Overture results on MSN.com

why aren't results from Overture on MSN?

[JanaR]

If I bid on a keyword on Overture and I am on the 1st - 3rd position, why doesn't this appear on MSN.com? Sometimes there are no sponsored sites on MSN, although I know I bid on that keyword highet than $0.15.. Does anybody know why is it so?

[tigger]

Hi JanaR Welcome to WebmasterWorld

Mmmm interesting well it's my understanding that you should be on MSN if your bid is within the top 3, have you dropped Overture a line asking why, I'd be interested in this myself

[Jack_Frost]

I have tons of keywords that I bid on that don't show up on on the first page of MSN. Basically, if the search volume for that term is not high, they just send it off to the section marked "Search the Top 10 Results" or something like that. Click on that and you should find your OT ads.

[tigger]

Well I'm in the UK and any bids that I place with overture UK show on MSN it doesn’t matter how high the volume is perhaps it’s different with .com

[Jack_Frost]

OK, I went back to check and now I am seeing what you are seeing Jana. I can't find my sponsor listings anywhere. I really think that it has to do with search volume because my listing for widget is there, but my listing for plastic widget is not.

And now they don't even have the Search the Top Ten Results.

I try to keep myself covered by listing major phrases with OT for sponsor listings, LookSmart for Site matches, and Inktomi for Page matches. This way I'm at least covered on my major terms.

[JanaR]

Thank for your replies. I am still not sure - I don't think it depends on the search volume, as I bid on apartment in Prague, that has quite a high volume and other terms - very similar - prague apartment appears in the results...
anyway - here is the answer form Overture, that doesn't seem to be very clear for me (prague apartment appears and apartment in prague does not ?? )
"Overture's search results can be found on selected terms in the following
general categories: Computing, Entertainment, Finance, Health, Homelife,
Shopping, and Travel.
Due to restrictions to the implementations of our search results with MSN,
only selected terms relating the categories detailed above will be
included in this implementation. Please know that we are continuously
working to expand our affiliate relationships with these partners in hopes
of increasing the number of terms included in our implementation."

[Jack_Frost]

Hey Jana,

I can't figure it out. For the most part, my high volume phrases are there (even in categories not mentioned in their letter), but all the low volume ones are missing. In fact, the Search Top 10 phrase is gone in every case. Between this and the fact that LookSmart only delivers a few key phrases for me, it looks like I can go back to getting top listings without having to pay per click. At least until they change again...

[tedster]

MSN runs only a customized subset of the Overture listings. Part of their criteria is whether they have their own advertising client on the same keyword.

There certainly may be other criteria as well, but if so I haven't figured out what they are. I haven't personally seen evidence that search volume enters into it, but I can't rule that out, either.

[mistah]

Search phrases including the word "cellar" show up on msn.co.uk, but not equivalent phrases including the word "basement."

[ptietze]

A similar thread.

[webmasterworld.com...]

[glengara]

Could it be based on cost per click?
I think I remember reading something like anything less than 15 cents (LS PPC) may not show up in results from OV.

[mistah]

I don't think it's to do with the level of the maximium bid. The "basement" and "cellar" terms that I am bidding on are all under 10p, but only the "cellar" ones are listed on MSN.

[Jack_Frost]

I've also got plenty that I'm bidding much higher than $0.15 per click in Overture that aren't showing up so I don't think that is it? It would make sense...why put cheap (less than $0.15)Overture listings at top if you can get $0.15. The problem with LookSmart is that I don't think it is as trustworthy as Overture. My logs show all kinds of weird keywords for my traffic via MSN for a new site. Makes me wonder what I'm paying for?