e-Business-Formula Internet Marketing Discussion Forum

Kevin Robb · Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 4:22 pm Post subject: MSN...Working hard to please

Hi All,

Is it just me that has noticed the difference at MSN lately?

Looking at my website stats it shows MSN visiting on a very regular basis, at least as frequently if not more so than Google.

Interestingly though I seem to be getting prompt listings by keyword in MSN often in the top 10, yet the same keywords don't feature anywhere near the top 100 in Google?

Is this just a short term event or are MSN trying to exert some pressure on Google?

What has been your experience?

Cheers Wink

Kevin Robb

Steve MacLellan · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 206 Location: Canada

Hi Kevin,

I think Microsoft is a little concerned about Google. They see Google as competition for the users inbox and desktop. We all know a couple of the top Firefox developers are working at Google... and there have been rumors of a Google browser based on Firefox. If they do release their own version of a browser, I would expect you'd see a lot less people using Internet Explorer.

Microsoft really seems to be pushing the new search engine. It is definitely a contender, and they certainly aren't afraid of spending the advertising dollars. It seems every time I have the TV on, I see an ad for their new search engine.

If Microsoft has set out to dominate the search engine market, do you think there is any question as to whether they will be able to succeed?

Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan

Kevin Robb · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:43 am Post subject:

Hi Steve,

Well as we all know Bill Gates is not scared of a fight and he certainly has the funds to back it up...it would be hard to pick a winner but if Bill has set his mind on becoming number one, then my money's on him.

Another thing, taking a closer look at my website stats referrals from the search engines have changed in recent days...In the past I was getting approx a 50/50 split from Google and Yahoo along with a small trickle from everyone else.

Now MSN is providing 65% of my search engine traffic, the balance being split almost equally with Google and Yahoo.

Clearly this is because of the higher ranking my keywords are getting at MSN and the more regular updates they are doing.

Now might be a good time to set up some PPC campaigns via Overture as they currently provide MSN with ads?

What do you think?

Cheers Wink

Kevin Robb

Steve MacLellan · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 206 Location: Canada

[quote]Now might be a good time to set up some PPC campaigns via Overture as they currently provide MSN with ads? [/quote]

Can't hurt to test it...

Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan

Kevin Robb · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:52 am Post subject:

Interestingly this little battle looks like it might heat up some more...

Rumours circulating around the net today suggest a possible Google & Yahoo merger.

Danny Sullivan wrote a piece about it on his Blog SearchEngineWatch.com

[quote]The merger, if allowed by investors not to mention regulators, would be colossal. We've had search mergers before, but never between two players that command such a large share of the search market. Combined, the two would control something like 70 percent of the "natural" search results that people see and nearly all of the paid listings out there.

Why would these two competitors -- and companies with largely different operating styles -- combine? Fear of Microsoft. While I've written many times before that Microsoft isn't going to walk all over Google -- much less both Google and Yahoo -- the two companies themselves are falling victim to the hype. Search is seen as so important, such a major future money maker, that they want to unite now.[/quote]

It makes for interesting reading... Read more...

Your thoughts?

Cheers

Kevin Robb

Steve MacLellan · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 206 Location: Canada

Hi Kevin,

I saw mention of a couple of stories today about this, but dismissed them. I can't see it happening. I think it is rumored.

Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan

Kevin Robb · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 8:55 am Post subject:

Hi Steve,

You will note in my post I did say:
[quote]Rumours circulating around the net today suggest a possible Google & Yahoo merger. [/quote]
Whilst I can't see it happening there will be much fuel added to the fire from all directions to stir up emotion regarding the MSN vs Google battle.

This is a fight that will dominate the news for weeks to come I feel.

Just my two cents anyway.

Cheers Wink

Kevin Robb

kellylowe · Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 101 Location: Ozark, Arkansas

I wonder if it is true - although in my experience, where there is smoke there is usually fire - the fire just may not be exactly where you expected it to be.

A google/yahoo merger. I wonder what that would do to Google adwords and adsense.

Giving it some thought, I think it would be a good merger for those of us who use both google and yahoo. I use google for searches, but I use yahoo for my groups, news, free email, etc. If the two merged, and everything that I use from both are available from one source, this may save me time.

What do you all think?