A spokesperson for the Forum of Private Businesses (FPB) has highlighted the ways in which internet marketing can be useful for digitally-minded firms in the IT sector.

Phil McCabe, speaking on behalf of the organisation which defends the rights and fair treatment of private firms, said internet marketing is quite cost-effective at targeting the consumers which they know will use the offers that are provided.

He continued: "In recent months, given everything that has happened in the economy, there have been more offers out there that have been able to be marketed more effectively over the internet."

Mr McCabe added that the recent popularity of the industry for offers online has exponentially grown in the last few months, describing the phenomenon as a "bit of an explosion".

According to recent research by Hitwise following the Christmas shopping boom, there was a 143 per cent increase in the volume of searches for discount vouchers over the holiday period.