Too often it is still easier to search the entire Web than a single site. In-site search leaves much to be desired in its ability to provide users with accurate search results, let alone assistance in performing more accurate searches. Israeli PredictAd is attacking this challenge head-on by offering auto-complete functionality for search boxes with an added twist: monetizable real-estate.
Already deployed across 6,000 websites and generating millions of monthly impressions, PredictAd is announcing the launch of PredictAdPlus+. Targeted at media networks and high-traffic websites/blogs, the offering provides greater control of the look and feel, customization, dedicated databases, and advanced display options. Most importantly, it allows a number of sister sites to be integrated into a single search box. As an example, the TechCrunch search box at the bottom of this post incorporates CrunchGear, MobileCrunch and CrunchBoard. The auto-complete needs time to learn, but you’ll get the general drift.
PredictAd is making 250 invites available to TechCrunch readers. Sign-up here.
PredictAd’s twist on search monetization begins by helping users refine their in-site search queries by way of real-time search suggestions—think Google Toolbar’s auto-suggest feature. PredictAd continuously optimizes its suggestions based on the community search patterns for any given site. Beyond collaborative filtering PredictAd also takes into account historical searches, geo-location, time of day, common misspellings, connections between words, and more.
Not only should users benefit from more accurate searches, site-owners should benefit from increased page views as a result of user exposure to additional site content. Site-owners can also benefit from SEO insights drawn from the service’s analytics backend.
This is where ad monetization comes into play. PredictAd injects contextual advertising into the search box. The ads—text or image—change dynamically as users type out their search queries. In practice, PredictAd creates its own ad real-estate and then monetizes it. An important element in PredictAd’s offering is the fact that the ads are displayed directly in the user’s focal zone, unlike traditional ads which are susceptible to “banner blindness”. Rev-share is 50%/50% on run of network ads, and 80%/20% (for the publisher) when the advertiser selects specific publisher sites. PredictAd is claiming click-through rates in range of 0.5%-4%.
PredictAd might appeal particularly to blog owners who would welcome any spare cash they can get from their sites, along with additional upsides such as higher page counts and increased user engagement. Blog integration is a piece of cake, especially for bloggers using WordPress, TypePad or Blogger, who can hit the ground running with ready-to-go plugins. A pure JavaScript version is also available that just requires cutting and pasting.
I applied, looks pretty cool.
Welcome Roi!
So they are going up against Google’s search tool that allows you to monetize using Adsense? I do like the fact that ads start showing up right when they’re typing…that could certainly help the ROI!
Mystery CEO
I dont like to use google’s search on a wordpress site though Mystery CEO. I think it looks kinda crappy
Looks interesting and worth a try.
i dont use anything that uses reflections in logo with beta, fucking stupid
I will definitely try this service to monetize my site better.
Will give this a try on my site before the day is out… I currently use google but am unhappy with the lack of customization.
Jon
http://woodmarvels.com
send it to the deadpool now. they should come up with better ideas to be sustainable.
As a publisher this is very exciting. Its nice to see a new search product come from a company other than google.
It sounds like a good idea and something that I should probably try on my blogs.
I’m just upset I didn’t think of this. Brilliant!
Very Good idea.
I would like stress the fact that PredictAd is not a search engine, but rather an autocomplete service that sits on top of your site’s search in order to enhance the search query and add a new channel of search monetization.
What separates PredictAd from search is that PredictAd seamlessly integrates with any search box - whether it be Google, Yahoo, Ask or a custom search developed in-house.
In fact, besides offering an additional channel of monetization, PredictAd enhances a site’s AdWords performance by refining the search query and thus directly affecting which ad is displayed on the back-end of your search engine.
As an example: let’s say someone begins typing “insurance” into your search engine and performs a search. They will receive search results and ads that are relevant to the term “insurance”. With PredictAd, once the user types “insurance” they will receive search suggestions such as “car insurance” or “life insurance” in order to refine the query and help display more relevant search results and advertisements - improving the user experience and increasing the site’s click and conversion rates.
Please contact me at press [at] predictad.com if anyone has any additional press related inquiries.
Thanks,
Tomer Molovinsky
How about allowing us TC users to search the site?
(Not to mention printing posts from time to time and read them on our number two’s!!!)
God i am serious!
so how long til the 250 people are invited to use it?
There aren’t enough search queries on blog sites to make this a goiod business. Sorry, sounds cute but is actually a terrible idea.
welp,I think its a great idea.
jenkins - you have to think longtail..
good luck!
I’ve written stuff like this… didn’t put the ads IN the auto-fill box, but still.
It was the first ajax I ever did! Almost two years ago.
I get 100-300 searches a day on mine jenkins, that should be enough to make something
Predictad really gave a push to my web site.
I recommend it for everyone…
Really gives google a good fight - great idea!
For those that don’t believe this is a good idea: consider how certain websites are holding up based on CPC or CPM rates. They have been declining steadily over the last few years, and it’s not looking up.
You have to find ways to monetize your digital platform at all costs. Looks like PredictAd is offering a viable solution and another option to increase revenue.
As a sidenote, does anybody know of good resources that provide rate cards for social network sites?
right on alex. couldn’t agree with you more. i like the idea of engaging users on my site instead of passively letting them do the customary google search.
WOW !!
I never thought bout that before… would like to implement in on my blog.. thank u for the link and the invitation.