I wanted to post my notes from the panel discussion. But I notice that the good folks at Search Engine Journal have already done a great job of summarizing this.

I like Loren’s summary comments: “For the most part, I’m finding Raju’s presentation quite interest(ing) and the offerings Microsoft has for webmasters to upload blendable content to Microsoft Search.” Here are more details.

Barry Schwartz:

Microsoft watches how people use search - they camp out and watch the consumers. Consumers use search in three main ways:

(1) Find: Targeted questions, high frequency of usage, short sessions, examples include weather, local, listings, stock and directions.
(2) Discover: Clear need but less steps are less clear, long and repeated sessions, high emotional investments and examples include buying strollers, health information and so on.
(3) Explorer: Browsing through with no specific target or goal, long and repeated sessions, examples include hobbies, entertainment and interests. More..

Loren Baker:

Raju uses snow reports as an example and searching for ski shops and identifies “one click” directions in examples of blended search results in Microsoft.

What does this mean for an SEO perspective? Local is big. 33% of searches are local. If someone does a search for a ski shop in San Jose, you want to be first. One way to enhance your ranking is a business listing which can be set up in the Microsoft Webmaster Dashboard.

80% of online shoppers begin with product search queries, Microsoft offers the user the ability to upload entire product catalog which helps users find the vast selection of products which are available.

For the most part, I’m finding Raju’s presentation quite interested and the offerings Microsoft has for webmasters to upload blendable content to Microsoft Search. More..