After over a year of negotiations, Microsoft and Yahoo! have settled on a deal to combine their search engine capabilities to compete with Google.  Microsoft now has control over Yahoo's search engine platform and all of the future consumer search data that comes with it, while Yahoo continues to profit off of ad sales. 

What does this mean to you? Before this merger, Google dominated the search engine market receiving about 60-70% of the market share of searches. Yahoo hovered around 20% and Microsoft's rebranded engine, Bing, about 10%. This meant that if you had to choose a platform to invest in advertising, you would reach more viewers advertising in Google. Now with 30% of the market, and the only viable competitor to Google, Bing may be a more attractive platform to advertise in. However, this could also lead to price wars for ads now that there are fewer search engines to advertise in.

We will stay tuned to this story to learn more about how this merger will affect your online marketing efforts.

Additional Reading: Business Week, NPR.org

You've realized the importance and value of your business having a great online presence. Now you're faced with the question of how best to make that a reality.

You want to keep costs down but you need to present a professional, credible image to your prospects and customers. In general you have two options. Hire a custom web design company or use an out-of-the-box website template. Below are some pros and cons of both options that can help you make the best decision for your particular situation and needs.

Custom web design and development pros:

1. Unique design. A professional web design company will create a design specifically for you. Your website will be different from anyone else's.
2. Built search engine friendly. Most professional web designers not only understand aesthics but also what actually makes the Internet and search engines work. Using a custom web design company should improve your chances of success in the search engines.
3. Adaptability. By definition, a custom developed website will be fitted and targeted for your company's specific needs and goals.
4. Compatibility. Your website should look and work just fine in any of the several most popular web browsers.
5. Scalability. Not everyone gets everything they want right away. A professional web design company can help you create a plan for starting on time and within budget but still add version 2 and 3 features down the road without starting all over again.
6. Customizable. They should be able to build whatever you can dream as far as your website's functionality.
7. Technology. Professional web designers use programming software that will be around and supported for many years to come instead of using less costly but uncertain platforms.
8. Ownership. Typically using a professional web design company is a contract for hire relationship, which means when they're done you should own everything outright.
9. Experience. They didn't become professionals overnight and have usually completed many different types of projects. You can benefit from this experience by asking quesitons about options and their opinions on how best to accomplish certain goals.

The downfalls of using a custom web design company are:

1. The overall price will probably be more than using template software
2. It may take a little longer to get your site from concept to live online
3. You're dealing with people. This means personalities and customer service will come into play (although this could exactly be a positive thing as well)

Website templates can be useful for:

1. Cost. You have a very minimal budget but for some reason just have to have something, anything online
2. Time. Your website needed to be up yesterday and you can't wait another day.
3. DIY. You like to do whatever you can yourself but just can't code. Templates can let you do it yourself without the need to know any programming languages.

The negatives to using website templates are:

1. Lots of other people will have the same look and feel
2. You will be limited in what you can customize and the features and functionality you can add to your site
3. Some website templates are not built search engine friendly
4. Some website templates are not build compatible with all the popular web browsers
5. Do it yourself means just that. So if you ever get too busy to make necessary changes or updates to your website then they just never get done
6. Most websites templates require their smaller fees to be paid forever. You may own the domain name but in essence you just rent your website from them. If you ever stop paying their monthly or annual fee then you'll no longer have a website online.

The right choice between these two options really depends upon your business needs and goals. As with most things, you get what you pay for. But regardless which method you choose, a great online presence that gets found in the search engines, stands out from the crowd to your prospects and customers, and allows them to interact with your company like they and you want is a great asset that really adds value to your business. 

Little Rock, Arkansas web design firm, 1011 Web Solutions, announces the launch of a new website for Optimal Pest Solutions. Optimal Pest Solutions, located in Maumelle, Arkansas is a full-service pest control company that provides pest extermination and prevention services for homes and businesses throughout Central Arkansas.

Optimal Pest Solutions uses organic insecticides that are safe for your family and pets so you can have peace of mind knowing you aren't polluting your home with toxic chemicals just to keep bugs away. Their non-toxic pesticides stand up to any of the conventional pesticides on the market.

The owner of Optimal Pest Solutions is deeply involved with community organizations in Maumelle. They believe in volunteering, family, and preserving our environment. We are happy to have them as a client. If you need pest control services, please visit their website www.optimalpest.com and give them a call.