All Windows Are Local: Microsoft Adds to MSN Search

MSN took a local leap in their search engine optimization (SEO) efforts yesterday with the launch of the local search. The local search focuses on just that, local businesses and websites. When you go the Local (beta) feature, you also get a map with the option of an aerial view. This is a nice feature added to MSN's optimization efforts gives them a leg up over the competition. The search is pretty simple. Go to Versailles, Kentucky. Several items come up but at the search box, choose the "local (beta)" option and search again. This time you get something different.

Rose Hill Inn. The bed and breakfast offers proximity to Lexington and the historic Google's Local option didn't offer the same type of feature. The user has to be specific for what they're looking for. It also has satellite map photos but the photos, at least for this experiment, didn't zoom in as tightly as the MSN feature. The Google Local also didn't give local websites. It was strictly business listings and phone number with possible directions. As far as websites for the restaurants, it just gave basically yellow page listings. Nothing dramatic. It provided links for whatever the user searches for but nothing else. Subway restaurants. It gives me a distance and allows users to rate the Subway but it doesn't include a map feature on that page. Users must click on a directions link to get the mapping option. One again, links for whatever the user was searching for but nothing else. Overall, based on my initial scan of these Local products on the Big 3 SEO companies, MSN looks to have the best Local feature. It took some aspects of the other two and then added in their own items to make it a stronger and more interesting Local search. It's possible the other two will expand. The nicest feature by far was access to websites in the town one is looking through. It lets the user really see just what might be going on in the town one is visiting via the Internet. John Stith is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.