The Monday after Thanksgiving, also called “Cyber Monday” by the National Retail Federation, marks the first big online shopping surge for many merchants.

The NRF’s online division, Shop.org, first used the term “Cyber Monday” in November 2005.

Many Americans will start their holiday shopping today and they will do that in the easiest way possible. With just one click from their computer, their most desired things will be brought into their homes.

"It's a starting point. It's a kickoff point where many retailers have special deals and bargains. Retailers are having special Cyber Monday sales, and the way I see it, if retailers are attaching a sale and calling it Cyber Monday, it's true,” said Scott Krugman, representative for the National Retail Federation.

Internet research firm, comScore Inc. estimated online sales might exceed $700 million online this Monday.

Its representative, Andrew Lipsman said that Cyber Monday is not one of the heaviest online shopping days of the year, but it does represent the first significant spike in online spending activity.

According to Lipsman, “Cyber Monday” gained $608 million in online retail spending last year, up 26 percent from the same day in 2005. It was the heaviest online shopping day on record at the time. The record was soon broken on December 13, with $667 million in spending.

In a survey of nearly 120 members of Shop.org, based in Washington, nearly three-quarters said that they would offer discounts on “Cyber Monday.” The organization also said that 32 percent of adults surveying last week, would shop online on Cyber Monday, which means an increase with 5 percent from the last year.

One third of Internet retailers will send out special emails campaign, while 30 percent will offer specific deal and 29 percent will offer one-day sales. Customers will be thrilled to know that a quarter of merchants will make free shipping available on all purchases on the day, according to the same survey of Shop.org.

"This year, promotions on Cyber Monday are extremely competitive as online retailers use an assortment of one-day specials to send shoppers online," said Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Some online retailers see “Cyber Monday” promotions as an antidote to the crowds and traffic jams of Black Friday and have high hopes that this year’s online promotions attract shopping refugees.