In a system and method for enabling information providers to influence a position
for a search listing within a search result list, a database stores accounts for
the network information providers. Each account contains contact and billing information
for a network information provider. In addition, each account contains at least
one search listing having at least three components: a description, a search term
comprising one or more keywords, and a bid amount. The network information provider
may add, delete, or modify a search listing after authenticated login. A bidding
process occurs when the network information provider enters a new bid amount for
a search listing. The system and method then compares the bid amount with all other
bid amounts for the same search term, and generates a rank value for all search
listings having that search term to determine where the listing will appear on
the search results list page.