The Internet will be a key tool for saving money this holiday shopping season, according to US online females surveyed in October 2008 by SheSpeaks. More than two-thirds of respondents said they would try to use more coupons and coupon codes this year, and nearly as many said they would spend more time online looking for bargains.

Brands may attract more than one user per coupon. Two-thirds of poll respondents said they forwarded online coupons, and nearly 80% said they had shared a coupon with a friend during the past three months.

Aliza Freud, CEO of SheSpeaks, said that targeting offers was especially important this season.

"Brands and retailers really stand to benefit from making women feel like they have access to a unique offer," Ms. Freud said in a statement. "This year it is especially important for marketers to engage women using direct marketing that gives them a personal incentive to shop."



More than three-quarters of respondents said they would be likely to make impulse purchases as well.

Female shoppers are of particular interest to retailers right now because they are more likely than males to do their holiday shopping early.

Last year, according to a Mediamark Research survey, over one-third of respondents began their holiday shopping before Thanksgiving.



Delving into the identity of these early holiday shoppers, Mediamark found they tended to be female, baby boomers and toy buyers. Conversely, early shoppers were least likely to be male and Generation X consumers.