LINCOLN — Nebraska was No. 2 among states with the biggest thirst for online Christmas shopping, according to a study by an online coupon platform.

Coupon Mister used a range of key search terms like “Online Christmas sales” and “Christmas shopping online” to determine interest and then ranked states by search intensity (the average number of searches per 10,000 residents).

Nebraska and No. 1 West Virginia were the only states to score above 70 for search intensity. For the study, Coupon Mister analyzed Google Trends data across the U.S., covering search trends from late 2022 to early December this year.

Researchers said that while urban hubs such as Omaha and Lincoln offer a range of options for shoppers, Nebraskans in rural areas benefit significantly from online shopping as it saves them long trips to stores and retail centers.

As for popular online search terms among Nebraskans, “Best Christmas deals” was tops.

“Trends tell you what’s working in real time, and companies that pay attention can pivot quickly to deliver what customers want,” says Fred Harrington, CEO of Coupon Mister, which provides access to discount codes and deals.

He said that shoppers today expect brands to anticipate their needs, especially when time is tight, like around the busy holiday season. 

“By studying these trends, businesses can fine-tune their holiday campaigns. That might mean launching promotions earlier to capture those who plan way in advance or optimizing mobile experiences for last-minute buyers,” he said.

Following West Virginia and Nebraska for states that shop from the comfort of their couches were New Hampshire, Delaware, Alabama, Maine, Kentucky, Montana, Arkansas and Missouri.