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Chris
10-06-2003, 07:04 PM
Got this email from Looksmart today:



Dear valued customer,
This letter is to inform you that there will be changes to your LookListings traffic in 2004, as a result of recent developments within our search distribution partner network. It is important to understand that these changes will not affect your LookSmart traffic in Q4 2003. It is also important to note that these changes will not affect your keyword-targeted Sponsored Listings traffic.

Beginning in January 2004, MSN will be removing the Web Directory Sites layer from its search results, and will no longer have a direct partnership agreement with LookSmart. Your LookListings may still appear on MSN through our distribution partnership with Inktomi, but your paid inclusion traffic will be reduced at that time. Your LookListings will also continue to provide traffic from more than 85 other LookSmart partners such as Lycos, About.com, Road Runner, InfoSpace and CNET. We are negotiating with other portals and ISPs for additional distribution of LookListings, and will let you know as new properties are added to our network.

While LookSmart's paid inclusion traffic will decrease in Q1 2004, we are working to grow our presence in the pay-for-placement market.

We recently launched LookSmart Sponsored Listings, our first bid-for-placement keyword product. Sponsored Listings is fully integrated with LookListings, so you can use your existing login and password, get started with just a few simple clicks, and monitor the performance of all your paid inclusion and pay-for-placement listings together in the LookSmart Advertiser Center. Click here to learn more about Sponsored Listings or to add them to your campaign.

On behalf of LookSmart staff and management, I would like to thank you in advance for your continued support.

Regards,
Jason Kellerman,
Chief Executive Officer,
LookSmart


Guess who's stock is going to dive?

The big question is though, what is MSN going to do? Is their own search engine going to be ready by 2004, or are they going to continue to use Inktomi (which is run by a competitor).