New MSN Search Switches

[Tid]

SEOs must be excited about the new MSN search, whether they love MS or hate Bill. Many are busy analysing their ranking system but the availability of new options just make it even more time-consuming. By going to the beta site (http://beta.search.msn.com/), clicking on Search Builder, then Results ranking, you can change serps according to popularity, freshness and exactness of match. An English teacher may have trouble translating these terms so language lessons are no use here. Suffice it to say that by comparing the regular serps to those more popular or recently updated, one can have an idea how much it helps to stay fresh for instance. Not only can you tyep directly in search box {frsh=0} or {frsh=100}, after search terms, you can actually go over limit, say {frsh=1000}, and get different results.

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[ImVickieB]

I have noticed this on the live version of MSN now... what does everyone think of this feature?? Allows a lot of different options for the searcher.

One that I noticed was the results ranking for popularity. How do they decide what is popular???

[SEbasic]

I assume it referrs to CTR

[ImVickieB]

Hmmm... I guess that can't be too accurate then as the link tracking is sporadic. Most of the time it is a straight link to the website.

[john_loch]

Holy Crap !

OK.. mebbee a bit over the top, but I hadn't noticed, and I wish I had. It would have cut my work down considerably. Oh well, back off to the beta site for a little exploring :)

Cheers,

JL

[ImVickieB]

You don't need to use the beta site JL :) http://search.msn.com/ has it live by clicking on the "search builder" link.

[john_loch]

You don't need to use the beta site JL :) http://search.msn.com/ has it live by clicking on the "search builder" link.

Yeah, thx for that. It's rather late here and my post was just lamebrained :)
I actually meant I hadn't realized it was migrated to the production site.

Thx :)

LJ

[CompressedAir]

Cool tool. I guess we know what MSN's 3 main parts are to its ranking algo, now just need to put this to good use ;)

[mopacfan]

That is indeed very interesting. I suppose, once you're familiar with the tools, you can just enter the code [ {pop=100} ] w/o having to use the sliders.

[Design Agent]

This feature has been around for quite a while (see thread date).

[ImVickieB]

The original thread was posted when the beta search was being tested. I just noticed this recently in the search that all regular surfers see. Perhaps I just wasn't very observant but I think it is relatively new for the general public.

[minstrel]

The thread was revived because

I have noticed this on the live version of MSN now

Edit:

Oops... I didn't see ImVickiB's subsequent post when I posted this reply. :D

[davedx]

I'd think popularity is just their version of PR...