13 replies to this topic

[Alan Perkins]

[quote name='http://llama.looksmart.co.uk/email/faq.html']Following MSN's decision to end their relationship with LookSmart as of 15th January 2004, we have reached the conclusion that we will be unable to operate profitably in Europe next year. We have therefore decided to close our office in London in early 2004[/quote]

[SearchRank]

Could this be the beginning of the end for Looksmart?

[Haystack]

They landed a few new syndication partners which might slow down the bleeding. Intereting that they now publicize having 30,000 paying advertisers. That's quite a drop from their 4th quarter of 2002 press release:

The company added more than 7,000 companies to its roster of advertisers in the fourth quarter of 2002, bringing the total number of active, paying advertisers to more than 80,000, up 51 percent from 53,000 in the fourth quarter of 2001 and up 10 percent sequentially from 73,000 in the third quarter of 2002.

[Alan Perkins]

They landed a few new syndication partners which might slow down the bleeding. Intereting that they now publicize having 30,000 paying advertisers. That's quite a drop from their 4th quarter of 2002 press release:

Are you talking about Looksmart UK, or Looksmart generally?

[Haystack]

Looksmart generally.

[websage]

LookSmart has just added three more partners to its bid-for-placement distribution network. SearchFeed, myGeek and ABCSearch will join existing sites such as CNET, Road Runner, InfoSpace, LookSmart.com, Cox Internet, Mamma.com and Alltel.

The question is can they survive as a second-tier player. It is obvious they will not be first-tier player anymore.

[SearchRank]

The question is can they survive as a second-tier player. It is obvious they will not be first-tier player anymore.

Maybe if they allow penny to nickel clicks as some of the other second-tier PPC providers offer. I hope not though as I am still mad at them for changing over to PPC and not grandfathering all those who paid the one time submission fee to get in. Yahoo was smart when they went to an annual fee to grandfather the old listings and only apply the annual fee to the new ones.

I believe most people only advertised at Looksmart to gain visibility on MSN anyway. So I guess we will have to see.

[websage]

By the way, with all the negative news about LookSmart, we shouldn't overlook their launch of http://www.findarticles.com -- the largest index of free magazine articles on the web.

[Vrian Sinth]

How about this article on LookSmart!

LookSmart Expects to Lay Off Half of Staff

http://www.dmnews.co...rticle_id=25877

[Haystack]

Ouch, losing About and INKT in addition to the huge hit from MSN doesn't sound good at all. I'd be very concerned about what LookSmart might do in such a desparate situation to drive more 'traffic' through to their clients.

[Scottie]

Welcome to the forum, Vrian Sinth!

[Jill]

I'm sure you're very concerned, Ed.

[Haystack]

I'm sure you're very concerned, Ed.

LOL, I guess I should have prefaced that by saying, "People who actually use LookSmart must be . . ."

Welcome, Vrian Sinth.
According to my watch, you haven't actually joined the forum for another hour or so. Have fun.

[Vrian Sinth]

Thank you scottiecl and Haystack! I'm glad to be here. Hope to learn a ton about SEO.