MSN is in the top 3 (along with Yahoo and Google and followed by AskJeeves) when it comes to Internet traffic and usage of its search engine. There exact standing changes depending on who you ask and when, but their importance for search engine optimization cannot be denied.

The news is quickly changing concerning MSN and its requirements for websites and webmasters who want to ensure high search engine optimization (SEO) results. Beta or not to beta and a possible merger with AOL are among the spotlighted foci of MSN. Whether you are an SEO beginner or an SEO guru, it's important to keep up with the changing times in order to ensure top ranking for your pages.

As recently as January 20, 2005, website promotion webmasters were reporting that beta results were the order of the day at MSN. Every search produced them in bulk. Ten days later on February 1st at 12 AM, however, MSN dropped its beta designation from its search engine and officially launched a completely overhauled homepage layout and changed its algorithm for gaining search results. This move made them an official independent search engine as opposed to previously when they culled results from the Yahoo/Inktomi search index.

The other change that affects webmaster search engine optimization on MSN Search is their new, huge advertising and promotion campaign. Called adCenter, this produces search results that will appear alongside web page results, a fact that every webmaster looking to gain strong SEO results on MSN should bear in mind.

Some studies have shown that roughly half of the searches initiated on MSN are health related. In general, Internet users search for the several common topics on a regular basis. In fact, Internet users frequently perform searches to perform one or more of the following: to find directions or phone numbers instead of using the Yellow Pages, both for individuals and local businesses; to find the latest news; to shop online and to find entertainment news.

How does this affect the webmaster interested in obtaining high SEO? First, since this are viewed as 'niche' searches, it is important that you use the general search engine optimization tools like keyword repetition, variations of keywords, Meta tags, title tags, and rich content throughout the interior pages of your site with these niche searches in mind. Using terms related to shopping, including directions with street names as well as the people involved in any aspect of your site and the product or services or events related to it will increase traffic through MSN, especially if any of things are health related as well. The key here is to not only reach those who search terms directly related to your site but to those who don't know that they are looking for your site until they find it. By searching related terms, they link to your site and find even more of what they are looking for.

On the same token, using the search engine optimization tactics like ad placement, link sharing, pay per click, and affiliate promotion will also gain traffic. On MSN Search in particular, because half of the searched terms are health related, try to angle an aspect of your site to relate to health search terms. There are health implications for almost everything available or done or offered online. Find yours and use it to gain affiliation or advertisement opportunities with some of the most popular health sites on MSN Search and, at the same time, gain high rankings and increased traffic for your website.

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