How do these work?

I'm not sure how the managing listings and stuff works, but the affiliate program works like this: You join a search engine, and you get paid for the searches you get people to make under your username. The price per click varies by the percentage that the search engine pays and the weight of the keyword that is clicked on. Basically if you want to make money from a search engine affiliate program, set up a portal and send lots of visitors to it, and hope they click. (Anyone else feel free to add or correct me)

trash is right. When other people make searches from your search portal or link, you make money. The amount you get varies depending on search words and the links people click, etc. Some search engines accept international searches, but some are limited to several countries, i.e. searches from other countries will not count in earnings.

also, you can read the TOS and FAQ to get more information of how it work.

the bidded amount are amount bidded by advertisers to get their links listed on SE results and most will want theirs to list on top of the SE so they bid more to get the top position

that is how affiliates get paid.... from advertisers...

SE owners are willing to pay affiliates to increase the user base of the SE... if no one use the SE no one will want to advertise there.... the more affiliates the better... thats y some offer higher percentage of bidded amount

correct me if i am wrong

indeed fredjef, thats how it works, personally i can reccomend al sites based on a smartsearch! very good!

I am not new in the industry but I am new in trying out SEs....

I have joined three and quit one..... so far for me i think SD is the best... <--- personal point of view