Search Engine Optimisation Web Log (BLOG)
Editor: Matt Paines

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Live Search boost for Microsoft

Following Microsofts recent Searchification event in Silicon Valley last week, the launch of Live Search is expected to give a boost after it unveiled significant upgrades to its search platform. The introduction of a larger search index will generate more related core searches and the company claims its will make results more relevant and the overall experience more competitive with Google.
 
Another significant development is the expansion of Microsoft Answers - the query refinement tool which is comparable with Yahoo Shortcuts and Ask's SmartAnswers.
 
Microsoft has made great play of the fact that it invited feedback from its users as well as searchers generally about satisfaction levels with Live Search as well as search engines across the board.
 
Armed with data about its users' satisfaction and frustration levels, the company’s search team set about creating a new search index which is four times larger than the old index it replaces.
 
The expansion of Answers is a vertical initiative that touches on four content areas including maps, entertainment, shopping and health. These are areas of high consumer interest according to Microsoft and these will help differentiate its offering.
 
The launch of Live Search comes at a time when Microsoft has received mixed results regarding its market share of search. Compete and Nielsen servers show it gaining share over the summer, while comScore and Hitwise show it losing share.

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