new msn format?

[nell]

I was browsing very early this morning and was served up a new search format from MSN with different search results/rankings. Now the old version is back on line. What's up?

[tigger]

don't know but glad to see all my inktomi rankings are back lets just hope it was just a glitch

[nell]

This was a completely different format that had a backgound image of a looking glass on the page itself.

[markd]

I got this as well, with the word 'beta' above the familiar MSN logo.

Results still looked like Ink. though.

[tigger]

Odd!! just done a search and I'm still seeing the old format, I hit the refresh a few times and even did a search under something I've never searched for before (chickens if anyones interested :))

Has anyone else noticed this or is MSN just playing around?

[rcjordan]

>backgound image of a looking glass

Is this it [beta.search.msn.com]?

[nell]

Exactly.

I got it around 4:00 AM to 4:30 AM EST today. It was all I got even refreshing didn't restore the old. I checked my rankings and those sites with Looksmart received a substantial boost in primary keywords. My paid INK listings were jockeyed around with some of them gone completely.

[rcjordan]

I've been getting an occasional referral from beta.msn for six or seven months now, so they must roll it out for "live" testing every now and then. Maybe they're holding it in reserve until they are comfortable about leaving INK?

[nell]

They're keeping it current. A new Looksmart listing of mine that just came alive 2 weeks ago is showing up all over in my keyword searches in this Beta version.

The same listing is yet to show anywhere in the usual MSN search results.

[makemetop]

Interestingly, beta.msn.com changes Queen's English to American automatically e.g. 'optimisation' to 'optimization' - however beta.msn.co.uk does not do the same in reverse - it accepts either. Shame - I was doing really well on English spellings on the .com!

[nell]

Any indications if/when the Beta MSN version goes live?

[vis]

Mmm, redirect on the co.uk and 'special permission' required on the .com - they read through these forums fast...

[ihelpyou]

<<Maybe they're holding it in reserve until they are comfortable about leaving INK?>>

This is exactly what I believe.

[lawman]

I noticed the same Beta MSN the other day also. Today I noticed something that might be an anomaly. Prior to today, all my paid for Position Tech pages had the "inktomi redirect" tag. Today all my pages are in the same position, but without the "ink redirect" tag. Don't know if that means anything.

I also checked out Position Tech and saw that my pages had not been refreshed since May 24. Don't know if that means anything either.

Any thoughts?

[tigger]

Hi Lawman and welcome to the biggest headache you'll ever have “inktomi”

Check out this posting [webmasterworld.com...]

It does look like the new Beta MSN is live with both .com & co.uk but Inktomi is still holding on, but for how much longer is anyone’s guess.

EDITED well it was live, looks like they're offering random searches using it before they let it out permenantly

[lawman]

Thanks Tigger. Since MSN is usually my number one referrer, I've paid to have certain pages indexed through PT. I'm well placed for the keywords the pages are optimized for. When I saw the beta version the other day, I wasn't placed well at all. It sure would be nice to know what database MSN will use if it stops using INK. I guess we'll all just have to hold our collective breath.

[sea]

If Ink and MSN split up GoTo would be the engine that would fill the void. The reason I say this is because GoTo rankings are perceived as "credible" by other sites that use the engine for results whereas Google can still be manipulated. That would make it a completely pay listing engine, well except that GoTo still pulls INK results for unpopular keywords.

I also think google would want to be cobranded within the MSN serps and MSN would want to throw advertising all over the page, Google seems like the type of engine that would want the integrity of the results to be uncompromised.

But I could be wrong

[stcrim]

sea,

Welcome to WMW and the INK forum. What you have said is very correct. If INK and MSN split, it will be interesting to see how MSN fills that void.

Of course at that point gonna want my money back for those paid pages (though I only have a few)

Oh, and yes, Google does hold to a higher standard...

-s-

[tigger]

yeah steve.

I'm sure if you dig hard and long somewhere on the PT site theres a no refunds clause policy

[JuniorHarris]

>>"Further, PTI will not have any liability for any losses arising because its Service is not operational or accessible." (PTI Terms [positiontech.com]

But it also says:

>>"Some states do not allow limitations on incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply in certain circumstances."

Curious if this would stop a class-action lawsuit?!?

[lawman]

JuniorHarris:

I haven't read PT's limitation of liability language, but the language you cited speaks only of incidental damages. It says nothing about a refund policy in the event they either cannot or will not perform the contracted services.

[JuniorHarris]

Thanks lawman...let's just hope it doesn't come to having to define their liability language.

[lawman]

Was surfing MSN (Sunday evening about 6:20 p.m. EDT) and I got Beta MSN again. As usual, none of my position tech listings were there - only paid LookSmart listings. I clicked on the Beta MSN logo and ended up with the standard listings, which included my PT paid pages.

Still makes me a little nervous.

[Macguru]

I noticed MSN have somme little difference with clustering URL from the same domain. My sites start to show 2 URL one under the other. I do not complain since they are very well placed. But competitors have double URL too and that pushes all the others down the list.
This problem can be more serious in other cases. I have seen one of my competitors take 18 consecutive spots. (fortunatly we are above him) This is a severe problem "à la Fast". Never noticed that before.