Procrastination just may be the main shopping strategy for shoppers this year. According to Google Insights for Search, search traffic on 'last minute gifts' and related terms spike in the days immediately before Christmas:

'last minute gifts'
December 2008









'last minute deals'
December 2008









'shipping by christmas'
December 2008









Keep in mind that shoppers will be looking for last minute gifts, deals, and shipments through Christmas Eve. Make sure that your budgets are optimized to capture this last minute traffic, and that you are bidding competitively in the days leading up to Christmas. You should also ensure that your ad text is enticing to last-minute shoppers and that it clearly states shipping deadlines so that your customers have a clear idea of whether or not you'll be able to ship gifts in time.

Posted by Erin Piper, the Google Retail Team