Patent ID: 7752191

Claim:
A computer implemented method of quantifying a value of a search term, comprising: receiving at a server a selection of a particular search term and a selection of a plurality of particular search results for analyzing each search result with respect to the particular search term; in response to the selection of the particular search term and the selection of the particular search results and after such selections are received, determining an incremental value for each particular search result based a comparison of quantifiable results from purchasing the particular search term versus not purchasing such particular search term by: for a first time period, turning on a purchasing option for the particular search term so that the particular search term is purchased and the particular search result is presented in a sponsored search results list for searches performed by a plurality of users for the particular search term; for a second time period that differs from the first time period, turning off the purchasing option for the particular search term so that the particular search result is not presented in the sponsored search results list for searches performed by a plurality of users for the particular search term; and determining and storing in one or more databases the incremental value for the particular search result based on a difference between (i) a first quantified value corresponding to the number of times that the particular search result is selected, by a user from the sponsored search results list or from an algorithmic search results list, in the first time period, and (ii) a second quantified value corresponding to the number of times that the particular search result is selected, by a user from the algorithmic search results list, in the second time period.