Social networking sites are gaining popularity over e-mail, according to comScore’s 2010 U.S. Digital Year in Review, which could mean changes for businesses who utilize digital marketing.

Fourth-quarter revenues rose 11.5 percent for Blue Nile, the largest online retailer of fine jewelry, fueled by robust sales during what the company said was the best holiday season in its 12-year history.

U.S. consumers spent a record-breaking $43.4 billion shopping online in the fourth quarter of 2010, comScore Inc.’s latest retail e-commerce sales estimates show.

J.C. Penney is bringing its Web site to customers browsing in more than 120 of its locations nationwide through the roll-out of the “findmore smart fixture."

Given the widespread popularity of video sites such as YouTube and Hulu, it’s no surprise that the number of online videos has growth six-fold over the last four years, and the amount of advertising surrounding this medium has grown as well.

Nasty weather, which has been no stranger this winter, can put a damper on retail businesses, as would-be shoppers hole up at home to stay out of the cold.

Over the next two years, Macy’s Inc. will hire more than 700 people for the sole purpose of helping the company continue to grow its presence online, the retailer announced recently.

Over the past few years, flash-sale sites have taken the e-commerce world by storm, with member-only sites such as Gilt and Rue La La becoming daily must-visits among fashionistas bent on finding designer goods at discount prices. Next month, the sites will have a new competitor--one devoted entirely to fine jewelry.

As an increasing number of retailers launch online catalogs, enabling customers to digitally "flip" through their inventories, a Massachusetts-based jeweler has upped the ante with a new, personalized version of the digital catalog.

Diamond and jewelry e-tailer JamesAllen.com is the sole jewelry-only player to make it onto Internet Retailer's list of "Hot 100 E-Retailers of 2011."