Disclosed are apparatus and methods for quantifying the value of
purchasing a particular search keyword, so that a particular search
result is presented in a sponsored search results list for that
particular search term, as compared to not purchasing the particular
search keyword. In example embodiments, the quantified value of the
particular search term indicates the particular search term's incremental
value when the particular search result is presented in the sponsored
search result list, as compared to when the same particular search result
is not presented in such sponsored search result list. The particular
search term's incremental value is based on a difference between the sum
of the number of searchers who select the particular search result from
the sponsored search list and the algorithmic search list, if any, versus
the number of searchers who select the particular search result when it
is not presented in the sponsored search list and may be only presented
in the algorithmic search results.