User-created search results in an incentive scheme

A computer system having a processor and a memory for executing a method of providing an incentive for users to create good search result lists, comprising:

• receiving at one or more servers from one or more creators one or more user-created search lists based on one or more queries assigned to a base value;
• displaying a member of the one or more user-created search lists when the base value that is assigned to a base value query associated with the member is paid;
• determining a popularity of the member of the one or more user-created search lists;
• based on the popularity, paying an amount to a creator of the member of the one or more user-created search lists wherein the amount increases as the popularity increases;
• and
• receiving one or more other user-created search lists based on one or more other queries assigned to a higher value wherein the creator creates the one or more other user-created search lists from the one or more other queries assigned to the higher value and wherein another member of the one or more other user-created search lists is displayed when the higher value that is assigned to a higher value query associated with the another member is paid.

One or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-useable instructions for performing a method for developing good user-created search results, comprising:

• receiving at one or more servers, one or more user-created lists of search results based on one or more search terms;
• storing the one or more user-created lists of search results in one or more storage devices;
• displaying a machine-generated list of search results when the one or more search terms are received by a search application wherein the search application is located in the one or more servers and is accessible by a user through a web interface and an Internet connection;
• displaying one or more links in proximity to the machine-generated list of search results wherein the one or more links correspond respectively to the one or more user-created lists of search results;
• determining a first popularity of the machine-generated list;
• determining a second popularity of the one or more user-created lists that correspond to the one or more links;
• comparing the first popularity of the machine-generated list to the second popularity of the one or more user-created lists;
• if a member of the one or more user-created lists is more popular than the machine-generated list, continuing to provide an access to the member through a link at a display wherein the access is continuous or periodic;
• if the member of the one or more user-created lists is less popular than the machine-generated list, removing the member and its corresponding link from being displayed at the display.