Msn Uk

[MazY]

Cool - another UK moderator. Do you think they have detected our world domination plans yet, MarkyMark? :D

Actually, a question. Have you found MSN to be a worthy consideration for the UK SEO scene? In fact, scrub worthy, as they are all worthy in a way. Let's say "an imperative consideration". I personally have not in the past. However, I do know that it is relatively huge across the pond.

But for UK businesses seeking UK trade, how important would you consider MSN?

[markymark]

Yes, world domination for UK SEOs is high on the agenda. Currently second only to getting more than 4 hours sleep a night.

Your question is interesting and has been on my mind recently. Does msn.co.uk drive traffic, generally ? The answer to that is yes, it does. But it's really a matter of demographics. If you are promoting, say, a travel site or a gift shop or something with a wide potential market among irregular web users (those that may have MSN as an ISP), then it should be high on your list of priorities. If, however, you are targeting a more specialised market, then there may be better avenues. Not a great deal of BtoB traffic here, though what you get is generally okay.

What's been on my mind is this: are UK web users using msn.com instead. I don't have a definite answer to this and would be interested to know about any research done.

Overall, though, I would consider MSN to be important to UK businesses targeting UK trade as I suspect that a reasonable minority use msn.com to search. This is only borne out by a disproportionately high number of clicks on listings below the top six or seven that have included the word UK.

[MazY]

Which does sort of lead onto a bigger issue. Well, I shall try to make it appear seamless.

There is a very distinct lack of UK Internet information out there. Even old faithful WordTracker is USA biased. Try running "UK web design" through WordTracker to get an idea of how biased it is.

I think UK SEO's have to fight a lot more blindly than their USA counterparts because of this lack of real information.

I have often pondered about the MSN specifically. I know quite a hefty number of UK Internet users and yet I know of nobody that uses MSN. I know a few that use AOL because of the general lack of Internet awareness that you mentioned in a previous post. They seem happy to use whichever search engine their ISP throws on their screen. It would certainly be interesting to know how many UK MSNers there are. I am purely guessing that it is not that high.

[markymark]

Agreed about the lack of real information for UK optimisers. I love it every time I get a client from the States, as I have so much more confidence in the terms I'm targeting. What I have tried to do, where possible, is to make presumptions based on the type of business I am dealing with but build in some scope for quick changes depending on what traffic is coming from where and what is actually being searched on.

With the paid-inclusion program, it is pretty easy to make changes to what is searched on. My view is that there are a lot of MSN users - not necessarily all using their ISP, but that whole 'make MSN your home page' TV campaign did coincide with a good increase in traffic.

Sites selling products rather than services do seem to do well out of MSN. Far better than AOL, in my experience.

[Mel]

Hey Mazy and Markymark: :D

Don't think I'm going to sit here in Malaysia and let you colonize the Internet world the same way you did the real one. We are watching you.

Back to more serious issues - have you considered the use of Wordtracker to determine what percentage of UK users are using MSN? There are many UK spellings which would only be used by UK searchers (search engine optimisation from the UK, vs. Search engine optimization from the US).

The Wordtracker search results for these two phrases on MSN should give you some clues.

You might also note in another post where I quoted Andy Mindel as saying that there would be UK version of wordtracker in a few months time.

However from my side of the pond it appears that your plans for world domination are well underway, based on the high rankings I see for UK SEO companies. I have been pondering on this phenomena recently and after noting that there are few outstanding UK seo companies in the Slavic or European languages, have decided that it is not your superiority, or better pricing, but that you simply have years more experience in the use of the English languge; thus in the next hundred years or so we will catch up.

[glengara]

I brought this subject (MSN)up with a master, he said an incredible amount of users click the search button in their (IE) browsers. Guess where that takes them?

[markymark]

Glengara, me ole mucker,

I am sure this is right for certain searches but I haven't seen much of it for my clients. My guess is that this kind of search tends to be for buying gifts, travel, etc. Basically, things that could be the reason someone has come online for the first time.

[MazY]

Originally posted by Mel
Hey Mazy and Markymark: :D
Don't think I'm going to sit here in Malaysia and let you colonize the Internet world the same way you did the real one. We are watching you.

lol. Not guilty on that one - I'm only a UK resident. Technically I'm French.

