Prior to this development, MSN.com contracted with Yahoo to provide MSN’s users with search results. For months now, the MSN Search (beta) robot “MSNbot” has been rapidly spidering the web, working swiftly and efficiently to index and prioritize hundreds of millions of webpages. Search engine optimization firms have noted that "MSNbot" is very adept at progressing through the entire content of websites while not missing any subdirectories or obscure links.

If Microsoft has created such a great search property, is it destined to become the dominant search destination? The ultimate fate of the new MSN search engine will undoubtedly be in the hands of the consumers who use it. As additional search products such as desktop search, toolbars, and MSN Messenger continue to arrive, the competition will inevitably heat up.

Google and Yahoo are in for some formidable competition. Microsoft can outspend both of them combined, and still have ample money left over to purchase a small country. Although Microsoft may not be recognized as an innovator, if they decide to enter a market, their new competitors had better be prepared to wage a major battle.

It will be interesting to see how Microsoft will use its dominance in parallel markets to help leverage their new search engine. Some of us may recall the former prominence of Netscape prior to the introduction of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Microsoft’s ability to include its Internet Explorer on all new Windows desktops slaughtered Netscape, and their ability to successfully compete. Will Google and Yahoo be next?

And what about advertising? As of this changeover, users of MSN.com who enter a search query no longer find advertisements from Yahoo’s search engine. Analysts agree Microsoft must have a plan in place to make money with their new search property, but how this will be accomplished remains to be seen. MSN is now losing millions of dollars in advertising revenue that Yahoo previously paid them. Sure, they can afford to do without this revenue, but the question remains, what advertising model will MSN Search use to become profitable?

Microsoft’s ability to outspend their competitors could certainly be a major factor. If Microsoft offers discounted advertising, or other advertising incentives, Google and Yahoo may find themselves with a much smaller piece of the advertising pie. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) companies use advertising mediums such as Google Adwords to drive business for their clients. If SEO companies do not see a profit potential for their clients when MSN rolls out their new advertising model, it could spell disaster for MSN Search.

Ultimately, the war of the search engines will boil down to a popularity contest. Microsoft has the power, money, and domination of certain parallel markets to capture a large share of the search engine market. Google currently enjoys a wide margin of market leadership. How does MSN plan to turn the tables and win the war of the search engines? The first shots have been fired, who will attack next?

About Titan SEO
Titan SEO (http://www.titan-seo.com)is a search engine marketing firm specializing in search engine optimization

and internet marketing. Titan SEO continually monitors search engine developments to ensure their client’s success. To learn more about our solutions and our SEO company, visit our website at MSN Search beta.