MSN the new "Ask Jeeves"?

There has been a lot of talk about the quality of MSN's results now compared to Google's and how many are making the shift (although when an actually poll was taken, the majority were not)

I myself have been using MSN a bit more to see if It would become my main search engine personally. Something has begun to bother me in the last week though.

I have been noticing more and more being put before the natural listings. On most of my recent searches there have been 4-5 paid ads on top, and then after that ads with pictures (mostly on music or movie searches although its spreading) and THEN a top 3 list.

I have to scroll halfway down the page to get to a natural listing!

Then in order to move to page 2 I have to conduct a search for the navigation as it is ONLY at the bottom and is beneath 2-4 more ads. This isn't taking into account the 5-6 ads on the right side (which I don't mind).

I never use Ask Jeeves for these same reasons. I am hoping this is just a test and that it will be cleaned up a bit. From now on if someone tells me they don't use Google because all they care about is revenue, not natural listings, I will just laugh.

As far as I can tell, if this format sticks at MSN they will put Google to shame in that department.

Do you mind sharing an example of the search term that produced these results? SERPs for our about 15 of our key phrases are very clean. Just 3 sponsored ads above the netural listings.

I have not noticed a scrolling issue. Keep in mind MSN is still doing tons of UI testing, so give it some time to settle.

I would never like to compare Ask Jeeves to any other engine. The Teoma technology is due more respect then that. ;) But AJ does need to get rid of those AdWords results from the top.

Since January 1 my google traffic has shot up while MSN and Yahoo are steady. I'll keep using the same engine as the majority of my visitors.

As for Jeeves, Its an ad machine that has some technology behind it. Usage stinks. Who cares if there is excellent technology behind it. Organic results are only found after scrolling through the ads above.

Dave

I'm seeing the same as faremax.

wow, they changed it. Wow!

I see 3 at the top, 5 at the right, and 3 at the bottom for 'work at home'. I really hope they don't add more to the top ;0(

As Rusty Brick has mentioned there seems to be a lot of testing going on. It is sometimes nearly unusable, and then its back to just 3 ads.

I will take a screenshot next time it gets what I feel is absolutely ridiculous which is similar to jd mentioned but ALSO a row of pictures before the natural results.

I can't fault them for testing so I just will wait and see.

Did you hit MSN's feedback link?