Forget Google! Yep Search Engine Lets You Earn from Your Content

Its been almost 3 years since the launch. 

Have any of you tried it yet? 

What are your experiences with it? 

If not this article will answer what is yep search engine and how its supposed to be working.They still haven't outlined in detail anything related to their revenue sharing model.

Yep is a privacy-focused search engine developed by Ahrefs, a well-known SEO tool provider. It was launched in June 2022 with the goal of offering an alternative to traditional ad-driven search engines like Google and Bing. Here’s an overview of its key features and approach:

1. Revenue-Sharing Model (90/10 Profit Split)

One of Yep’s most unique aspects is its creator revenue-sharing model:

• 90% of ad revenue is distributed to content creators and publishers.
• 10% of ad revenue is retained by Yep for operational costs.
• This model is similar to YouTube's revenue-sharing but applied to search.

2. Privacy-Focused (No Tracking, No Profiles)

• Yep does not collect personal data, track users, or create personalized profiles.
• Unlike Google, it does not use search history to target ads or manipulate results.
• This ensures more private and unbiased search results.

3. Independent Search Index

• Ahrefs has been building its own web crawler (AhrefsBot) for years, allowing Yep to have an independent index instead of relying on Bing’s data (like DuckDuckGo does).
• This independence allows it to rank pages differently than Google, focusing on content quality rather than backlinks or authority alone.

4. No Personalized Search Results

• Unlike Google, Yep provides non-personalized search results, meaning the same query will show the same results for all users.
• This prevents filter bubbles but may reduce relevance for certain searches.

5. Target Audience

• Yep is mainly aimed at privacy-conscious users and content creators who want an alternative monetization model.
• Publishers benefit because they can earn revenue without relying on Google Ads or paywalls.

Challenges & Limitations

• Yep’s search results are not as refined as Google’s yet.
• The search engine is still in development, so it lacks features like Google’s rich snippets, maps, and direct answers.
• Limited adoption means it may not be a strong traffic driver for SEO professionals yet.

Final Thoughts

Yep is a bold experiment in search engine monetization and privacy. While it’s not a Google competitor yet, its independent index and creator-friendly revenue model make it an interesting alternative. If it gains traction, it could become a viable source of traffic for publishers.