Despite the economy, the failing stock market, massive losses to 401k’s and retirement accounts, there are still some people brave enough to see a layoff as an opportunity to start a business. These people are turning to the web in massive numbers and driving social media and blogging to new heights.

Today’s headline at CNN Money reads, “Unemployment rate rises to 8.1% – highest since 1983, government says. Employers have shed 1.3 million jobs in 2009.” Job loss is all around us and I would wager a bet that everyone reading this article has in some way been effected by job loss. So what happens to all of these newly unemployed workers? Some retire, some search high and low to find a new job that pays less money, and some start a business.

Here is the Google search volume in the United States for the phrase “get website”:

get website

Now take a look at the search volume for “how to blog”:

how to blog

With the explosion of social media and blogging came a lot of hype. Companies like WordPress got the exposure needed to propel them to the top of the list for blogging platforms. In fact, WordPress is currently use by 1/3 of the top 100 blogs, and don’t expect it to stop there.

Check out the search volume for “WordPress” over the past five years in the US:

WordPress

As you can see from the search history, WordPress is making quite a stand. WordPress is becoming so widely used that it now competes with non-blogging content management systems, such as Joomla and Drupal. Compare the WordPress chart to the search history for TypePad, the second most popular blogging platform:

WordPress TypePad

What Does All This Mean?

Simple Answer: Web design and small business marketing is about to explode, and WordPress is going to be the platform of choice.

You all know someone that has lost a job recently. Give it a year, and you will know someone that works from home.

Got something to add? Let me know, post your comments below.