Internet traffic analyst Hitwise posted its findings from a case study documenting Stardoll's recent promotion with department store chain Kohl's.

Kohl's launched a line of virtual apparel in Stardoll, a teen and 'tween social networking site and doll dress-up community, which users were able to purchase for their online characters. The virtual line featured pieces from a clothing collection designed by singer Avril Lavigne.

The study found that users who visited shopping or classifieds sites after visiting Stardoll most likely visited Kohls.com, presumably due to the promotion.

During the peak week of the promotion (week ending August 16), Stardoll accounted for .26% of visits to Kohls.com, just behind Ask.com.

Hitwise advised that retailers seeking to implement similar promotions need to research any potential partnerships first before expecting similar gains, as the Kohl's Stardoll benefited from their users sharing a common interest in fashion.

Said Hitwise: "Firms looking to establish such partnerships can analyze clickstream data to understand relationships and to find appropriate promotions, thereby reducing the risk of a flop."