New research has shown that social networks are providing a growing amount of online traffic for retailers.

The amount of internet traffic which online retailers received from social networking websites has increased year-on-year, a new study has shown.

Research by Hitwise found that 7.1 per cent of online retail traffic from March 2009 was directed from social networks, compared to 5.2 per cent 12 months ago.

eBay UK was found to be the top online retail outlet receiving traffic from social networking websites, getting 1.94 per cent of all downstream visits, which could have resulted in an increased demand for delivery services to ship orders to victorious bidders.

Amazon UK (0.40 per cent) and Play.com (0.19 per cent) made up the top three online retailers getting customers from social networks.

Robin Goad, research director at Hitwise UK, said: "Social networks are a relatively small but fast growing source of traffic for online retailers.

"At present, only a minority of retailers pick up a significant amount of traffic from social networks, but many of those that do have seen a positive impact on traffic."

Javelin Strategy & Research recently predicted that consumer spending online will increase by eight per cent during the second quarter of 2009.


Article Added: 27/04/2009 09:26:42