HitWise UK, the online website traffic measurement company, have just published some great website statistics for 2008. Its all about the top websites, with the highest traffic, the ones with the most visitors; and all that kind of thing.

Its useful to see who is being really successful at generating traffic to their website, since you can try and emulate the way they’ve generated success.

First off, its clothes shops. UK internet traffic to online clothes shops went up almost 18% between February 2008 and February 2009. This website category now makes up 1 in every 10 visits on online shops.

Here’s the top 10

1. www.next.co.uk
2. www.asos.com
3. www.topshop.com
4. www.riverisland.com
5. www.newlook.com
6. www.mandmdirect.com
7. www.dorothyperkins.co.uk
8. www.mothercare.com
9. www.monsoon.co.uk
10. www.jdsports.co.uk

Food and drink websites are also booming in the UK, due to the economic climate, since more people are looking to entertain at home.

Here’s the top ones:

1. www.bbc.co.uk/food
2. uktv.co.uk/food
3. www.deliaonline.com
4. www.waitrose.com
5. www.bbcgoodfood.com
6. www.channel4.com/food
7. www.qype.co.uk
8. www.jamieoliver.com
9. www.laithwaites.co.uk
10. www.sugarvine.com

The economic downturn and improved online services has also resulted in a 13% increase in traffic to Government websites.

Again, here’s the top 10:

1. www.metoffice.gov.uk
2. www.direct.gov.uk
3. www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
4. www.hmrc.gov.uk
5. www.nhs.uk
6. www.dvla.gov.uk
7. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
8. www.opsi.gov.uk
9. www.dsa.gov.uk
10. www.standards.dfes.gov.uk

Is your website one of the the top 10 in your market? Even if you already are, take a look at the keywords your most successful competitors are targeting, and make sure you are using them too. As we showed you in our Search Engine Optimisation guide, its really easy to use the WebEden Sitebuilder to change your keywords. Any comments, please leave them below.