MediaPost
A year in the making, MSN is expected to debut a refurbished home page that places the focus on Bing-powered search, local content, in-line video, and the social networks that are consuming an ever-greater share of consumers’ digital lives.
Significantly, the Microsoft unit is also launching a new MSN Local Edition, which will exist as a stand-alone Web site, but also feature prominently on the relaunched MSN home page.
The renewed focus on local content resulted from internal MSN research, which found that such content — from local news and events to weather and sports — was “the Number 1 unmet need online,” according to Lisa Gurry, senior director at MSN.
Likewise, consumers who were surveyed said they wanted less clutter and easier access to information and services they care about, which MSN took into consideration when redesigning its site.
Indeed, the new MSN home page features 50% fewer links than the previous home page, and a simplified navigation across news, entertainment, sports, money and lifestyle. More…