3 replies to this topic

[Vertster]

The new Looksmart newsletter announced that they will waive the setup fee for on the spot listings! I am counting all the 30 dollar charges I can avoid myself and on behalf of my clients. Plus you can argue with the editors face to face about what your descriptions say! Thats a definite plus...

[Haystack]

The $30 setup fee should just go away. It would be in LookSmart's best interest to encourage users to get set up with their program rather than having this barrier to entry.

Whether the service is worth using at all is worth asking too.

[Vertster]

The $30 setup fee should just go away. It would be in LookSmart's best interest to encourage users to get set up with their program rather than having this barrier to entry.

I fully agree. I think they just had troubles letting go of that $199 per listing cash flow they had for a while. I really don't see why they don't go to an auction pricing system as well- they would make more than .15 per click for most keywords.

Whether the service is worth using at all is worth asking too.

My experience is that Looksmart is a low volume, oft overlooked PPC source with a few achilles heals...

- namely their editorial policies are the worst
- click volume is low, but so is the cost
- $30 setup fee is a pretty big deterrant to rolling out a lost of listings, even on the new "deep index" listings
- $19 fee to change the listing is absurd

All the same, it can be useful, particularly on MSN for searches where Overture listings are blacked out. IF you can get a decent description through the editors.

With their new reseller program, it looks like they are hoping to enter the big leagues... with set up fees and 1-800 support for big spenders...

[AussieWebmaster]

LookSmart will have to join the fray once they get cut away from the cozy relationships coming to an end.