::ExactSeek

It is possible to get a number 1 listing without paying for every click you receive. The people at ExactSeek have built an engine that allows you to move up their rankings by simply providing them with some traffic yourself.

ExactSeek blends innovative search and listing techniques with the traditional search engine model. At the core of ExactSeek is a Meta-tag search engine using site titles and meta-tags to classify sites under keywords and phrases. However, unlike a traditional meta-tag search engine, the most important aspect of your ranking (under their priority listings) is the amount of traffic you provide to their site.

ExactSeek Priority Listings use a system of "Search Points" to determine a site's ranking. A single search point is equal to 20 searches provided within a day. As your listing accumulates more and more search points, your site rises in their listings. And, of course, as your site rises in their rankings, you will see more and more traffic. When you add your site to their listings, you will certainly want to participate in their Priority Listings as it guarantees your site a place among the top 100 search results for the keywords in your site title and meta tags. Of course, your position within the top 100 will continue to improve as you send more traffic to them. With over 30,000 new site submissions daily (yes, that's 30,000 site submissions per day), ExactSeek is quickly making its impression on webmasters across the globe. Also, visitors are able to search for more than just websites. They can search for images, mp3 files, images, comparison shopping sites and email addresses.

If you have not added your site to ExactSeek, you are missing out on something that is becoming more and more rare: the opportunity for free traffic. With that price tag in mind and the ability to be listed at the top of their listings, listing with ExactSeek is an easy decision.

::LookListings

One of the main problems pay-per-click search engines have presented to advertisers is the "ego bidder". This is the bidder who bids so much higher than what everyone else is willing to pay that all competition is effectively cut off.

The negative consequence of this is that the bid price is artificially inflated and all advertisers suffer less traffic or higher bid prices. To avoid the ego bidders, and to provide all advertisers with a fair price for their listings, LookListings charges a flat per click fee of just $0.15. Try finding a quality keyword on Overture or Google for $0.15 - I promise you will be hard-pressed to find one.

This system has worked very well for them and their advertisers. Because there is no bidding process, advertisers are able to concentrate more on how their listings read and what keywords they are listed under rather than focusing on whether they have been outbid, are paying too much for their listing, or other time-consuming activities.

LookSmart was already recognized for being a top search engine before launching LookListings. Since LookListings became available, LookSmart has added MSN, AltaVista, About, Excite, Netscape, InfoSpace, Cnet, and RoadRunner to participate in their program.

LookListings will probably be the most expensive option out of the three search engines presented here. However, with the search traffic they are able to provide, their services are well worth the asking price. Conclusion This article has mentioned three search engines that act as alternatives or supplements to PPCSE's. PPCSE's are not a bad marketing investment. However, they can be expensive and difficult to manage.

These alternative search engines all offer one thing: more traffic for your money.