Comparing MSN And Yahoo! Optimization - Off Page Factors and Some Important SEO Differences
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The Yahoo! and MSN search algorithms have strong similarities in their on page optimization valuations. While there are some standard off page SEO practices that work well for both search engines, there are some important differences to consider as well.
As with all search engines, both Yahoo! and MSN Search value incoming links very highly. Those links are given even more value if they contain your most important keyword phrases as link anchor text. By ensuring that your link partners provide solid link text, you will score high rankings on Yahoo! and MSN, along with doing very well on the Google search engine results as well. As with all search engines, make sure you mix up your link anchor text. Absolutely no more than 80% of your anchor text, and less is better, should be identical. Like Google, Yahoo! and MSN will discount obviously identical and unnatural looking link text.
One major area of divergence between MSN and Yahoo! involves directory inclusion. The Yahoo! search placements appear to place extra importance on your site being listed in the Yahoo! Directory. Being part of that important Internet directory is almost a necessity for placement at the top of the Yahoo! search engine results pages (SERPs) for highly competitive keywords. Inclusion in the Yahoo! Directory is definitely not given the same level of importance in the MSN Search algorithm.
While the Yahoo! Directory is especially important to the Yahoo! search algorithm, MSN Search has always given weight to inclusion in the Zeal/Looksmart directory.
MSN Search formerly had an agreement with the Zeal/Looksmart Internet directories to provide their results. While that formal agreement is no longer in place, MSN continues to maintain a less formal arrangement with the directories. Instead of displaying the directory listings on a regular basis, MSN Search is able to utilize the directory listings at its discretion.
In the past, under the formal agreement with Zeal/Looksmart, it was a very wise choice to have your site included in the directory listings. Inclusion in the MSN endorsed directories would boost your site high in the MSN search results. While that advantage has lessened, it has not disappeared entirely. There is still some solid benefit to being included in the Zeal/Looksmart directory. In any case, the importance of Zeal/Looksmart inclusion isn’t very important to Yahoo! at all.
All search engines give weight to being listed in the Open Directory Project (DMOZ). Inclusion in that human selected directory is very important for Yahoo! rankings and appears to have importance to MSN as well. In that regard, being part of the DMOZ directory is important to all search engine algorithms.
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