MSN search results

[kalew]

OK, please correct me if I am wrong, but MSn gets the "Web Directory Sites" from Looksmart and the"Web Pages" from Inktomi, right ? So - at the risk of sounding like the newbe I am - how do the Looksmart results come in ? As there are several categories in the Looksmart directory in the area of gardening, (used this as an example as my site is a gardening site), AND Looksmart's search for the keyword "gardening" is a mixture of every category, what "system" (for lack of a better word) does MSN use to get the results ? I cannot seem to figure this out. I am in Looksmart's directory (Gardening - Guides and Directories), but I cannot find myself in Looksmart's search - I think I am listed too poorly at this moment. Thanks for your assistance!

[ihelpyou]

hey Kalew, what you are asking is "how do I optimize for MSN which has numerous threads in here. Read all the info about it. Basically, LS gives your site a "quality rank" upon the submission to them. It also gives you certain "keyword categories" to come up on. Depending on this "rank" that LS gives you has a big impact on what MSN does. MSN also has there own little algo which is a hard thing to put fingers on.

To come up on a search like "gardening" would be almost impossible. Try searching for something more targeted.

[Mel]

Hi Kalew:

Your site does come up in both MSN directory and web pages - but only when you search for Lewis Gardens, not a particularly useful term, since if they already know your name they don't really need to search for you.

Some of this problem stems from your Looksmart description :

"Lewis Gardens
Guide offers tips and advice to amateur gardeners. Peruse the plant library, learn garden terms, or post questions on the message board."

There are really not many searchable terms in that description and optimizing the description with searchable terms in mind would be a good idea.

If it has been less than 30 days (or perhaps slightly more) since your LS listing was approved, you can ask for a modification, other wise you can pay to have your listing modified.

Since the title contains only your name and the description contains only generic search terms, you are hard to find in MSN directory.

Your html also needs to be better optimized for specific gardening terms youwant to be found on. Your site themes seems to be "tips for amatuer gardeners", but neither that or "amatuer gardeners" is a term much searched for.

Here are some popular gardening terms that users do search on ( the numbers indicate the relative popularity of the term):

gardening 5287
gardening tips 432
gardening supplies 381
gardening tools 353
indoor gardening 339
perennials 307
rose gardening 289
herbs gardening 261
home gardening 256
gardening gifts 210
perennial plants 50

As Doug says read the threads on these forums, and ask any questions you may need answered, and you will be able to get a good listing.

[ihelpyou]

Thanks for the research Mel! :thumb:

[kalew]

Thanks to both of you for the info. Mel, you gave me a lot of great info regarding my making some necessary changes to my html, etc...I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond! Well...now on to (re)optimizing my site.

[Mel]

Good Kalew:

If you intend to modify your Looksmart description (a good idea since it will also help you with Google Searches) here is one suggestion:

Title: Lewis Gardens - tips for perennials and herb gardening (or whatever you want to emphasize)

Description: Gardening tips, supplies and tools. Get advice on home and indoor gardening, rose gardening and perennial plants.

You should also get a DMOZ listing since that will bring you traffic from Google and several other places.

[kalew]

Can I assume you are referring to the title and description I enter on Looksmart's change form ? Or are you referring to that of my site's tags ? Hmmmm...regardless, I think my site's tags need some re-working. This question probably better fits in the Looksmart forum, but how would I change the title to my Looksmart listing ? I didn't see anything relating to title change in Looksmart's "update" option. Thanks again.

[Mel]

Hi Kalew

Yes I was thinking of the Looksmart title and description.

If it has been less than thirty days (you might get away with a week or two longer) since you got your acceptance email, you can reply to the address your email came from and ask for changes. It is a good idea to be very polite and to give some reasons such as searchers will be able to find my site more easily, My site is really about this etc.

If it has been longer than that, go to the Looksmart "submit a site" link at the bottom of the page, where among the options you will find one to upgrade your site. Use the "upgrade your description" option.

[OptWizard]

The real question is when will they update there results..I have been seeing the same results for months