MSN has reportedly added a fourth PPC listing to the top box on Live search in the US. I say reportedly as I cannot see it myself when I search.
In a press release reported on Search Engine Watch MSN rather honestly admitted this was done in response to requests from their advertisers for more clicks. It is interesting to hear MSN provide this reasoning ad it goes against the usual lines used by the search engines. In most case the search engines do things, or report to do things, for the benefit of their users and to enhance user experience rather than for their advertisers (who incidentally are the ones who pay them!).
MSN’s problem to date in the battle for search supremacy has been the sheer lack of search volume produced and this is an interesting way to produce it. The more logical approach would be to attempt to increase their user base but maybe they have decided this isn’t going to happen any time soon.
They have to be careful though as satisfying advertisers is one thing, but you need to make sure you aren’t doing it at the expense of your users. I don’t think the addition of a fourth PPC listing at the top of the results is going to seriously offend people in anyway so Im not suggesting that this will be he case but a balance needs to be struck between ad revenue and user experience. MSN’s problem remains search volume so they cant afford to be putting any of their existing user base off!