Search feeds · also called hosted search, hosted solution, turnkey feed
Hosted feed
A hosted feed is a search monetisation set-up where the feed provider or search engine hosts the ad-carrying pages and the publisher only sends traffic.
With a hosted feed, the publisher does not build or run the page that shows the ads. The feed provider, or the search engine itself, hosts it. The publisher is given a link or a domain set-up, points traffic at it and receives reports and a share of the revenue.
The clearest official example is Yahoo Hosted Search, where Yahoo hosts the results page and offers co-branded, iFrame and DNS error-page variants. Many feed providers offer something similar for Google-based monetisation: ready-made article and results pages on which the provider handles the ad code, the Style ID, Channel ID allocation and policy checks.
Hosting lowers the barrier to entry and the risk of a technical mistake. It also reduces control. The publisher cannot freely redesign pages, may see less detailed data, and depends on the provider's reporting being accurate. The provider usually keeps a larger take rate in return for the work.
Usage of the term varies. Some people use "hosted" simply to mean "through a provider" as opposed to a direct feed. Ask exactly who hosts which page.
Think of it like this
A hosted feed is like selling through a marketplace stall that someone else builds, staffs and cleans. You bring the customers and receive a cut, but you do not get to rearrange the shelves.
Related terms
Direct feed
A direct feed is a search ad contract held straight with Google, Microsoft or Yahoo, with no feed provider in between.
Feed provider
A feed provider is a company that holds a search ad contract with Google, Microsoft or Yahoo and lets smaller publishers use it in return for a share of revenue.
Yahoo feed
A Yahoo feed is access to search results and search ads supplied by Yahoo to partner sites, apps and browser tools in return for a revenue share.
Take rate
Take rate is the percentage of money flowing through an intermediary that the intermediary keeps for itself.
Revenue share (rev share)
Revenue share is the percentage of advertiser spending that a search engine or feed provider passes on to the publisher whose page produced the click.
Sources: Yahoo Search partner solutions: Yahoo Hosted Search