LookSmart Becomes First Search Engine to Offer Paid Inclusion and
Bid-for-Placement in One Integrated Advertiser Solution
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LookSmart,
(Nasdaq: LOOK; ASX: LOK), the global leader in paid inclusion search marketing
today announced the launch of Sponsored Listings, the Company's first
bid-for-placement search listings product, which enables advertisers to
precisely target their campaigns by bidding for the terms that are core to
their business. The Company also announced that it is distributing Sponsored
Listings across a network of partners that includes CNET, Road Runner,
InfoSpace, LookSmart.com, Cox Internet, Mamma.com and Alltel.
Bid-for-placement search marketing, estimated to be a $4 billion market by
2007 1, represents an expanded revenue opportunity for LookSmart. The launch
of Sponsored Listings is an important part of the Company's plan to grow the
portfolio of products it offers to advertisers and distribution partners while
diversifying its revenue streams.
"With the launch of Sponsored Listings, LookSmart becomes the first
company to offer an integrated solution for advertisers and a full-page search
solution for portals and ISPs," said Jason Kellerman, chief executive officer
for LookSmart. "We provide the leading paid inclusion product, a next
generation search technology with WiseNut and now a bid-for-placement search
product. Furthermore, as an independent company, LookSmart doesn't compete
with its partners and can focus solely on supporting their search needs."
New Product to Leverage Existing Base of 30,000 Advertisers
While Sponsored Listings marks LookSmart's entry into the
bid-for-placement search market, the Company already provides paid inclusion
search programs for more than 30,000 advertisers. "By evolving the fixed-price
keyword product that we've been testing for more than a year with large
advertisers into this new auction-based product available to all advertisers
through our online platform, we will deliver strong paid listing relevance to
distribution partners," said Brian Cowley, senior vice president of business
development for LookSmart.
First Integrated Solution for Advertisers
With today's announcement, LookSmart becomes the first company to offer
the benefits of paid inclusion and bid-for-placement in one integrated
solution. "Advertisers can manage their LookListings and Sponsored Listings
campaigns from one account, with a single login," said Kevin Berk, vice
president of product development. "This level of product integration allows
advertisers to utilize all the features of LookSmart's Advertiser Center to
monitor campaign performance, easily manage listings, and transfer listings
between paid inclusion and keyword targeted campaigns."
Ranking Technology Reflects Company's Heritage of Putting Relevance First
The Sponsored Listings algorithm considers both the amount an advertiser
has bid for a search term and the click-through rate when ranking paid
listings. "This approach provides a discount for those listings that are most
relevant," said Mr. Cowley. "Our proprietary technology combined with
LookSmart's editorial oversight ensures accuracy for search users and maximum
value for distribution partners."
Additional information about LookSmart Sponsored Listings can be found at
http://listings.looksmart.com
(1) The Golden Search, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray
About LookSmart
LookSmart is a leading provider of Internet search solutions and is the
global leader in paid search inclusion. Combining award-winning technology,
editorial expertise, and community-based initiatives, LookSmart provides users
worldwide with highly relevant search results, while delivering targeted sales
leads to online businesses. LookSmart paid inclusion and auction-based keyword
search results are distributed through top portals and ISPs including
Microsoft's MSN, Lycos, About.com, Road Runner, InfoSpace, CNET, Cox
Interactive Media and search services such as Inktomi. LookSmart is based in
San Francisco, California, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit,
Montreal, London, Tokyo, Melbourne and Sydney. For more information, visit
http://www.LookSmart.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include,
without limitation, statements about our expectations regarding our financial
performance, market opportunities, product development plans, distribution
network and other matters. These statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially,
including, among others, possible fluctuations in the demand for our services;
possible fluctuations in economic conditions affecting the markets for our
services; our ability to compete with existing or new competitors; possible
future price competition or other actions by our competitors; the risk that
our key performance metrics, including overall traffic and use of our
services, number of paid clicks, average price per paid click and the number
of advertisers that might not continue to increase at historical rates or
might decline; the risk that LookSmart may not experience benefits through
agreements with its partners or that partners may not continue or renew their
agreements with LookSmart; and the risk that LookSmart may encounter
difficulties in connection with or not experience benefits from new products
or that the costs of product development and roll-out might be higher than
anticipated. In addition, your should read the risk factors detailed in our
periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The statements presented in this press release speak only as of the date
of the release. Please note that we undertake no obligation to revise or
update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
NOTE: "LookSmart" is a trademark of LookSmart, Ltd., and/or its
subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned
are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Michael Prichinello of RLM Public Relations, Inc.,
+1-212-741-5106, ext. 14, or michael@rlmPR.com, for LookSmart.
SOURCE LookSmart
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.looksmart.com
CONTACT:
Michael Prichinello of RLM Public Relations,
Inc., +1-212-741-5106, ext. 14, or michael@rlmPR.com, for
LookSmart
|