But I'm all for a bit of world domination when people aren't looking. :)

[markymark]

Mazy,

there is no getting out of it that way. And Mel, my next door neighbour is Malaysian and I have just talked him into translating my site into Malay. World domination will be mine; oh yes, it will be mine.

[ihelpyou]

Is Mel female or male?

I thought female but maybe I am mistaken. She/he has not really let us know one way or the other now that I am thinking about it. :p

For that matter, I think all members should post a pic somewhere so I can see who they are. :D

[MazY]

:D I'm glad you asked that question, Doug.

In the UK, Mel is usually a female abbreviation of Melanie but then I saw everyone has been referring to Mel as male which it can also be in the UK but not so often.

My solution, I always refer to Mel by name as opposed to he or she. lol

Going by the writing style, I would say female but don't quote me on that.

As for photos, you've already seen mine. Your Sister would love me, remember. :)

For those that haven't yet had their eyes burned by my appearance can do by clicking here. (http://www.vbmedia.co.uk/web-design-about-us.htm)

MarkyMark - I'm more than willing to share the fruits of a well thought out world domination manouvere. :D

[Mel]

Having detected my name being used in vain I have been following this thread with much amusement.

I really wouldn't make a very good gal - its not just the 250 pounds on the 6 foot two frame, but the rather large moustache I sport that would totally out of place.

[MazY]

Originally posted by Mel
Having detected my name being used in vain I have been following this thread with much amusement.

I really wouldn't make a very good gal - its not just the 250 pounds on the 6 foot two frame, but the rather large moustache I sport that would totally out of place.

lol - Mum? Is that you? Quit following me around woman! :D

Let me live my life!

[ihelpyou]

:green::green:

[ihelpyou]

I'll tell you one thing. If this forum has anything at all, that would be the biggest bunch of wittiest and funniest members I have ever seen.

[Advisor]

Everyone knows the Tazmanian Devil is male...therefore, I assumed Mel was male.

Jill (female...bout 110 lbs...no moustache)

[ihelpyou]

oh my Gawd... 110?

[JuniorHarris]

<crap>

I should not have clicked on Maz's picture before retiring for the night, as I'm bound to have nightmares!~ ;)

[Mel]

Surely Doug you know that good things come in small packages?

[ihelpyou]

Do I ever. Always went for those types.

[highman]

oh dear I had MaZy and Mel down as female.... oops!

[MazY]

Originally posted by JuniorHarris
<crap>

I should not have clicked on Maz's picture before retiring for the night, as I'm bound to have nightmares!~ ;)

lol. Now quit whining in your personal emails to me, JH. Yes, I will send you a full size signed picture.

Hot damn, he is is persistant. :D

[MazY]

Originally posted by highman
oh dear I had MaZy and Mel down as female.... oops!

Does this mean that the wedding is off now? :D

[highman]

Does this mean that the wedding is off now?

Thats a definate yes !! :o:

[MazY]

Damn! Can I still have the luxury terrace house in Doncaster? :D

[ihelpyou]

:green: what cards.

[Advisor]

So sad to hear about the wedding being off. You can keep the present I sent.

As to you Doug, you keep your eyes off of my 110 (or so!) frame! I did kinda get propositioned at the conference, however, which was interesting.

Let me ask you men something...do all married men (and women) figure that conferences are free-for-alls simply because their spouses at home would have no way of knowing what they're doing in a strange city? I know I'm naive, but I was rather shocked at some of the things I noticed.

Seems to me that a spouse should be able to have a certain element of trust when they send their spouse off to a conference. Is that too much to expect? Am I the only one left in the world who doesn't cheat?

I wanted to rant about this in Rank Write but Heather was gonna kill me if I did! Shhh...don't tell her about this post. She'll never find it in this MSN uk thread!!!

Jill

[ihelpyou]

I know what you are saying there Jill. When I was employed in "real life" and when I was still married, I would go to things like that and was shocked as well. Seemingly good marriages were being trashed right and left. Happens at all those things, but since I am single, guess I am fair game. :cool:

[MazY]

Then I shall revel in my sanctimonious, mightier than thou self once more and say a resounding "no".

