4 Comments

Microsoft’s New Live Search

Sep 27, 2007
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livesearch.jpg

Microsoft is deploying the largest update to its Live Search service since 2005.

Microsoft’s search engine is the 3rd most popular in the US and this is largely seen as an attempt by the software behemoth to catch up to the more popular Google and Yahoo search offerings.

Here are the basics about the new Live search from the announcement blog entry:

  • Relevance, relevance, relevance. We’ve quadrupled the size of our index, which means we can return the right results for your searches. Improvements like enhanced ranking algorithms, auto-spell correction and better stop word handling help us return the best results.
  • Speed. Pages load much faster than before.
  • Streamlined look and feel. We focused on the end-to-end experience from the homepage throughout the site. For example, search results are now easier to read thanks to work on typography, contrast, colors and spacing.
  • More high-interest content. You asked us for more in Entertainment, Shopping, Health, Local and Video search and we’re happy to deliver it.

In all honesty, I don’t see a great deal to be excited about with this re-deployment beyond the improved relevancy. The one interesting feature is the RSS option for web searches allowing you to track how a keyword result changes in real time through your feed reader. This could be a handy option for the more keyword focused ppc affiliates involved in Microsoft’s adCenter.

You can find more opinions and observations about the new search service at Techmeme, but I’m not expecting more than a collective “meh” from the blogosphere as Microsoft seems to have arrived late to the holistic search relevancy party.

Filed under: Contextual Advertising + Search Engine Marketing
  • http://www.jimkukral..com Jim Kukral

    It's too late, isn't it? I mean, what will it really take to get anyone using this? A LOT!

  • http://schaafco.com Brook Schaaf

    I think most people in the internet space would welcome a more equitable spread of the search market share among Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Ask (the one company that actually does have search about as good as Google’s).

    For me “Live Search” was a confusing concept and name. I understand what a “Live Concert” is, but what is “Live Search” supposed to be?

  • http://www.revenews.com Sam Harrelson

    Completely agree on the branding issue, Brook. The whole “Live” suite never really took off, so I’m not sure why they are so tied to it.

    I’m guessing (though I don’t have any data to back this up) that most users of Live Search are using it from the MSN.com start page and aren’t going to the search portal itself.

    BTW, I thought it was ironic that I used Google to find the Live Search home page while writing this post.

  • http://www.tdotballers.com Phil Thompson

    "…what will it really take to get anyone using this? A LOT!"
    Inclusion as the default browser in Windows Vista :)

    Although you can change the default search engine, most home users would know how – which is good news for Microsoft. But I agree, too little, too late. Microsoft isn't really one to accept defeat though, so I don't foresee them stopping any time soon.