MSN Search VS Google Search: Where to advertise?

In fact it gives the distinct sense to many that Microsoft and desperate, and dare I say running out of ideas?!

Until now Microsoft have attempted to compete with Google by integrating their live search with their desktop platform, investing in technology and improving the quality of their search results.

Anyone who works in the industry and has experience of both platforms will know that in realty Microsoft has just failed to deliver on all levels. 

Getting indexed in MSN efficiently, the quality of the results and the performance of search advertising campaigns is just not comparable.

Why? traditional the argument has always been that people use Google because the quality of search results is better.

Now Microsoft are gambling that this isn’t the case, and the real way to win search is to hit people in the pocket. Given the current economic climate, they might just have a point.

By most measures, Google search is better. But in reality the advent of Google PLC and the increasing prominence of paid search and the almost impossible to solve paid back link issues means that Google's 'relevance' mantra is under some sustained pressure, and they will be hard pushed to resist shareholder demands!

The facts are that even if it helps MSN initially, it cant be sustained. The business model has been explored with affiliates and rewards sites on a small scale, but there are all kinds of hidden costs for users and companies on these platforms.

Moreover, why can’t Google, Yahoo or anyone else just do the same?

Our opinion is that it won't a make a big difference. The volume of clicks generated form a typical MSN search campaign is so small compared to the same campaign in Google that so long as Google keep innovating and delivering, they can maintain their market dominance.

So, if you have a search campaign on Google already, trial the new MSN offering... but don't jump ship just yet!