San Francisco, CA, November 8, 2005. Amid double digit category fluctuations that counterbalanced each other, the average search engine keyword price stayed virtually the same in October as it was in September, rising just one percent in October from $1.44 to $1.45.
Of the eight vertical markets tracked by the Fathom Online Keyword Price Index, four categories increased and four decreased.
Of note, Automotive and auto parts keyword prices dropped 14% from $1.51 to $1.30. Advertisers appear to have put their search campaigns on hold as sales stalled under a variety of pressures, including escalating fuel prices. In contrast, Finance-Investment advertisers boosted their keyword campaigns creating a 14% average rise in those prices from $1.46 to $1.66. As reported in October, keyword prices over the last year increased from an average of $1.37 to $1.44 reflecting an overall 19% change.
