Question for SEO guys
 

What if the major search engines stopped listing adult sites. Is this possible or would you simply find a way around it. Somebody made a comment in another thread to the effect that it's only a matter of time before outlets like Yahoo and Google will be open to our industry. I don't know if that's the case or not. Assuming it was, what would you do?

There are some big players in SEO. God knows I wish I knew how they do what they do.

I hear that!

why would they stop listing adult sites ?

porn = 50% of total searches

I agree. I don't think they would. Somebody alluded to the possibility. Just wondering if there is anything to it.

It's different than the Visa-Adult industry scenario. They don't need us. But we are part of the life blood of search engines like Yahoo and Google. They like us and we like them and need each other, I think.

i dont think they could "get around it" they would be screwed

It simply wouldnt' be possible to achieve.

they make enough money off adult sites in their engines.

i think you're an idiot lol

A legitimate adult search engine would emerge. Most likely a major player looking to get market share away from Google/Yahoo/MSN. Pay Per Click for Adult would probably pick up considerably as well.

Maybe they would seperate it some how but the lost revenue would send the SE industry to a craze.

People could also just target non-adult keywords and send them to porn sites... (not saying that's ethical, just saying it would be an option)

Hmm... what if search engines required "adult verification" to search for adult keywords? Certainly could make them a lot of money. But I don't see it happening unless there is a US law passed.

My bigger fear is that nightsearch or what ever the name was comes back and gets into google and yahoo as well

nightSURF or?

Your thinking of the webpower company that held onto all of MSN's adult searches with its fake engine.

Yeah exactly. Google might be tempted to do something similar. Even more so yahoo

... I know what you wish to know, god knows.

It's doubtful that large search engines will stop processing adult requests. Without considering other variables such as undecided age verification regulations and etc.
By looking at the current situation where half of the search requests are adult, I think search engines would be shooting themselves in a foot by not processing adult. The new adult search engines will emerge faster and few of them might take on a share of the mainstream SE market as given.

I've often wondered if a big SE like Google or Yahoo made people join an AVS type program to get adult results in thier search engine how profitable it would be. I would think if they charged $4.95 a month and for that you got unlimited adult searches they would probably make some pretty big bank.