Ask Revamp Improves Search Tools

Search marketers on Ask.com have a few new tools to manage their paid search platforms, thanks to the launch of the revamped ASL 2.0 portal.

by Kristina Knight

According to the company, the new Ask Sponsored Listings platform simplifies online campaign management while improving visibility. ASL 2.0 allows for daily budgeting rather than monthly, includes hourly billable data, variable refill amounts, dashboard reports and bulk uploading enhancements among other things.

Ask.com launched their original paid search platform in 2005. "Since the launch. . .we have been working with advertisers to create a better paid listings product,” said James Speer, vice president of products and marketing at Ask.com. ”Consistently we heard (from advertisers) that they wanted more control over ever expanding campaigns and keyword lists. They also wanted more Ask.com inventory, and above all, they wanted it all to be easy."

As another part of the 2.0 launch, Ask has allowed for marketers to bid for the top three listings on InterActiveCorp(IAC) properties including Ask.com, Evite, CitySearch and RealEstate.com.

According the parent company IAC, ASL sources about 5 billion queries each month and supports more than 10,000 advertisers bidding on about 10 million keywords monthly. The open auction system allows online marketers to purchase, optimize and manage ad campaigns from their desktops.