Oneupweb released a new study to determine if social media affects how people shop online. The new report called “The 2009 Holiday Special Report: E-Commerce Jingles All The Way to the Bank,” found that social sites are creating much more online traffic to e-commerce sites reinforcing the need for e-commerce merchants to get on the social media playing field.

Oneupweb found that online retailers have an opportunity to be successful this holiday season, minimizing the effects of the economy. Consumers are more engaged with brands online – and expect the involvement of retailers online. In addition, consumers are much more likely to search information about products and companies, and read about reviews and ratings before making a purchase.

Are you an e-commerce merchant that’s leveraging social media to drive traffic to your site and ultimately increase engagement with your brand? The holiday season is just around the corner.

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