Groupon and Living Social to face new competitors

Deal-of-the-day sites, often featuring a group buying component, have taken off over the past year, with startups like Groupon getting big fast and major internet properties like Google and Facebook looking for their own ways to get in on the action.

Consumer spending on deal-a-day offers is expected to increase more than 35% to reach $3.9 billion by 2015, according to a March 2011 forecast by BIA/Kelsey.

Daily emails from sites like Groupon and LivingSocial have become popular among users. In 2009, Groupon had sales of $33 million. That number rose to $760 million last year.

The consumer interest has res

ulted in major internet players, including Google, Facebook, to try and find ways to enter the market.

In its most optimistic scenario, BIA/Kelsey projects that daily deal sales could exceed $6 billion by 2015, representing a 47.4% compound annual growth rate.