Earlier this week Facebook began rolling out a messaging platform that could possibly become a game changer for email services — and perhaps lead the company to intensify efforts in shifting Web searchers and marketing budgets from rivals led by Google.

So what does this mean for @gmail’s, @aol’s, or @yahoo’s accounts? According to Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, nothing much. “This is not an e-mail killer. It is a messaging system that includes e-mail. We don’t expect anyone to totally switch from Yahoo or Gmail to Facebook.”

Here’s a quick overview of Username@Facebook.com:

Pros:

• Facebook communications— e-mail, text and chat — will be aggregated into a social in-box, and less-important communications, such as newsletters are sent to a folder for “other” messages.
• Messages can be sent to traditional e-mail services such as Google’s Gmail or Yahoo Mail.
• Users can attach files, including photos and videos without a size limit.

Cons:

• Facebook messages don’t have subject lines.
• Users can’t send an e-mail to several people at a time.
• Facebook also has no provision for users to automatically send an “out of office” message.

Google spokeswoman Victoria Katsarou said, “People always win when there’s more choice, because it leads to better products.”

So if Facebook Email wins the popular vote, this raises an interesting question on where marketing dollars should/will be focused in the near future.

It has become a minimal standard for any business to have some sort of social media presence: fan page, twitter account etc, where customers and future clients can be kept in the loop regarding business news, product information and updates, along with a basic forum to communicate between company and customer.

However, when looking for a particular product or service, first instinct is to turn to the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing for the answers, proving that search marketing is the force to be reckoned with for online ad placement…right now.

As we start noticing social media trends shift–Facebook email proving to be a prime example–more and more time is being concentrated on social networking sites. Prospective customers are looking for a significant social presences as a means to rate company performance, customer service, and quality based on other users’ perspectives.  Companies are personifying business models as a whole, making communicating and social relationships imperative for lead generation and positive branding.

So I ask, will social media marketing ever equate or surpass search marketing?

Instead of answering just yet, why not just advertise on both.

Some online advertising companies are providing a dual solution approach, offering more time, saved resources and expenses for today’s online marketer. Rather than centralizing, look for the solution that reaches the most people.