IMAG Studios Search Engine Optimization > MSN Live Search Engine Optimization
MSN Live Search Engine Optimization Techniques
When optimizing for MSN Live's search engine there are somethings you should keep in mind. First remember that MSN Live only has a small portion of the market share. Most of the strategies you have utilized for Google Search Engine Optimization should assist you with MSN Live optimization.
However MSN Live is an immature search engine. It's possible to rank very well for MSN quickly by taking advantages of their quirks. Keep in mind that by doing so you will look "spammy" to a less forgiving search engine such as google.
So while you may rocket to the top on MSN you must consider at what cost. Also as MSN does begin to mature, you may lose your past gains and be left without a safety net (or the ocean in it's entirety if you previously sacraficed google)
Basic Search Engine Optimization for MSN is fairly straight forward. As with any optimization program it's important to choose the right search keywords and do research on other websites that have the search rank you want your website to have.
MSN Live loves hyperlinks. LOTS of hyperlinks.
Google liks hyperlinks too, but Google is more concious of the type of links, the neighborhoods they associate with, the importance of the website (determined with other factors besides number of links) the content on the page of those links and much more.
With MSN Live, this is true but well, not so much.
MSN Live wants to believe you.
While Google will look at the content on your page, it is much less accepting of what you tell it. It's almost as if MSN Live wants your approval, and will believe almost anything you tell it. Grey hat tactics such as high keyword density work well with MSN, even blatant keyword stuffing can be effective. -- Just remember, Google is watching.
MSN Live things old school is cool.
Load up MSN Live's homepage, and you'll probably see a very modern looking website. Sleek, bold lines, and an appearance that tries to imply the latest and greatest in search technology.
Under the hood MSN Live really longs for the days of yester-year. It's the search engine that can't let go of those fond memories and days when the META data actually meant something. Back when a recipricol link was a wonderful thing, and a THOUSAND recipricol links was something to be proud of.
Link farms love MSN. A few random searches on MSN revealed that 2 out of 10 in the top 10 ranked were associated with recipricol links through known link farms and exchanges. MSN loves NEW websites too. Google is less trusting, and wants to get to know you once you've proved yourself. Not MSN Live, they love almost everyone.
As I stated early on MSN is a great search engine to be listed on. But they currently own a small percentage of the search market, and while their open.. even needy nature can mean quick rankings, it's not worth dominating MSN at the risk of losing Google or even Yahoo.