I noticed a ton of new traffic today from MSN great search terms.

You know, I made the changes to my titles and descriptors etc, and I have leaped in Google (well, from nothing to in the 20s for a few good, though not MAIN terms), but I have lost my first spot in MSN as a result... It's so disheartening trying to please them all the whole time, and just not getting there...
sigh..

so much to learn...

Thats great news, on the whole. I honestly wouldn't worry too much about the temporary loss of position in MSN - it almost certainly is just temporary. it might take a week or two, but it will come back without any intervention from you.....more than likely. MSN is funny like that.

8-|

:D hey there B!
Could you look at my latest post please - serp description query in msn? need your expert opinion please.... By the way, in so many results now (good google ones) your listing for me is either right above or below it.. I BOW TO YOUR ONLINE WONDER-SKILLS!!!! awesome stuff!!!

Log into MSN messenger and give me a nudge?

;)

the SERP in MSN is ever changing, I am kinda fed up with that

That's why just some new websites only concentrate on MSN traffic. Some million search terms, can bring thousands of visitors per month from MSN alone.

I described my site map as site_map rather than as sitemap, when I created it.
I wonder which is more search engine friendly, my version or lineops version, who has described his as sitemap (see above post.)

Well he's a she last time I looked, LOL, but I would have preferred sitemap rather than site_map though. But you're in luck because "_" "|" and other such characters are ignored and it's my feeling that your site_map will be read as a sitemap. For example, I have inherited pages called "A-Z search" that are clearly sitemaps, and I'm pretty sure have been treated as such.

Cheers,
Paz.

Oops wrong sex, anyway thanks Paz