MSN Search Engine Optimization

MSN (http://www.msn.com/) is part of Microsoft.
Through most of 2004, MSN concentrated on building their own search engine, independent of all outside suppliers. As of Feb 1, 2005, the new MSN is live. It has its own spider. The amazing thing is that Microsoft, a company so dominant in so many areas of the market, had chosen to fully outsource this important business sector for so long. Instead of it’s own data, it used to use a variety of resources, primarily Overture / Inktomi, and LookSmart for its results.

So far, the new MSN generates excellent search results, has interesting features, and should challenge both Google and Yahoo! for market share and leadership positions.

MSN Search is particularly important because it’s the default search for Internet Explorer – the most widely used browser in the world. Thus any Internet Explorer user who types in a search phrase in his browser’s address bar will normally be forwarded to an MSN Search page. The MSN web site is also one of the most visited on the web, in large part because it’s the default home page for Internet Explorer, and most people never change their home page settings.

While MSN does not supply data to any other search engines or directories, it has a huge network of international sites. These include:

EUROPE

  • http://search.msn.at – Austria
  • http://search.msn.be – Belgium (Dutch)
  • http://search.fr.msn.be – Belgium (French)
  • http://search.msn.dk – Denmark
  • http://search.msn.fi – Finland
  • http://search.msn.fr – France
  • http://search.msn.de – Germany
  • http://search.msn.it – Italy
  • http://search.msn.nl – Netherlands
  • http://search.msn.no – Norway
  • http://search.msn.es – Spain
  • http://search.msn.se – Sweden
  • http://search.fr.msn.ch – Switzerland (French)
  • http://search.msn.ch – Switzerland (German)
  • http://uk.search.msn.com – UK

AFRICA

  • http://search.msn.co.za – South Africa

AMERICAS

  • http://search.msn.com.br – Brazil
  • http://ca.search.msn.com – Canada (English)
  • http://fr.ca.search.msn.com – Canada (French)
  • http://search.latam.yupimsn.com – Latin America
  • http://search.T1msn.com.mx – Mexico
  • http://search.msn.com – US
  • http://search.yupimsn.com – US (Spanish)

ASIA

  • http://search.msn.com.hk – Hong Kong
  • http://search.msn.co.in – India
  • http://jp.search.msn.com – Japan
  • http://search.msn.co.kr – Korea
  • http://search.msn.com.my – Malaysia
  • http://search.msn.com.sg – Singapore
  • http://search.msn.com.tw – Taiwan

PACIFIC

  • http://search.ninemsn.com.au – Australia
  • http://search.xtramsn.co.nz – New Zealand