• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, September 16, 2005

Nielsen//NetRatings reported that search sponsored links, led by eBay, Shopping.com Inc. and InterActiveCorp, comprised 34 percent, or nearly 13 billion, of online advertising impressions, according to its new AdRelevance Sponsored Search Link service.

Rick Wainschel, vice president of marketing research, Kelley Blue Book, said "We... find the search term capabilities extremely helpful in providing in-depth insight into how key competitors have targeted top search terms, providing essential tools for our benchmarking."

eBay ranked No.1 in sponsored links placements, which featured more than 15,000 companies, during the week ending August 21. EBay placed nearly 400 million sponsored link impressions, equating to three percent of total placements that week. Shopping.com Inc. ranked second, placing 138 million sponsored link impressions.

Retail Goods and Services and Web Media tied as leading industries, placing the greatest share of sponsored links at 22 and 21 percent, respectively. EBay led the Retail Goods and Services industry, while Shopping.com helped spur the Web Media industry's placement of sponsored links.

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