Home - News - September, 2006

Local Search Means All Business

September 29, 2006: Source - Red Herring

Marketers may want to take note of the fact that consumers searching for local information, for the most part, weren’t searching for newspaper stories or existential truths.

Local Search Surging; Google, Yahoo Winning

September 29, 2006: Source - Searchnewz

The strength of their mapping products (in Google's case) or their verticals (in Yahoo's case) have contributed to user loyalty here. But in general, these companies' superiority in information aggregation and their ability to innovate and generate rapid feedback cycles on a dime are driving the growth.

Google and Intuit: Cracking the Local Search Marketing Code?

September 28, 2006: Source - ClickZ

This partnership is particularly meaningful because it has the potential to fundamentally change the way small and local businesses market themselves online. Have Google and Intuit cracked the code to the local online marketing vault? Perhaps. If executed properly, businesses will now be able to engage in search marketing in a way that's fast, easy, and familiar. This means they may actually do it!

User-Generated Content Phobia? Get Over It

September 19, 2006: Source - Screenwerk

Ratings and reviews (and user content way beyond that) are making their way into most of the local search offerings on the market. Reviews will be “table stakes” going forward. Sites like Yahoo! Local, Yelp, InsiderPages and, soon, ParentsConnect go well beyond the content and functionality that appears on most IYP sites.

The Money Behind Local Search

September 18, 2006: Source - BizReport

Think local search advertising is only for those mom-and-pop businesses and not the bigger retail chains? Think again.

The Big Local

September 14, 2006: Source - ClickZ

It's true that local searches often correspond to local businesses. When you're looking for a specific, locally owned and operated business, there's nothing better than finding exactly what you seek on a search engine results page. But the overall marketing opportunity local search presents is much, much larger than this.

Windows Live Search Comes Out of Beta

September 12, 2006: Source - ClickZ

MSN Search will begin to be powered by Windows Live Search beginning today in the U.S., with all searches to use Windows Live Search by the end of the week. All paid search ads will continue to be served by Microsoft adCenter.

Google Wants $10 Billion Local Online Ad Spend

September 07, 2006: Source - ZDNet

Google laid down a local gauntlet today targeting the $10 billion in advertising local businesses are projected to spend online by 2010.

R.H. Donnelley Broadens Local Online Search Marketing Capabilities With Acquisition of Leading Local Search Marketing Provider - LocalLaunch!

September 07, 2006: Source - LocalLaunch!

In a move designed to significantly bolster its local online search marketing capabilities, R.H. Donnelley Corporation (NYSE: RHD) announced today that it has purchased LocalLaunch!, a Chicago-based company that specializes in providing Internet search products, platforms and fulfillment solutions to local advertising providers.

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Search Engine Strategies (SES) to Host First Annual SES Local Denver Conference, an Incisive Media Event

September 05, 2006: Source - Business Wire

SES Local Denver Conference will deliver information on local search, one of the most important verticals for search marketers, and will provide great opportunities for marketers looking to target people seeking local services, entertainment or events.

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Amateur Reviews Changing Approach of Small Businesses Online Ratings

September 03, 2006: Source - Screenwerk

Five years ago, an ambitious restaurant owner had to worry about the verdict of a handful of professional reviewers at magazines and newspapers. Now that owner faces the judgment of thousands of potential amateur reviewers.

Reviews Carrying Increasing Local Weight

September 03, 2006: Source - Screenwerk

The piece explores the positive and negative affects of user reviews and how businesses are now tracking and adapting to this new reality, which is here to stay:

Click-to-Pay, -to-Call, -to-Chat, or... Something

September 01, 2006: Source - ClickZ

The other day, I found a small, family-owned resort hotel on the Web. I was interested but had questions. So I called the toll-free number on the site. A friendly woman immediately asked if I could hold. I did... for quite a while, until I had to hang up to take another call. Knowing it was a mom-and-pop, I called back an hour later. The nice lady still couldn't talk but took my number and promised to call me back. When she finally did and answered my questions, I booked a long weekend in October.

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