EarthLink Signs GoTo.Com as Default Search Provider

ISP EarthLink and pay-for-placement search site GoTo.com signed a two-year, $10 million agreement that makes GoTo.com the default search engine on EarthLink’s Web properties.

These properties include the ISP’s Personal Start Page (the default launch page for EarthLink members), EarthLink’s Web site and EarthLink’s Finance Center, a personal finance portal.

Starting in January 2000, EarthLink members will be able to find the products, services and information they need by accessing GoTo.com’s relevant search results.

At GoTo.com, advertisers bid in an ongoing auction for priority placement in the search results.

EarthLink said it will leverage GoTo.com’s search concept to drive traffic to its “premiere partner” brand-name sites. In addition, a co-branded EarthLink/GoTo.com search results page will enable EarthLink to include relevant advertising and content or commerce partner links that relate to the specific search query.

“Because search is the most frequently used tool on EarthLink’s sites, it’s essential for us to provide a leading search tool to our members and non-members,” said Howard Lefkowitz, EarthLink’s vice president of business development and Internet marketing.

“GoTo.com’s innovative approach to delivering quality, relevant search results and introducing consumers to Web sites will provide our members with the results they’re looking for.”

EarthLink’s current roster of partners includes: ABCNews.com, Amazon.com, BigStar.com, CNN, eBay, ESPN.com, E-Stamp, E*Trade, HotBot/Wired Digital, InfoSpace.com, MarketWatch.com, MBNA, MessageClick, Sprint, Strategy.com, Travelscape.com, The Weather Channel and Wherehousemusic.com.

EarthLink and ISP MindSpring last month announced plans to merge.