Yahoo Finance has just reported that its paid inclusion advertising, called Search Submit, will end in 2009. The concept, used primarily by small businesses who can’t afford the higher tab of sponsored top-of-search Google listings, is for businesses to pay to be listed at the top in search display results. Where this has been controversial is that Search Submit gives no indication that these paid inclusion advertisers have actually paid to be top of search.  They are not “featured” or listed as “sponsors.”Search Submit Basic is a flat rate product that costs just $49 per URL per year, while it’s upgraded Search Submit Pro is CPC. There is a high-activity minimum to qualify for the Pro version, however. For the best explanation we found online, visit Oilman.ca.

At the same time that Yahoo is announcing the end of paid inclusion AoL is announcing that its search service will probably include it, although there may be some public indication of which ads have paid for the service.

Yahoo admitted that several SMB clients were upset about the discontinuation of this comparatively affordable search product. Some have said they will consider AoL as an alternative option.

Here are the details from Yahoo Finance.