(Source: Business Wire)With the economy slowing down over the past year, a shopping behavior that for some consumers had been an occasional habit, has now become a routine -- turning to the Internet to find the best value. A recent study identified a new category of online shoppers resulting from this trend - the "value hunter." The study, conducted by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, Inc. (PSB), was commissioned in partnership by LinkShare, a leading performance marketing network provider and gsi interactiveSM, a GSI Commerce® company providing comprehensive digital marketing and design solutions.

Research by PSB conducted earlier this year identified the birth of the "recession shopper." These consumers -- often new to online shopping -- claimed that as economic situations worsened, they would look to the Internet to find the best deals. Now, months later, even as the economy's vital signs are improving, online shopping behavior shows consumers are still heavily focused on value -- in quality, price, convenience and time - making "value" the new core value among online consumers.

The evolution from "recession shopper" to "value hunter" means that consumers who were previously defined as "more likely to buy" online are now looking for value to determine what, and where, they will make their online purchase. Specifically, the research found that:

72 percent (72%) of "value hunters" look for the best value regardless of brand

51 percent (51%) of "value hunters" look for incentives when making online purchases

63 percent (63%) of "value hunters" have purchased something online they wouldn't have normally because of a special offer.

"More than ever before, consumers are searching online for products, services and websites that provide value," said Yaz Iida, co-president, LinkShare. "In order to be successful in this new ˜information-at-a-click' world, retailers must broaden and diversify their affiliate marketing partnerships. These partnerships provide retailers both big and small with a unique opportunity to expand their customer base by differentiating themselves through value-based products and promotions."

In response to these findings, PSB outlined best practices every online retailer should adopt to stay competitive.