Firms look set to receive greater internet marketing strategy opportunities as a result of the new partnership between Microsoft and Facebook, it has been revealed.

Search engine marketing will be the driving force behind the extension of the relationship between the two firms.

Microsoft has scrapped plans to introduce banner advertising on the social networking site and instead hopes to use contextual search engine marketing on the website.

Satya Nadella, Microsoft's head of search, made the announcement at the company's analyst meeting earlier this week.

She said: "We will be providing an API to Facebook where they will create a rich search experience for the Facebook users.

"It will carry both our web results, as well as our page search advertising."

The new deal is expected to be launched as early as this autumn and will replace Facebook's own search engine.

Microsoft recently bought a $240 million (£120 million) stake in the social networking site, which has an estimated value of $15 billion.

Will Microsoft claw back some search engine marketing ground with this new deal?

Online Marketing specialists Business Feet help create value from business websites