Internet marketing strategy is fast-emerging as the way to target those aged between ten and 14-years old, new research has shown.

According to the study commissioned by DoubleClick Performics, eight in ten so-called tweens spend an average of one hour per day online every day.

This figure is ten per cent higher than the number of the same group that watch an hour of TV per day.

Stuart Larkins, senior vice-president of search at DoubleClick Performics, suggests that search engine marketing and search engine optimisation (SEO) in particular may be the key to accessing this market.

He told Chief Marketer: "Many also reported using search engines to find places to buy, check prices or start researching a purchase from scratch."

The research also revealed that more than half of respondent tweens used the internet more than three times per day.

Google and Yahoo were the most popular source for searches, used by 78 per cent and 14 per cent of respondents respectively.

However, the market could prove a tough cookie to break into.

A recent report by the US Federal Trade Commission estimated that $1.6 billion (£809 million) was spent on marketing to children by food and beverage companies alone in 2006.

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