Monetizing web traffic has become a profitable revenue stream for many content owners, browser extensions, desktop and mobile apps, affiliate marketers, media buyers, and publishers. One highly effective yet often overlooked strategy is search feed monetization. This article delves into what search feed monetization is, how it works, and why it’s a valuable revenue stream.
What is Search Feed Monetization?
Search feed monetization is the process of earning revenue by displaying search results on a website, browser extension, or application that are provided by a third-party search engine. Search results can also be displayed on a landing page or destination URL. This involves integrating a search feed from a search engine partner, such as Google, Bing or Yahoo search feed providers. When users perform searches with an integrated search feed, the results displayed contain relevant content and paid advertisements. Each time a user clicks on one of these ads, the publisher earns a commission.
What are the Types of Search Feeds?
Search Feed Types: There are various types of search feeds based on individual traffic sources. Below is a list of search feeds available.
- N2S (Native to Search)
- S2S (Social to Search)
- D2S (Display to Search)
- AFD (Ad Feeds Display)
- AFS (AdSense for Search)
- RSOC (Related Search for Content)
- Type In (YHS, BHS, GHS)
Two formats of common search feeds are the XML search feed and hosted search feed.
XML search feeds allows customization and personalization of the search results page. Custom branding and elements can be incorporated and either the content owner or search feed provider will manage and host the search engine results pages.
Hosted search feed pages are directly managed and hosted by the search engines such as Yahoo, Bing or Google. Content owners and publishers can pass custom keywords or queries via URL string to the hosted pages to track and generate custom search results and help identify the source of the traffic. Traffic redirected to hosted search feed pages allow a full and rich end user search experience.
The website owner or marketer can integrate the search feed into their site or redirect traffic to a search results page with the feed.
How Revenue is Generated with Search Feed Monetization?
The process begins with a partnership between the publishers, affiliate marketer, browser extension owner, content website owner and a search feed provider. The provider supplies a search feed which is a customizable search engine results page (SERP) that can be embedded into a website, standalone landing page, browser extension, or application. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how it works:
Search Feed Placements (Browser Extensions): For browser extensions, search feeds can be integrated either with a new browser tab or directly on the main page with a search bar. With a new browser tab, the search results are generated in a new tab window within the existing browser. With an address bar, the search is performed by the user who is then redirected to the search results within the same browser window.
Visitor & End User Experience: When a user performs a search, the search query is sent to the search engine.
Search Results: The search engine returns a set of search results, which include organic results and paid advertisements. These results are displayed on the website.
Common Revenue Split: Revenue is generated each time a user clicks on one of the sponsored or paid ads. The search feed provider shares a portion of the ad revenue with the publisher or website owner. A common revenue split between the search feed provider and the publisher is 80/20.
Benefits of Search Feed Monetization
Additional Revenue Stream: Search feed monetization provides an extra source of income, leveraging existing visitors on a website, browser extension, or desktop or mobile app.
Search Arbitrage: Allows affiliate marketers and media buyers who are able to acquire traffic at a low cost from various traffic sources such as native (Taboola & Outbrain), Social (Facebook Search Arbitrage, Instagram, TikTok, etc.) and other platforms, generate consistent revenue by redirecting quality traffic to the search results page.
High User Retention: By offering a rich search feature, website owners can keep users on the site longer, enhancing user engagement and reducing bounce rates.
Search Customization: Search feeds can often be customized to match the look and feel of a native website, providing a seamless and robust user search experience.
Process to Monetize Search Feeds
To effectively monetize search feeds, follow these best practices:
Choose the Right Search Feed Provider: Select a search feed provider that is reputable, with a history of on-time payments, and direct relationships with search engines.
Monitor Traffic Performance: Regularly review traffic metrics and optimize for high quality traffic to maintain positive relationships with the search feed provider, search enginees, and ultimately the advertisers.
Comply with Policies: Adhere to the search engine’s policies and guidelines to avoid penalties and chargebacks, and ensure long-term and sustained revenue.
Search Feed Case Studies and Examples:
Website Owners & Publishers: Many successful websites monetize search feeds to enhance their revenue streams. For instance, a popular technology blog integrated a Bing search feed, resulting in a 15% increase in monthly revenue. Similarly, a niche forum site utilized Yahoo search feed to monetize its highly engaged user base, yielding an extra $4200 per month with minimal additional effort.
Browser Extensions: Many browser extensions integrate search feeds to monetize extension traffic by integrating search features for their user base. Browser extensions with as little as 10K daily average users (DAU) can earn $1000 to $3500+ per month.
Affiliate Marketers & Media Buyers: Many successful affiliate marketers generate significant profits by acquiring traffic at a lower cost than the payout generated from the visitor clicking a sponsored ad. Popular ad platforms to acquire traffic are Facebook, Taboola, Outbrain, TikTok, etc.
Conclusion
Search feed monetization represents a significant opportunity for websites or affiliate marketers looking to diversify their income streams and provide a rich search experience for their user base or traffic. By partnering with the right search feed provider and strategically implementing the search functionality, website owners can successfully monetize their existing traffic. Affiliate marketers could also earn significant revenue as a result of purchasing traffic from ad platforms. By understanding and implementing search feed monetization, you can turn everyday searches into a profitable venture, maximizing the revenue of any web traffic.