Overture - recently added some tracking tools that you should know about if you're using this pay-per-click engine. Briefly, the tools are called Conversion Counter and Tracking URL and they are the subject of one of this month's feature articles.

Inktomi - No recent changes at Inktomi
AltaVista - FAST Add URL now emulates AltaVista's
Fast - FAST Add URL now emulates AltaVista's
MSN - More details are starting to surface regarding the new MSN search engine. Recent interviews with Microsoft execs make it clear they're to integrate search functions into the operating system in some way – an arena they clearly own. In addition, perhaps even more important to web marketers, MSN is reviewing personalized search results that are based on an individual's search history.

ODP - As of the end of September, DMOZ is still having problems – this time with their submit feature which is reporting an error when used. Oh well, that's one way of keeping the backlog of submissions from growing any larger. Our guess is that DMOZ lacks the resources and commitment from AOL to maintain the directory. Will 2003 be the last year for the Open Directory Project?

LookSmart - New LookSmart Pricing Policy - In the "We aren't getting enough of your money" category, LookSmart has again raised their prices. Now, after your first 5000 clicks at 15 cents each, your price will be increased (yes, increased!) and calculated based on your business category ranging from 23¢ to 75¢ per click.

Yahoo - Yahoo new "Products" tab - Not much going on publicly at Yahoo during September but they did a add a new Products tab at the top of the page that leads right into the new Yahoo shopping search. The beta shopping search expires October 15th – after that time merchants will have to pay and send in a data feed. For more details on submitting a data feed and pricing structures see https://productsubmit.adcentral.yahoo.com/