What does Keyword Bid Optimizer (KBO) do? Simply, it makes the strategy of buying keywords on GoTo.com, FindWhat.com and ah-ah.com doable, without spending hours each week keeping track of everything. I don't think I could manage if I didn't use KBO.

Let's consider GoTo as the base line for explanation. Then, let's assume you have just decided to start buying keywords to drive traffic. You begin by entering your keywords into their database. The next time you run the program, you'll see a chart of all your keywords with exactly how much each position costs. You decide what position you are willing to bid for, sign up at GoTo and make your bids for your keywords.

Also, remember that if you are in the top three positions at GoTo you will automatically be included in the results for a keyword search in AOL, Lycos, AltaVista, Netscape and c/net Search.com. While GoTo is not that popular, what a deal if you get in the others! Wht a deal, but remember it's just the top three positions.

Now, go back and log on to KBO and you will find that your keyword chart will have your bid purchase in red, exactly where you are in the ranking. Notice also that if there is a difference between your bid and the next one lower, KBO will highlight the two in green so you can lower your bid and not over-pay for for your click throughs.

You will receive an email every day with two reports for each of your domains: any changes in your position overnight and the exact amount you can lower your bid and still maintain your current position. If you are ok with everything, go about your busy day until the next day.

If your site has dropped in ranking or if you are paying too much, log on to GoTo and change your bids, based on the emails. Or you can easily keep two browser screens up so you can have both GoTo and the complete listings of KBO in your line of sight. It takes me about 10 minutes each day to keep current with 20 keywords.

Let me finish with some key features.

• Pay search engine accounts and multiple domains managed from one location in their system.
• Keywords can be imported from one search engine account to another.
• The GoTo Suggestion Tool and ah-ha Keyword Research Tool are included in their program. You can add new keywords directly from the Suggestion Tool and Research Tools simply by checking the box next to your desired keywords.
• Addition and deletion of keywords from the service is instantaneous.
• The Keyword Report can be exported to an Excel spreadsheet.

The cost depends on how many domains you want to use and the payment option you choose So, for one domain and up to 100 keywords the cost is $17.95 a month. It's a $15.95 monthly rate if you pay quarterly and a $13.95 monthly rate if you pay annually.

You can evaluate for yourselves at /kbo