The holiday season is typically seen as a major spending opportunity for consumers, and a way for many companies to make enough profits to aid them for most of the year. This year, in particular, is being reported as one that could be highly favorable for companies, but in order to ensure they make the most out of the rising consumer confidence, they will need to use an effective internet marketing campaign to get their business at the forefront of customers' priorities.

A recent survey by PriceGrabber states that 50 percent of consumers plan to spend the same amount during this holiday season as they did in 2011. Furthermore, 12 percent even plan to spend more, with 54 percent of all consumers projecting a holiday shopping budget of $500 or more.

According to the report, 75 percent of respondents preferred online retailers over brick-and-mortar stores for their holiday shopping. As such, these businesses should be sure to communicate the convenience they offer in their targeted internet marketing campaigns as a way to capitalize on this demand.

Of these businesses, clothing stores hold strong as the main priority for shoppers. Coming in second, though, is the use of gift cards, which can be ideal promotional items for internet marketing advertisements. Books, CDs, DVDs and video games are third, closely followed by toys.

"Fifty-nine percent of consumers plan to start shopping even earlier this year compared to 53 percent in 2011," Rojeh Avanesian, vice president of marketing and analytics at PriceGrabber, said in a press release. "Seventeen percent of consumers plan to start their holiday shopping in September and 31 percent plan to begin in December."

While the report shows a strong consumer base for the holidays, it's still important for companies to make the most out of this by partnering with an experienced digital advertising agency to create an effective small business internet marketing campaign.