Fathom Online’s Keyword Price Index showed a 14 percent rise from September, with the average price per
keyword jumping from $1.37 to $1.55. The chart below gives a per category breakdown.
Category |
Oct. 2004 |
Change From Last Month |
Percent Change |
Consumer Services |
$0.96 | $0.42 | 78% |
Consumer Retail |
$0.48 | $0.16 | 50% |
Mortgage |
$4.31 | $1.14 | 36% |
Travel/Hospitality |
$0.85 | $0.21 | 33% |
Wireless |
$1.06 | -$0.03 | -3% |
Broadband |
$1.78 | -$0.11 | -6% |
Investing |
$1.60 | -$0.16 | -9% |
Automotive |
$1.39 | -$0.15 | -10% |
Average |
$1.55 | $0.19 | 14% |
Keywords in the consumer services category showed the strongest rise, while a number of categories actually showed decreases.
In terms of actual cost (as opposed to percentage change), the mortgage category had the biggest rise, a $1.14 hike. Fathom attributes that to competition to gain new
accounts when interest rates on 30 year mortgages dipped in October, in the US.