A system and method of generating an ordered search list via a search engine
by
determining various account balances to determine where a search listing will appear,
if at all, in a search results list. If a web site advertiser's account is below
a threshold, the search listing associated with the advertiser will not appear
in the search list. Various balances may be used. Some of the balances may be closer
to real-time balances and others may be more accurate, for example by removing
certain event charges that were later determined to be non-chargeable. By using
and monitoring the various account balances, the search engine prevents over-delivery
of advertising through search result listings and possible over-billing of the advertisers.