These are troubling economic times. That much can’t be denied. Consumers feel the pinch as they find that it costs more to buy things. But now businesses are hurting, too. It’s also expensive to sell things.

Skyrocketing fuel costs have turned consumers to the Internet for their shopping needs. After all, it can be easier, quicker and cheaper to order something online if you find a good price and if shipping is cheap or even free. But therein lies the problem. While expensive gas has made shopping on the Internet more attractive to fuel-conscious consumers, it’s also made the offer of affordable or free shipping more difficult for online retailers.

It’s estimated that millions more consumers will be shopping on the Internet this holiday season as compared to last year. You can claim your chunk of the growing numbers by offering free shipping and competing with other retailers who use it as the ultimate shopping lure.