Microsoft announced today at Search Engine Strategies Chicago three new search tools, two for paid search and one for search engine optimization (SEO). On the paid side Microsoft launched the adCenter Add-in for Excel and the adExcellence accreditation program, on the organic side Microsoft launched a new and improved Webmaster Center.
The adCenter Add-on for Excel, which should go live in early 2008, lets users conduct keyword research and strategy from within a Excel spreadsheet. The goal of the Add-on is to give marketers a clearer picture of trends, cost and opportunities. The adExcellence accreditation program follows in the footsteps of the similar Google and Yahoo programs in giving advertisers and agencies the recognition of being proficient in adCenter.
On the organic side, Microsoft’s new Webmaster Center (which was announced a month or so ago) is meant to give marketers a clearer pictures of how Microsoft search engine indexes and crawls sites, enhance sitemap creation / submission, more in-depth statistics and more content / community resources.
Microsoft has a long road ahead in terms of trying to catch up to Google and Yahoo but they are doing their best to offer search marketers every possible tool they need to do their job and get results. But, in the end you can have the best tools online but with search it comes down to volume and relevancy of search results – Microsoft is just not there on either.
