Re: UKNM: Search engine promotions

[Caroline Tosswill]

hello again


I'd just like to set the record straight on these allegations that we're fixing

the Lycos search results on Virgin Net - it's absolutely *not* the case!


Elizabeth Van Couvering wrote:


> [snip] For example, a publisher or

> retailer could reserve the word 'book' which would automatically put their

> product or company at the top of the search list to Virgin's subscribers.

> Current advertisers on Virgin Net include the BBC, Citibank and TBS."

>

> What this says to me is they are paying for search results.  I have to say I

> find this editorially dubious.


The Lycos search on Virgin Net will bring back exactly the same results

as a search on http://www.lycos.co.uk/ and we are not influencing the

search results in any way.


However, we are planning to doing exactly the

same as Lycos.co.uk in terms of targeted advertising using related

keywords. The advertising is either in the form of standard banner

advertising or special links that appear above the main search results.

For example, if you search on for the term "cars" on www.lycos.co.uk, a

banner advert for Audi appears on the results page as does a link above

the search results for "Peugeot: The 20 in the spotlight".


As with Lycos.co.uk, advertisers on Virgin Net will be able to reserve

specific "concepts" (clusters of words) related to their product. For

example, a car manufacturer could reserve the concept for "music" so

that whenever a user searches for terms within the "music" cluster

(music, albums, CDs etc) an advert or link for that company will be

offered on the results page. In this way way advertisers can be sure

they are reaching the right audience but the advertising has absolutely

no influence over the search results. Pages within the advertiser's site

would not appear any higher in the search results list than they would

normally.


Hope this clears up any misunderstanding.


regards

Caroline


--

Virgin Net


http://www.virgin.net/