Should I be using coupon sites to promote my e-commerce site?

• I run an ecommerce site and was told that I should consider adding coupon sites to my online promotional strategy. Is this really effective and if so, what tips can you give me to make the most out my directory listings? Do you have a list of coupon sites you would recommend?

Answer: The current economic climate has caused average American households to tighten their financial belts more than ever before. The incredible increase in both fuel and food costs, coupled with the housing crisis and a weak US dollar abroad, has resulted in an obvious shift in how online consumers approach their shopping needs. One of the most obvious shifts in online behavior is the incredible rise in visits to major coupon and comparison shopping sites in 2008.

According to industry research firm Hitwise Intelligence, total traffic to major coupon and shopping comparison sites are up an astounding 75% over 2007, with the top 11 major coupon sites seeing an average traffic increase of over 85%. The average consumer is also investing more time online looking for coupons; the average visit time on these sites has risen from 4 minutes, 30 seconds one year ago, to 6 minutes and 15 seconds. This bodes very well for the upcoming 2008 holiday shopping season and is certainly a trend that ecommerce site owners should study. And if all that isn't enough to convince you, then take a look at these recent headlines:

• Coupons Inc. and Grocery Shopping Network See 58% Growth in Coupon Usage
• Online retailers in danger of losing 27 percent of online business by not offering coupons

If you are not presently using coupon sites as part of your online promotional strategy, there has never been a better...