Interactive commercials as interface to a search engine

A user submits a search request to an Internet or other network search engine from within an e-mail client. The software for performing this task is preferably provided as part of e-mail advertisement ( 15 ) sent to the user (recipient). The advertisement preferably includes a first portion having a first branding graphic ( 20 ), and a second portion that receives to a search string designated by the recipient ( 50 ). In especially preferred embodiments the search engine returns the search results to the recipient within the e-mail client.