WebProNews

MSN has become a platinum sponsor for the non-profit SEM professional organization's efforts for the coming fiscal year.

The Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization has a new sponsor joining Google, Yahoo, and Verizon Superpages. MSN will be a platinum level sponsor, and this seems to have placed MSN's logo atop the others on SEMPO's site.

"MSN's willingness to become a Platinum sponsor is a clear indication of their commitment to our mission to increase awareness and promote the value of search engine marketing worldwide," Jeffrey Pruitt, SEMPO Treasurer and co-chair of the organization's Development Committee, said in the statement.

MSN's move appears to be tied to its entrance into the paid search advertising market. MSN has been hiring more staff for its advertising operations, and launched the service in France and Singapore over the summer.

By endorsing SEMPO's mission with their imprimatur, Microsoft could help validate the paid-search market with the same small and medium businesses (SMB) it has been targeting with its Dynamics software line. Part of a Microsoft software and services pitch to SMBs could include referrals to SEMPO members affiliated with MSN.

Yahoo and Google hold the dominant positions in the multi-billion dollar paid search market. But Microsoft is a Dow Jones component with a lengthy corporate history and a near ubiquitous presence on PCs and servers. Paid search could be the service that helps Microsoft break into an SMB market that has been less profitable for it than other divisions.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.