In the news for Monday July, 21, 2008 is the compromise from Yahoo and dissident shareholder Carl Icahn. Facebook also made an announcement today.

Icahn was added to the board.  The reverberations in the marketplace makes a deal with Microsoft less likely.  Could a deal with AOL and parent Time Warner be on the slate?  Talks had heated up recently and a deal could be forthcoming.  A Yahoo/AOL combination would be interesting from a social media standpoint.  Keep your ears open.

PPC rates have been forecasted to increase with Yahoo and Google linked up. The deal creates less competition and a bigger player in SEM.  Take the time to evaluate campaigns now and determine what type of budget impact this deal might have on your program.

Not lost in the news was Facebook’s announcement.  The most developed social network is again moving forward with a redesign of profiles on the site.  Users will now have additional tabs in which to share information and personal interests.