SEO for Microsoft Bing
MS Bing Is Not a Typical Search Engine and SEO for Bing is Different
Jul 10, 2009
The new kid on the block when it comes to SEO is Microsoft 'Bing' and a lot of online marketers are unsure of how to get listed on this search engine. May are trying to figure out how to get top page rank and become noticed by the new player.
As of this writing, Bing boasts a reach to over 45 million unique users and more than 1.3 billion page views.Their average user is between 25-54 years old and based on historical data, they are likely to be users who make purchases online .
What is Bing?
First of all, it's important to recognize that this is not really a 'search engine' as we typically define the term. It is a decision engine that uses different criteria and algorithms than Google, Yahoo, and all of the other big players.
According to 'Bing', there are key differences in how to optimize the use of their capabilities if websites really want to get noticed. Understanding the distinctions between the 'decision engine' algorithms and the typical 'search engine' algorithms can make a difference in how soon a website is deemed worthy of higher page rank on Bing.
Domain Name
The first and most important thing to note is that Bing rewards domains that have been around for a while. If a domain was registered long ago, this is a real advantage. Purchasing older domain names will likely get a website noticed quicker on Bing.
Page Length
Bing likes pages that really have something to say and they assume that a page must have 300 words or more of text to be worthwhile. This has not been a factor with other search engines in the past but Bing is the new kid on the block and they're making new rules.
Inbound LInks
Most search engines view inbound links favorably and outbound links should be limited as they can lower page rank. Not so with Bing. They actually reward more outbound linking than typical search engines. This can be a real plus for people seeking to increase their page ranking on Bing.
Titles
Just like everyone else, Bing likes titles that have keywords and relevancy to the content. But it appears that Bing seems to put more emphasis on the value of titles that directly address the subject so be sure to use targeted, specific titles. Strong titles are noticed by Bing.
Advertising
If there is an existing advertising campaign on Google or Yahoo, there are some options about using that marketing campaign on Bing too. They have a tool that makes it easier to import campaigns from other search engines and transfer the marketing campaign to Bing. And advertising is an unbelievable $5! For more information on advertising on Bing, visit www.advertising.microsoft.com/. Ironically, it's not such an easy site to find when searching on Bing!
New Opportunities Created by Bing
Bing is definitely a new way of using the Internet and search engine optimization has new rules on Microsoft's decision engine. But Bing does offer new opportunities to reach a different audience for online marketers. As we learn more about this new decision engine, it will likely grow in popularity. Being one of the first to master the specifics will rank a website higher on the Bing searches.
Don't assume what has worked in the past with Google and Yahoo will work on Bing. Do some homework and then optimize the website for both search engines and the new decision engine. Consistent efforts will be well-worth the time it took to get it right.
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