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Note - The articles section of this site has been replaced and enhanced. Feel free to check out the Localmn Blog and pieces written for the Search Engine Guide.

February, 2007: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
Interview with Joe Herbert - "Crash the Super Bowl" User-Generated Commercial Finalist

A few years ago, Joe Herbert and some of his brothers decided they wanted to make a movie. What they didn't expect was an impromptu detour to be a top-five finalist for a user-generated Super Bowl commercial contest. Graciously, Joe agreed to an interview regarding the Web and user-generated media. What came out is much more that that!

October, 2006: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
How Local Search and SEM Relates - and How it Doesn't

There are many questions regarding "Local Search" marketing and how it relates to search engine marketing (SEM). Many think of Local Search as a subset of SEM. Optimize your site with geographical locations, run some PPC advertising designated to your area, get some decent site conversions, and you've done your job.

It's a little more complicated than that.

August, 2006: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
In San Jose and Need a Chiropractor?

These types of (local) businesses could be popular destinations like hotels, night clubs, restaurants, and health clubs. These can also be highly specific spots or professional services whether it's an upscale sushi bar, professional print shop, or in my case, a chiropractor in San Jose, California.

May, 2006: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
Local Search - Most People Just Like to Drive their Cars

For a good couple years, local search has given us many innovative advertising options to promote local businesses online. This includes pay-per-call advertising, localized search engines, and newer Internet yellow page and online newspaper advertising opportunities, just to name a few. As impressive as they may be, many end users just don't use them on a regular basis.

February, 2006: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
Yellowpages.com Takes Local Search Mainstream

Yellowpages.com™ have raised some industry eyebrows lately and are now taking local search to the mainstream. They have just launched a year-long TV and online media campaign to show their authority on "where to go" when you need something locally.

January, 2006: Jennifer Laycock, Search Engine Guide
Are You Making Too Much of Your Money From Search Engines?

Nielsen, known for both his usability expertise and his blindness for decent site design charges that search engines are simply sitting back and profiting from the hard work of web site owners without doing any work of their own.

November, 2005: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
Local Search Engine Optimization, Yesterday and Today

It's great to get users to your site, but it does little other than ego-branding if they don't take action once they find you. This is especially true in local search engine optimization.

October, 2005: David Temple, TopRank
Discovering Keyword Discovery

Keyword Discovery gets results from 37 different search engines. The database contains more than 20 billion searches conducted over the previous 12 months. These include major international, pay-per-click, meta, and regional search engines.

October, 2005: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
Still Together, Search Engines and Internet Yellow Pages

A couple years ago, no one would have ever thought an IYP sales rep could call you boasting and offering Google and other search engine opportunities, plus pay-per-click and even "pay-per-call" features. Now, it's an essential part to their survival.

August, 2005: Jennifer Laycock, Search Engine Guide
Yahoo Local Gets an Overhaul

Drawing traffic from a local search site like Yahoo! Local isn't just going to be about buying the right directory listing or bidding on the right PPC term. It's going to be about making your customers happy enough that they want to tell other people about you.

August, 2005: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
Further Look into Google Local

Google really dug deep to think about the user and how they use the Internet to find local businesses. Business listings can now include contact information, hours of operations, payments accepted, specific business categories, a link to their website and even user reviews.

June, 2005: Jill Whalen, High Rankings
Google's Patent Implications

For those who aren't familiar with the aging delay and the sandbox, you'll want to note that there is a lot of disagreement over what causes a site to be thrown in the sandbox. However, based on my own observations and the experiences of some trusted SEO friends, it's my belief that the sandbox is basically a purgatory database where Google places certain URLs based on a variety of predetermined criteria.

May, 2005: Audio Graphics
Local Search Takes Another Local Step

The Chronicle (Houston Daily Newspaper) is taking steps to lead clients into the future, but we see no stories about radio even close to this concept. Instead, the radio industry is trying to convince advertisers and audience of a huge downturn in commercial time and an upswing in the number of songs played.

May, 2005: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
How New is Local Search Marketing, And is it Here to Stay?

How new is local Internet marketing and "local search". The demand has always been there, but has the supply?

March, 2005: Jennifer Laycock, Search Engine Guide
Yellow Pages Introduces Local Search Guide

In response to the growing interest in local search, the Yellow Pages Association (YPA) introduced a new column this month called "Viewpoints" that features commentary and articles relating to the growth and development of the local search market. The new column features articles written by some of the top names in the industry, including local search guru Greg Sterling of The Kelsey Group.

January, 2005: Jennifer Laycock, Search Engine Guide
Small Businesses May Benefit from Ego Surfing

Small businesses are tight on resources, which is understandable, but the few minutes it takes to run a quick search for your name or your business on a search engine could end up giving you the chance to address a problem that you never knew existed.

December, 2004: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
Understanding User Reviews in Local Search Marketing

Localmn helps sort out the pros and cons about online "user review and rating" opportunities.

November, 2004: Karon Thackston, Marketing Words
How To Write Little Tiny AdWords Ads That Bring Giant-Sized Profits

It seems to be a phenomenon. You try Google AdWords Select, your ad gets "disapproved" by the powers that be at Google, you count your losses and give up. It doesn't have to be that way.

November, 2004: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
Together At Last, Search Engines and Internet Yellow Pages

'Local' search has been the buzz for quite some time now. We help determine how different types of companies collaborate with each other to earn your local search.

September, 2004: Ed Kohler, Haystack in a Needle
Search Engine Strategies Conference Report

Search engines read text on web pages and use that text to decide what a web page is about. So, how do you write the copy for your web site in a search engine friendly manner?

June, 2004: Scottie Claiborne, Right Click Webs
Hiring a Search Engine Marketer

In her June, 2004 Successful Sites newsletter, Scottie explains the pros and cons of different types of search marketing companies.

June, 2004: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
Selecting "Local" Internet Marketing Possibilities

Article about search marketing for local and small Brick & Mortar (B&M) businesses. This demand is growing quickly and different search engines and Internet Yellow Pages (IYP's) work around the clock to establish themselves as industry leaders.

May, 2004: Ed Kohler, Haystack in a Needle
Froogle - What is it Good For?

Have you been to Froogle yet? It’s a new product search engine from Google. It’s actually existed for almost a year now, but it only went live as a link from Google’s homepage is the past month. It's quite possibly the greatest online marketing tool for retailers ever invented.

March, 2004: Jill Whalen, High Rankings
Overture Site Match, Yahoo Paid Inclusion - PPC

Industry leader Jill Whalen, from High Rankings has an informative and concise Q&A session in a March, 2004 Advisor Newsletter.

Feb, 2004: Paul Jahn, Localmn.com
Orkut Social Network - Good for Business Networking?

You may have heard of the Orkut social network by now. An independent project affiliated with Google, the Orkut network allows you to develop online friends, business networking contacts, dates and activity partners.

Update: We were a little off claiming that Orkut would be the next best thing since sliced bread. But it's still a decent read.

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