MSN Search Algorithm

In my experience, MSN is by far the easiest search engine to work with if you’re looking for quick rankings with minimal regard for content quality.

MSN’s ranking algorithm seems to put a lot of emphasis on sheer quantity of incoming links, and very little on link relevance and anchor text.

In terms of page optimization, it is important to remember that Microsoft’s search technology puts a huge emphasis on certain parts of each web page. The <> tag, for example, is crucial for getting a good ranking, while the heading tags (<>, <>, etc.) also play a major role.

One thing that MSN seems to pay almost no attention to is keyword density, meaning that placing a single keyword many times over (within reason) on the same page is probably more likely to help your ranking than hurt it. Keyword density of over 10%, which would mean almost certain death in Google, will often result in a pleasant boost for your MSN rankings.

Unlike Google’s ranking system, MSN’s algorithm doesn’t seem to a very high keyword density in the <> tag. In fact, putting a short and to-the-point primary keyphrase (100% density) as your title is an excellent way to achieve top-three rankings for moderately competitive keywords.

The other benefit of MSN is its lack of a penalty specifically affecting new sites. Old and well-established websites have virtually no advantage in Microsoft’s algorithm, meaning that a brand new site can rank well in a matter of days, without fear of the crippling “sandbox” penalties inflicted by Google and Yahoo.

MSN is also a fresh content junkie, meaning that frequently updated sites have a huge advantage. Sites that aren’t changed for a matter of several weeks or months will see their rankings decline noticeably between updates. Because of this, as well as the generally unpredictable and volatile nature of the algorithm, MSN rankings are much easier to obtain, yet harder to sustain, than rankings in Yahoo or Google.

All things considered, MSN is still an evolving entity, and isn’t anywhere near as popular as Google or even Yahoo. The Microsoft engine is a good bet if you’re looking to drum up some quick, cash-generating rankings, but for a long-term and sustainable stream of traffic, you’d be better off to focus your SEO efforts on Google and/or Yahoo.