Typing keywords in address bar?

Do people really do this?

[Eljaybe]

Occasionally, I receive emails from companies trying to sell a "keyword program" where you purchase a keyword or phrase relating to your web site. Then, when someone types that same keyword or phrase in their browser's address bar your web site appears.
One such company claims that Microsoft reported "630 million keyword searches are performed in the address bar of Internet Explorer each month".
I still believe most people use search engines for their Internet research, but I was curious what you all thought about this?

[pageoneresults]

The companies selling this type of scam service require that you download their toolbar and perform the searches there.

Yes, many, many people still type their search terms directly into the address window of IE. That's why MSN search numbers are so skewed. ;)

[webdiversity]

The most common one is the URL getting typed in to a search window instead of the address bar.

[Eljaybe]

"Yes, many, many people still type their search terms directly into the address window of IE. That's why MSN search numbers are so skewed."

So are you saying that these keywords people type in their browsers, like IE, can NOT be purchased?

I just want to know if this is something I should concentrate on more than optimizing my site for search engines....

[pageoneresults]

So are you saying that these keywords people type in their browsers, like IE, can NOT be purchased?

Not any more. The program that was available for MSN is now defunct. It was referred to as Internet Keywords.

All these companies you see sending those emails are attempting to capitalize on a brand that was established for years; Internet Keywords.

[dvduval]

I got a phone call from one company saying that all MSN subscribers (isp) would receive receive search results from keywords in the address bar.

Wouldn't it be nice if the USER had a choice where those results came from?

[webwoman]

I just want to know if this is something I should concentrate on more than optimizing my site for search engines....

This is something you should ignore. Optimizing your site has actual value. As pageoneresults said, this is a scam, and it is objectionable on several levels (choice for the searcher being among them).

[Eljaybe]

ok, thanks for the advice everyone. I'll stay away from these scams.

[dvduval]

Anytime a search result is software dependent, I think you need to be leery. With something like 80% of searches being provided by Google, the other stuff is only important after Google is showing satisfactory results.

One more general rule: Optimizing your site is free and provides a greater overall return than things you pay other people to do.

[pageoneresults]

Optimizing your site is free and provides a greater overall return than things you pay other people to do.

Uh-hum, nothing is Free! People pay me all the time to do things for them.

P.S. I knew what you meant. ;)