Photobucket has struck up a deal with Ask.com that sees the image sharing website include Ask.com search boxes on its site. The two search boxes on the main Photobucket page are now powered by Ask.com and include the search engine's logo at the side of each one.
The Ask.com branded search function allows users to search through the videos and images uploaded on Photobucket and will include advertising and sponsored listings from Ask.com. Photobucket has over 44 million visitors a month so paid advertising on their site has the potential to be a lucrative deal for Ask.com, though the financial details of the agreement have not been released.
In addition to allowing users to search Photobucket's library, the new search boxes also allow users to search the rest of the web as a part of Ask.com's strategy to widen the range of access points to their search engine. Using this aspect of the search box takes you to a Photobucket branded Ask.com search result page, with the usual sponsored results.
This deal could prospectively increase Ask's search market share, but the main benefit of of this partnership for the search engine will be on the syndication of display advertising and sponsored listing on Photobucket and the potential for stronger targeting.
