Posted at: 07/02/2007 05:50:50 AM
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Updated at: 07/02/2007 07:38:48 AM
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By: Justin Piehowski, Web Manager
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| INTERNET INSITE: Donate to charity by searching the web |
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 Do you have an interesting Web site you'd like to see featured on Internet InSITE? Email Web Manager Justin Piehowski, jpiehowski@kstp.com. Watch Internet InSITE each weekday morning at 5:30 and 6:30 on 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS MORNING.
SITE: http://www.goodsearch.com/
Have you ever said, 'If I had a penny for every time..." Yes, we all have. Now, a new Internet search engine is taking the 'penny' philosophy and using it to make money for your favorite charity...
Here's how it works:
Instead of using your normal Internet search engine, log on to http://www.goodsearch.com/. Below the search engine bar, you'll see a space where you can allocate your donation, which on average is around one cent per search query. Once your charity is in place, just use the search engine above like any other.
The results are powered by Yahoo!, which is considered by many to be one of the world's top search engines.
The first reaction of many people is that a one cent donation is insignificant, but, think about how many times do you use a search engine each day and then calculate those numbers over a year. Now, think about getting your entire organization involved with GoodSearch.
In most cases, that charity will be selected each time you return to that page, so once you've selected it, you can just search away.
Ok, cool concept, but how is GoodSearch possibly able to donate one penny per search query to charity? Actually, it makes money the same way most search engines do.
Revenue comes from sponsored links in your search engine results. You'll notice them slightly offset on the right-hand side and top of the page when you get your results. Those are actually ads and advertisers pay money to purchase 'keywords' that you might enter.
So for example, if you type in 'hockey' you are going to get ads relating to hockey that have been paid for by people selling hockey products. GoodSearch takes the money from those ads and splits it with non-profits.
The actual search results are down the middle.
In order to make using the search easier, the site has one-click buttons to make GoodSearch your home page and to add it to your toolbar.
GoodSearch is a clever use of these sponsored ads, I am a convert. I already have several different charities in mind.
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