shopped online in 2007. However, we still lag behind our cousins in the United States of America, where nearly 80 per cent of U.S. ‘netizens’ made an online purchase last year.

Experts say consumers don’t have to be convinced to go online — rather, it’s a matter of the need to make your website stand out and attract people.

Carol Miles at Sitebrand in Gatineau advises companies on how to convert a website visitor into someone who makes a purchase or signs up for something. She says Canadian sites need to make it clear they are Canadian. For example fly the flag, quote prices in Canadian dollars, and give a reason to shop online, be that lower prices, discounts, or free shipping.

Free shipping has become a crucial consideration by online shoppers. In the past shipping fees often made items too expensive to buy, but Miles says retailers are looking hard at whether or not to charge for shipping.

Nielsen Online in the U.S. reported last week that the number one reason to go online is still convenience. More than three-quarters of people said the ability to shop 24/7 is pushing them to the keyboard. Saving time and avoiding crowds also ranked above low prices.

As for who is shopping online, some may be surprised to learn it’s not the teenagers. While 97 per cent of teens use the Internet, only a quarter of those shop online — most likely because they don’t have a credit card. The shopping kings are in fact the 25- to 34-year-olds.

As for security, a simple piece of advice can keep you out of a lot of trouble, and it is this: Don’t give out information you wouldn’t provide in a regular store. Plus the old standby applies in the online world, if a deal is too good to be true, stay away from it.

Finally, some advice for online shoppers:

• Be selective but consider signing up for e-mail or text alerts regarding sales from your favourite retailer.

• Try a browser application at priceadvance.com.   If you go to a member store to price an item, you will get prices from competing stores.

• CouponMountain.ca offers online coupons for a few hundred Canadian stores.

• SmartCanucks.com encourages users to contribute shopping secrets.

Paul’s website of the week: retailmenot.com— A site that provides codes for online coupons. Enter the code while checking out at a site to receive a discount.

This Sunday as part of the CTV NEWS @ 6, one of the stories on TECH NOW will be a look at China’s efforts to use tech to go green.