MSN Search Engine Beta Optimization
Techniques
MSN's Search Engine Beta algorithm has a lot in common
with Google's and Yahoo!'s algorithms, but also includes
some subtle yet significant differences. Wayne Hurlbert
walks you through these differences, and explains what
you need to do to make sure your website scores a high
rank.
As everyone knows by now, the new MSN Search Engine
has been launched in a beta format. The Microsoft owned
search engine has generated much interest and discussion
among the general search using public and the search
engine optimization (SEO) community.
As always, SEO professionals are eager to discover
the wants, needs, and desires of the MSN Search algorithm.
How to rank well in MSN Search is the leading question
of the day. Achieving high search engine rankings in
MSN has some similarities to the techniques already
used in Google and Yahoo. As expected, the MSN algorithm
has a few twists and turns for SEO professionals to
navigate as well.
As with the other major search engines, MSN Search
requires good relevant content, and quality incoming
links featuring keyword rich link anchor text. That
said, there are some differences and similarities with
Yahoo and Google’s preferences. After all, all
search engine algorithms, while similar in many basic
ways, are unique in their requirements in other areas
of search optimization.
A more holistic optimization strategy stressing most
of the well known accepted SEO best practices techniques
appears to be just what the doctor ordered for MSN.
By taking an overall approach to MSN optimization, some
of the unique MSN algorithm preferences will be taken
into consideration, and steps taken to have them employed.
Perhaps the first and probably most important aspect
of the MSN Search Beta is the need for good keyword
rich content. Relevance of theme and topic appears to
be very important to MSN, as it is becoming for Google
optimization. There are also additional considerations
for levels of on page keyword density that differ somewhat
from Google. On the other hand, MSN seems to strongly
dislike keyword stuffing, and will drop a site’s
ranking accordingly.
As expected, links are important to MSN, as they are
important to Yahoo, and of course to the legendarily
link obsessed Google algorithm. Maintaining your important
keywords on the incoming and internal on site link anchor
text is important. That link text definitely requires
mixing and variation to appear as natural as possible
when crawled by the MSN spider.
Clean coding is a must with MSN Search, as its spider
has a strong preference for well written code. For non-programmers
or website owners with low levels of coding skills,
that necessity could become a problem. If a website’s
code is poorly written, it appears that MSN Search downgrades
the site’s search rankings heavily.
Like Yahoo, MSN Search seems to still place some importance
on meta tags. Long fallen into disuse because of their
lack of benefit in Google, dusting off some meta tags
appropriate for each page might be beneficial as well.
The MSN Search Beta offers some interesting optimization
challenges for SEO professionals and for website owners
alike. As always, juggling the needs and desires of
all of the major search engines is not easy. Of course,
no one ever said it would be simple, did they?
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