Women are Always "On": Broadband Survey Results

In February 2011, the Business and Professional Women's Foundation (BPFW) initiated a survey to research the use of high speed Internet (broadband) technology among four diverse groups of women: those employed by other, those self employed, those retired, and women seeking employment. The purpose was to explore women's use of technology in both their business and personal lives as a measure of advancement and overall impact on quality of life and personal/professional success.

Today, high speed Internet plays a central role in our lives. The result of an online Internet survey conducted by BPWF on the use of high speed technology by women confirms this and also shows that there are differences in high speed Internet access, use, and needs based on age, employment, military status, and geographic location. Not surprisingly, women business owners and self employed women use high speed technology to build their businesses through marketing, but readily admit that they are not always aware of what they should be learning/doing to improve efficiency, advance and maximize their results.

Key findings related to women-owned businesses:

1. Women want to use high speed technology to build their small and home based businesses (particularly through marketing) but readily admit they are unaware of what they should be learning/doing. Women were asked, "What would you like to do using high speed Internet that you cannot do now?" A common aspiration (20% of respondents) centered on building a better business, often via leveraging social media to market their businesses.

2. Women are not accessing government contacts for business growth. The question of government procurement interest is important in examining how women business owners approach resource development for growth. Government procurement avenues can afford any company growth and stability opportunities. WIPP and American Express Open partnered to launch Give Me 5 an education program providing a robust curriculum of webinars and events to open this window of opportunity for women business owners as well as assist newer contractors to increase their contracting business development.  


For more information, visit www.bpwfoundation.org