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What the Microsoft/Yahoo Deal Means for SEO

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How the Microsoft and Yahoo Partnership Will Effect SEO

The deal struck between Microsoft and Yahoo should have a wide-ranging impact. Thanks to Microsoft's vast resources and Yahoo's large number of online services, the partnership between the two tech giants will likely effect most Web surfers, whether they like it or not. What will change? And how will it change the way Webmasters and search engine optimization specialists operate? We have all the info you need right here.

Details of the Microsoft/Yahoo Deal

The Microsoft/Yahoo business deal is big news for SEO specialists. Here are the most important aspects of the deal.

Nearly overshadowing Bing's unveiling was the announcement just weeks later that after months of talk and at least one hostile takeover attempt, Microsoft and Yahoo have formed a partnership. This news will likely have a huge impact on the nature of the Web, and it's sure to have a lasting effect on SEO strategies.

The biggest news is that the current technology that drives most of Yahoo's services will likely fade away. Yahoo's search engine will be powered by Bing's technoly. That's bad news if your web pages currently boast high placement on the Yahoo results page. Things may be very different mere months from now.

And if you're an SEO expert who has simply concentrated on Google results, you'll have to change your habits. Whereas SEO experts could get by neglecting Yahoo and the old MSN, things will be different now. Thanks to Bing's new market share, it's now more important than ever to pay attention to the algorithms that power Yahoo and Bing. Here are a few of the most important aspects of the new Yahoo/Microsoft partnership:
  • The agreement between Microsoft and Yahoo will last for ten years. During that time, Microsoft will be able to have access to the vast amountof Yahoo data and technology.
  • Bing will be the sole power behind the Yahoo's organic and paid search engines. But that doesn't necessarily mean a Yahoo search will return the exact same results as Bing. Yahoo has the freedom to display the results however they wish. And they can tweak their user experience however they want, as well.
  • It will likely take up to two years before both systems are fully implemented.

What the Microsoft/Yahoo Deal Means for SEO

Big changes are afoot for anyone who is involved in SEO. Here's what you need to know.

SEO is a dynamic field, but we've rarely seen something as game-changing as the Yahoo/Microsoft deal. That's because the combined reach and resources of these two tech giants means that Google will finally have some decent competition. Here are the changes that are most likely to have the largest effect on search and the world of SEO.
  • Google no longer owns local search:Yahoo and Microsoft had little in the way of local search, but now that their efforts are combined, their usefulness and popularity could get a big boost. Bing already boasts mapping technology that rivals Google Maps. Look to see Bing focusing heavily on local search options. That's one area where Microsoft has a good shot at taking a chunk out of Google's share.
  • This could be curtains for the Yahoo Directory: Look to see several of Yahoo's services disappear. Even the Yahoo Directory-the service that launched the company way back in 1994-could be dismantled. Other useful features for SEO strategists like SearchMonkey and BOSS could also get the shaft.
  • Rank-checkers have one less search engine to monitor: Were you compiling search ranking reports for Google, Yahoo and MSN? The good news is that you'll now only have to concentrate on two search engines. That should save you a lot of time.
  • Could this be the end of Ask.com? Or a new beginning? The Yahoo/Microsoft pseudo-merger means that Ask.com now moves up to the third most popular search engine. Should you care about Ask? A recent article by LBi Netrank suggests that Ask is scraping Google results. It will be interesting to see whether Ask.com gains or loses ground in the new search landscape.
  • SEO specialists must start planning for the future: It's not the strongest who survive, or the smartest. It's those who are the most adaptable. Now with only two major search engines on the market, it's going to be even harder to get rankings with out the hard work and expertise that a talented SEO firm can provide. That's why now is such a crucial time for SEO. It's imperative that anyone who is truly serious stay at the top of their game. It's now going to be harder than ever to get great rankings for new sites.

Microsoft + Yahoo: The fallout

An in-depth conversation about the reprocussions of the Microsoft/Yahoo deal

ReadWriteWeb's Frederic Lardinois chats with TechViShow's Randall Bennett about what the deal between Microsoft and Yahoo will mean for the web, and the challenges facing the two companies when it comes to competing with Google.
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Is the Microsoft/Yahoo deal good for both companies? Is it bad for Google? Will it be good for the rest of us? Let us know what you think.

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