Being GoodSearch-y
by CEM staff member Dalan Edwin Decker

There is a way you can financially support The Rock, and it won't cost you a penny. Just click.          

What if it cost you nothing to support The Rock?  Now okay, we’ve all heard these too-good-to-be true sales pitches.  “I Made $1,634,997.33 in One Month with Bob’s Surefire Internet AdMoney Maker!”  “You’re the 1,000,000’th visitor to this site!!!!!! (blink, blink) Click here to claim your hourly prize!”

Well, guess what.  I found something out there that is for real.  It’s not a gimmick, it’s not going to steal your identity, and it’s 100% free—no strings attached.  It really does work, too.  It’s called GoodSearch.  

Back in October, I was visiting my sister in Maryland.  She’s a missionary to Myanmar, which is like a million miles from where we grew up in Wisconsin.  It had been more than two years since we’d seen each other.  Between the time we spent catching up on two years of stories and lessons, I babysat her baby Ellis Rose to let my sister and her hubby take some alone time.  I spent some time poking about the Internet.  I was excited when I came across GoodSearch.

You see, the honest truth is that whenever you search something on Google, or MSN, or Yahoo or AltaVista—or whatever—someone is making money.  Every click generates a penny or two.  So awhile back, two guys got together and said, “What if we could harness some of that earning potential for nonprofits?”

So they put up GoodSearch.  It’s powered by Yahoo.  They split the money earned from each click 50/50 with the nonprofit of your choice.

“Now, come on,” you’re thinking.  “Who would do that?” Me, too.  I’m a natural cynic, especially when it comes to the Internet. Well, I checked it out thoroughly.  And while my body (used to the sun and sands of Puerto Rico) was shivering in the Maryland fall, my heart was racing with excitement.  I was checking, reading up on it, even looking at other ministries that were using GoodSearch.  This thing was for real.  So I contacted GoodSearch and signed up our nonprofit—Calvary Evangelistic Mission.

Think about it.  Maybe GoodSearch sounds like a crazy business model. Or maybe it’s a genius of an idea.  After all, every nonprofit is starved for funds.  Who needs advertising dollars when you have every nonprofit talking about you?

So what it comes down to is this—I use GoodSearch every time I click about on the Internet these days.  And I feel good about it.  Because every time I click on a search item, I send a penny to The Rock.  It’s free, fun, and it really does work.  I can even watch the amount of money climbing.  We’re past $50 already.

How can you get involved?  Just click over there on the link.  And then, make sure whenever you use GoodSearch that you have “Calvary Evangelistic Mission” filled in as your nonprofit of choice.  Feel good about searching the Internet!

Also, a lot of stores—like Target, Wal-Mart, E-Bay, iTunes, and other legitimate operations—are part of GoodSearch.  If you purchase through the GoodStore, a big portion of that goes to The Rock.  The prices are the same!  So if you’re going to be buying online anyway, why not let your iPod purchase help The Rock?

So just set GoodSearch as your home page, so you won’t forget.  And then start clicking!  The more you click, the more GoodSearch-y you’ll feel.

A word for the wise, here.  If you delete the cookies on your browser, it will delete your entry in the GoodSearch “Who Do You GoodSearch For?” box.  So make sure it always says “Calvary Evangelistic Mission” or the money is going somewhere else.  Which would be a bit of a shame.  I don’t want my GoodSearch clicks going to, say, the ACLU or Planned Parenthood.

So, why not use GoodSearch?  There’s no sign-up, no mess, and no risk.  You can feel good about the time you spend online, and you can help make sure The Rock stays strong.  Not to mention, it has a cute logo.