Today, MSN unveils its "next-generation online advertising platform", which should compete well with Google Adwords and Yahoo PPC programs. This is a pilot program that will begin only in Singapore and France within the next six months before it rolls out to the rest of the world. I will quote snippets of their annoucement below that highlight the most interesting features.
At the summit MSN also will unveil Microsoft's next-generation online advertising platform, MSN adCenter, built on Microsoft technology that will help advertisers get higher returns by understanding and connecting to their desired audience throughout the MSN network.
Within the MSN adCenter platform, the new MSN paid-search solution will be tightly integrated with other future capabilities to give advertisers a one-stop shop from which to plan, execute and adjust their online campaigns. The new MSN paid-search solution will provide keyword buyers with in-depth audience intelligence including geographic location, gender, age group, lifestyle segment and time of day. As a result, advertisers should be able to plan more strategic advertising investments and achieve higher click-to-buy conversion rates among consumers. MSN remains committed to working with Yahoo! Search Marketing (formerly Overture) and will continue to collaborate with it to offer high-quality search listings to advertisers.
Apparently, the reports that will be generated will include impressive graphs and probably plenty of data to help marketers tweak their advertising. Game on!