A method for effecting load balancing in a packet-switched network is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: (a) providing a set of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses corresponding to a Universal Resource Locator (URL), wherein the ordering of the IP addresses in the set of IP addresses is indicative of a corresponding desirability of contacting each of the IP addresses and wherein the set of IP addresses are in a first order; (b) receiving activity-related information associated with at least one of the IP addresses; and (c) reordering the set of IP addresses to be in a second order different from the first order.