Search Engine Enlightenment

Pretty Big News: LookSmart in Multi-Year Pact with Terra Lycos

Lycos, which already has deals with both FindWhat and Overture and currently uses the FAST index for web results, has signed a multi-year deal with LookSmart to feature LookSmart's web search results in Lycos Search. Inclusion in the LookSmart index requires a combination of an initial listing fee and a fee per click, flat at 15 cents for the first 5,000 clicks per month and market-priced (30 cents and up) for additional clicks. Numerous changes are currently taking place in LookSmart's pricing and service offerings, including offering more services (such as multiple listings) to small business that were originally only available to large corporate accounts.

Although its featured placement in the new deal is certainly a coup for LookSmart, it needs to be stressed that it's a non-exclusive deal with a relatively minor search property. Although Terra Lycos is a large conglomerate and Lycos remains the world's fourth-biggest portal, it's not exactly top-of-mind for the average consumer.

Perhaps, though, this is a positive step in LookSmart's evolution away from being thought of as beholden to MSN, their largest partner. The wider reach will be a benefit to retailers who are currently showing a positive ROI with their LookSmart listings.

Posted by Andrew
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Monday, July 07, 2003