Microsoft Offers Cross-Device Advertising on MSN Apps to 24 Markets

MSN has undergone several changes over the years. In September 2014, MSN’s entire interface was redesigned to provide users information consistency across their devices. Moreover, the new MSN allowed customization of apps based on the user’s interests.

Figure 1 (Source: Microsoft Advertising)

The redesign was Microsoft’s first step to improving the overall MSN experience. With the intention of reaching out to brand and agency partners, MSN announced on January 6, 2015, that it would give advertisers “a new, exciting cross-platform opportunity to reach and engage their target audience.” [See Figure 1]

In December 2014, Microsoft released MSN Apps to iOS, Android, and Amazon device users, which allowed users to “take their apps—News, Weather, Sports, Money, Health & Fitness and Food & Drink—with them anywhere.”

Additionally, it enabled users to customize their MSN Apps using a single device, which would be synced to their other devices. This gave advertisers a “unique opportunity to reach their audience in the right context and mindset, with targeted advertising across multiple screens and platforms.”

Ad sizes are available in 320 x 50 for mobile phones and 300 x 250 for tablets. The standardized sizes make ad purchasing easier for advertisers, said Greg Nelson, GM of Display Advertising at Microsoft. He added that the MSN advertising experience is now extended to iOS and Android devices.

The new interface, and the substantial content it provides, is designed to improve Microsoft’s cross-device and -platform ad offerings, as stated in the announcement:

Built with a beautiful, immersive interface and unprecedented breadth of content from over 1,000 publishing partners – from the big media brands to niche, specialized players – MSN Apps allow advertisers to tap into the deep, high quality experience that open up a universe of aggregated content extracted from across the web.

In-app advertising would be offered to 24 out of 56 total markets beginning January 7th, 2015, (including the United Kingdom and United States).

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