Searches at Meta-Search Engine
WebCrawler Grow 47 Percent Since Removal of Pop-Up and Banner
Advertising
Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2003--
Removal of Pop-Up and Banner Advertising Last July Designed to
Provide Web Searchers with Comprehensive, Relevant Results Faster,
from the Many Search Engines WebCrawler Meta-Searches
Since removing pop-up and banner advertising in
late July 2002, searches at WebCrawler (www.webcrawler.com), one of the first search properties on the Internet and part of the InfoSpace
Network (Nasdaq:INSP), have grown 47 percent, according to internal
statistics. This increase is a result of the six-month period spanning
August 2002-January 2003.
"WebCrawler was the first site to officially ban pop-up advertising," said York Baur, InfoSpace executive vice president,
wireline and broadband. "Obviously, this move has proven to be a
success, both from a user and business perspective. The increase in
searches conducted at WebCrawler enables us to keep the site pop-up
and banner advertising free, while Internet users find comprehensive
and relevant results faster," Baur added.
In addition, InfoSpace today announced it has taken the step of
removing non-targeted advertising from other core search properties,
including Excite Search (http://search.excite.com), Dogpile
(www.dogpile.com) and MetaCrawler (www.metacrawler.com).
"Targeted advertising now will only appear on the search results
pages at Excite, Dogpile and MetaCrawler, if it is applicable to the
conducted search or an advertiser's keyword purchase," said Daniel
Russell, InfoSpace vice president of advertising sales. "Eliminating
run-of-network advertising is not only a positive for our users, but
we've found it increases the click-through-rate and conversion of our
highly-targeted Keyword Integration Units for advertisers."
"The removal of non-targeted advertising, such as run-of-network
placement, is a natural progression in our efforts to present only
relevant information to users," added Baur.
About WebCrawler
WebCrawler (www.webcrawler.com), one of the first search properties on the Internet, is a meta-search engine, which allows
users to search multiple search engines at once, returning the most
comprehensive and relevant results fast. WebCrawler is part of the
InfoSpace Network (Nasdaq:INSP).
About InfoSpace
InfoSpace, Inc. (Nasdaq:INSP) provides wireless and Internet
software and application services. The Company develops software
technologies that enable customers to efficiently offer a broad array
of network-based services under their own brand to any device.
InfoSpace corporate information can be found at
infospaceinc.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements regarding the
Company's WebCrawler meta-search engine. These forward-looking
statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to
certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to
predict. A more detailed description of certain factors that could
affect actual results include, but are not limited to, the adoption of InfoSpace's meta-search services by consumers and those discussed in
InfoSpace's Annual Report on Form 10-K, in the section entitled
"Factors Affecting Our Operating Results, Business Prospects and
Market Price of Stock." Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of
the date of this release. InfoSpace undertakes no obligation to update
publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information,
events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect
the occurrence of unanticipated events.
--30--NL/se* CONTACT: WebCrawler
Steve Stratz, 425/709-8167
steve.stratz@infospace.com KEYWORD: WASHINGTON
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: E-COMMERCE INTERNET PRODUCT
SOURCE: InfoSpace, Inc. |
