LookSmart Search Engine Adds Keyword Bidding to LookListings(TM)

Updated on Tuesday, December 16th, 2003 at 12:00 am

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LookSmart Search Engine Adds Keyword Bidding to LookListings(TM)

Flagship paid search product to now offer both bid-for-placement and paid
inclusion within the same campaign. Enhancements enable more than 32,000
current LookListing customers to immediately begin bidding on keywords.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — LookSmart
(Nasdaq: LOOK; ASX: LOK), a leader in search, today announced key enhancements
to its flagship paid search listings. LookListings(TM) will now make it easier
for businesses of all sizes to purchase highly targeted search traffic from
LookSmart’s network of distribution partners, by offering both bid-for-
placement and paid inclusion in one product. This means that advertisers may
now pinpoint customers with specific keywords or reach a broader audience
using relevancy-based inclusion targeting — or do both — in the same
LookListings campaign.

"With these enhancements, nearly 30,000 LookListings advertisers will
automatically start participating in keyword auctions, with several thousand
additional customers able to opt in to bidding immediately," said Jason
Kellerman, chief executive officer for LookSmart. "This means greater control,
convenience and potential cost savings for businesses. For LookSmart, it
instantly catapults us into a stronger position in the $2 billion(1) per year
sponsored search market."

To facilitate the enhancements, LookSmart is combining its Sponsored
Listings product with LookListings: "We have been working on this approach to
simplifying search marketing for nearly two years," said Kevin Berk, vice
president of product development. "Keyword bidding and relevancy-based
inclusion matching now become two targeting options for one listings product
rather than two separate products." Enhanced LookListings will be distributed
across a network of partners that includes CNET, Road Runner, InfoSpace, Cox
Internet, Mamma.com, Alltel and LookSmart.com.

"Adding bid-for-placement functionality to our flagship LookListings
product and engaging virtually our entire customer base in keyword bidding
rapidly brings us to critical mass and makes LookSmart an attractive choice
for traffic owners seeking a sponsored search provider," said Mr. Kellerman.

(1) The Golden Search, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray

About LookSmart

LookSmart is a leading provider of Internet search solutions and is the
leader in paid search inclusion. Combining award-winning technology, editorial
expertise, and community-based initiatives, LookSmart provides users with
highly relevant search results, while delivering targeted sales leads to
online businesses. LookSmart search results are distributed through top
portals and ISPs including Lycos, Road Runner, InfoSpace, CNET, Cox
Interactive Media and search services such as Inktomi. LookSmart is based in
San Francisco, California, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit,
Montreal, Tokyo, Melbourne and Sydney. For more information, visit
http://www.LookSmart.com.