Re: AltaVista Testing Paid Search Results

From: Eric Ward (URLwire and NetPOST) <netpost_at_netpost.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 09:30:24 -0500 (CDT)

I'm a contrarian with regard to to paid search engine
placement. I like it, with some caveats. Here's why it
makes sense.

- Paid search results are here to stay, so like them or not,
embrace them, because your competitor is.

- Given that for the majority of searchers, the results are
meaningless anyway, filled with optimizers, spammers,
cloakers, bridgers, etc., I am thrilled to know that the
results floating to the top will cost someone. The more it
costs me to have a top position, the more likely I am to
narrow my choice of terms I'm paying for to actually match
my site's content. How novel...

- The reason the engines are feeling compelled to do this is
less about the money and more about keeping their massive
databases useful for SOMETHING. There is a certain point
for any collection of data that once it passes a certain
size, it can no longer be effectively searched by keyword.
We were at that point years ago. So if you were them, with
a database of a billion Web pages, being searched by
single words by mostly novice searchers, getting more and
more useless results with each passing day, what would you
do to keep it viable?

The caveats:

- Offer searchers a two column result page for any search
they do; Paid results, and AltaVista Engine results

- Have a link just above the search results that says:

"Click here for hits from .edu, .org and
other typically non profit or non commercial sites"

In other words, without making it any more confusing, the
engine could organize the results into classes, rather than
giving the laundry list.

Regards,

Eric Ward

T h e W a r d G r o u p
News of the Web's Top Launches and Events Since 1994
. Vertically driven strategic URL submission plans
. Online site marketing plans/blueprints
. Speaker, C|Net, iWorld, & ThunderLizard Conferences
http://www.TheWardGroup.com/ mailto:EricWard@NetPOST.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


========================================================================
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       This week's Online Advertising Discussion List sponsors:
               FlyCast, Clicksales.com and AdKnowledge

WEB ADVERTISING THAT MAKES YOU A HERO. Our Web experts optimize your
buy across 780 sites. All for what you'd normally pay for placement on
one. Call it superhuman. http://WWW.FLYCAST.COM/OA
                                ---

 ###100% GUARANTEED### Pay-Per-Click and Pay-Per-Download Advertising
     All of your money back if you are not completely satisfied!
-->> http://www.clicksales.com/ and http://www.downloadsales.com/ <<--

                                ---

Measure results, optimize your ROI and execute web advertising campaigns
flawlessly with the AdKnowledge System. Find out why the best agencies
and the biggest e-marketers use AdKnowledge. http://www.adknowledge.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------
========================================================================
Online Advertising Discussion List To Unsubscribe send UNSUBSCRIBE
http://www.o-a.com/ to online-ads-request@o-a.com



Received on Fri Apr 16 1999 - 10:40:56 CDT