Microsoft/Yahoo: 10 ways the deal could affect SEO

When the online giants join forces, just what will it mean for them and for the consumers using search engines?

The search landscape changed significantly recently when Microsoft and Yahoo announced their plan to join forces and challenge Google’s search engine dominance.

Although the impact on search engine optimization wouldn’t happen overnight, it eventually will occur, should the deal be approved by regulators, which always takes time. Full implementation could lag an additional 24 months beyond regulatory approval, Yahoo says. The best course is to be prepared.

The following analysis is based on what we already know; some changes are speculative, whereas others are direct and actionable.

1. SEO for Bing is worth your optimization effort