I can say that without my partner in crime, my life would have taken more than one turn for the worse and for that I am eternally indebted to her. it is the most comforting feeling in the world to know that you have someone in life that you can depend on 24/7. When you have that then the very notion of hunting elsewhere becomes obsolete.

Having said that, I can be very flirtatious at times. I'm told it's my voice - lol whatever that means. But my partner has always known this and has always known that it never goes any further than my cheeky smile!

[JuniorHarris]

>Seems to me that a spouse should be able to have a certain element of trust when they send their spouse off to a conference. Is that too much to expect? Am I the only one left in the world who doesn't cheat?

You're not the only one left (I hope your spouse is one too), but there aren't many who don't view it as a chance to loosen up...thus the incident you are referring too, as they all assume you're there for the same reasons. No problemo if you are single, but for those that are committed, it can be a challenge, especially once alcohol is added to the mix!~ <urp> We all know what this can do to our programming abilities, let alone our inhibitions!~ :eek:

ps. Maz, thank you!
The full sized signed picture looks great!~ I actually mounted it on a full-size cardboard cut-out which I move about the house with me!~ :eek:

[MazY]

Originally posted by JuniorHarris
[Bps. Maz, thank you!
The full sized signed picture looks great!~ I actually mounted it on a full-size cardboard cut-out which I move about the house with me!~ :eek: [/B]

rofl. I'm told that the world shooting ranges do a similar thing!

[Advisor]

You're not the only one left (I hope your spouse is one too), but there aren't many who don't view it as a chance to loosen up...thus the incident you are referring too, as they all assume you're there for the same reasons. No problemo if you are single, but for those that are committed, it can be a challenge, especially once alcohol is added to the mix!~ <urp> We all know what this can do to our programming abilities, let alone our inhibitions!~

Well, you know, I do think my spouse is one too. But when you see what goes on with people that you'd think would be above it, it makes you wonder. Especially for men. Given the right circumstance, let's say a very beautiful and willing woman, and no way for the spouse to find out...isn't that pretty hard for most men to resist?

I can say that without my partner in crime, my life would have taken more than one turn for the worse and for that I am eternally indebted to her. it is the most comforting feeling in the world to know that you have someone in life that you can depend on 24/7. When you have that then the very notion of hunting elsewhere becomes obsolete.

I agree, Maz. I think that anyone who's married or in a committed relationship deserves to be able to have that feeling. I am sure my husband knows he has that with me, and I've always felt that I've had it with him.

On the otherhand, it also seems that biologically we humans weren't really made to be monogomous, which is probably why it's so hard for some people. Bottom line is you have to live with yourself whether or not anyone knows what you're doing. If someone can cheat and still feel good about themself then more power to them. However, it says a lot about their basic character, in my mind.

As to flirting, well, I don't see anything wrong with that either. That's just fun. And even if you're fantasizing about particular other people who you may have flirted with...that's not the same as actually following through.

Ah well...one would think that at the tender age of 40 I'd be more familiar with the ways of the world!

Jill

[MazY]

Oooh - we're entering into my specialist subject now - human behaviour...

I have always maintained that marriage itself goes totally against the social evolution of man. There are, as I'm sure I don't need to point out, inherant differences in the way that men and women view the very essence of our existence.

Like it or not, the draw of procreation (in order to continue the species) is more prevalent in men than it is in women.

We also look for entirely different things when seeking our, what are, essentially, breeding partners. Men in fact are far less fussy and judge the physique far more than women do. Women on the other hand are far more materialistic. (They have to be).

Women have to look for signs of dependability, success and so forth and sadly in this day and age, this is often indicated by a flash car, good income, etc. This is not a defamatory comment remember. To the woman it is essential to the future of their offspring. Men actually subconsciously tend to look at the shape of the woman. They look for good "childbearing hips", healthy skin and so forth. Of course, there are always exceptions to both of these rules.

There is absolutely nothing in this world as interesting as watching human behaviour. Despite all the materials we adorn ourselves in, all the material goods we surround ourselves with and so forth, we are still just animals desperately trying to ensure the continuation of our species.

That's my deep subject of the day. I shall need to go lie down now!