Local.com Buys PremierGuide, Adds 350 Sites
Local.com will get wide distribution among small newspapers via its $2 million acquisition of PremierGuide, which provides local search services to 350 sites, including the twin powers of CNHI and Gatehouse. It also gets into The Washington Post and a bunch of geodomain sites, TV stations and radio stations. The sites will be added to Local.com’s existing network of 50 sites.
Under terms of the deal, PremierGuide leader Malcolm Lewis becomes VP of private label for Local.com. The deal marks the end of PremierGuide’s separate effort, which provided free licensing to local and vertical sites in exchange for revenue share. PremierGuide also made money from Google AdSense – but obviously not enough. PremierGuide will be positioned as complementary to Local.com’s LocalConnect product.
Since its founding in 2003, PremierGuide has been something of a pioneer in local search. It was among the first to build out vertical sites (for home theater and others), to power local search for a newspaper (i.e. The Sacramento Bee), and launch micro-sites.
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[...] As Specific Media has begun to do, the pull-based search tools that IPTV will offer can better track the success of brand advertising in influencing search behavior down the road. This is also true with some cable offerings (see last week’s post on Vehix’s interactive TV). This gets even better when you bring in more elements of triple play and have IP-based call tracking (via VoIP), and a higher degree of integration between the television, search interface and the telephone. [...]
[...] The Fisher ownership will also give it more resources to bring in user-generated content and community participation. This could happen through the cross-promotional efforts of the new parent’s radio and television media, and also through the resources it could bring to Pegasus. [...]
[...] from the Kelsey Blog [...]
[...] As expected, Google has expanded its newspaper ad pilot program and has made it easier and more visible for AdWords advertisers. The program has shown success as we noted back in December, and represents one of the many flanks in Google’s march towards covering all media and all formats. The latter charge was emboldened by its DoubleClick acquisition (still facing congressional antitrust scrutiny), and various media continue to be brought into the fold through partnerships such as ClearChannel (radio). The newspaper effort specifically launched to resell print ads across 50 U.S. papers and has now been extended to 250 papers. We expect more to follow. [...]
[...] YouTube Link to Article yahoo Google Expands Newspaper Pilot Program » Posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Thursday, July 19, 2007 Summary As expected, Google has expanded its newspaper ad pilot program and has made it easier and more visible for AdWords advertisers. The program has shown success as we noted back in December, and represents one of the many flanks in Google’s march towards covering all media and all formats View Entire Article » [...]
[...] Mike Boland posted on the beta release of the new site back in June. [...]
[...] This comes days after Backfence, one of the original “hyper-local” online destinations announced it will close its doors (see co-founder Mark Potts’ blog post earlier this week and SEW past coverage of Backfence’s woes here and here). This has caused general awareness and speculation of online hyper-local destinations which are growing in number including Outside.in, SmallTown, CitySquares, and FatDoor. [...]
[...] In case you missed any posts this week, here are a few highlights. Click below to read each post in full. How to Kill the Competition It’s tough to be in sales when the industry you are in is struggling, and print business and financial publications fall under that category. Since advertising sales are down at most Time business magazines, the executive in charge got the ax. He was replaced by the individual in charge of CNNMoney.com, who now has a virtually impossible job. Was it the consolidation of the sales force that caused the drop in advertising sales (and the fact that there were fewer feet on the street), or was it the drop in overall business-to-business technology advertising? (read more…) [...]
[...] This comes days after Backfence, one of the original “hyper-local” online destinations announced it will close its doors (see co-founder Mark Potts’ blog post earlier this week and SEW past coverage of Backfence’s woes here and here). This has caused general awareness and speculation of online hyper-local destinations which are growing in number including Outside.in, SmallTown, CitySquares, and FatDoor. [...]
[...] This comes days after Backfence, one of the original “hyper-local” online destinations announced it will close its doors (see co-founder Mark Potts’ blog post earlier this week and SEW past coverage of Backfence’s woes here and here). This has caused general awareness and speculation of online hyper-local destinations which are growing in number including Outside.in, SmallTown, CitySquares, and FatDoor. [...]
[...] Now in June, Marchex launched more than 100,000 local web directories. Many folks have already written/commented about this:  Marchex’s press release, Kelsey Group, Chris Linnett at Search Engine Land , so I won’t repeat it here. [...]
[...] Generally speaking, most retail conversions happen offline, while increasing volumes of product research happen online – a reality that is driving a lot of online product search innovation, as we’ve explored in the past. [...]
[...] YouTube Link to Article verizon Yellowbook Unveils Pat Marshall as ‘Chief New Media Officer’ » Posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 Yell Group’s U.S. division Yellow Book USA has named Pat Marshall to the newly created post “chief new media officer … s (then Verizon) Superpages business for about a decade before leaving to dial down for a while View Entire Article » [...]
[...] One of the significant trends of social networks is that they can and do have a distinctively local slant. Most social networks allow users to limit their search or groups to specific localities offering very localized discussions and information. Even more important, social networks are now offering e-commerce type services to its members. An interesting new site, Boomj, is offering reward points and discounts to members who make purchases at their affiliated partners, a kind of Amazon meets MySpace mash up. Targeted to the boomlet generation, or as they call it “Generation Jones”, is aimed at people born between 1954 and 1965 who don’t seem to fit the traditional boomer profile. Boomer and “Generation Jones” are a significant controller of income as well as a growing user group of social media. Within the site are several categories for users to select such as health, lifestyle, finance, shopping, travel and movies. If sites like Boomj and others like it can move users 40+ onto their sites, they will command significant attention from advertisers who seek to tap into the disposable income of these target groups. So when will Yellow Pages come to the social? Yellow Page publishers are just now adopting consumer reviews, which was very late in coming compared to other media, particularly online directional media and vertical sites. It is not clear how coming late to the party has impacted Yellow Page offerings, but this topic will be explored in greater detail at the upcoming Kelsey Group DDC conference in September. With the wealth of local content and obvious verticals, IYP’s could take a local leadership position in topical areas such as local services/contractors, home improvement, home decorating, financial, healthcare, entertainment, weddings and other lifestyle oriented topics that would be attractive to social media users. This opportunity was discussed earlier this year by my colleagues Peter Kasilovsky and Michael Boland who both provide key food for thought. Also weighing in on this topic is Sebastian Provencher who authors the Praized Blog focusing on social and local media, “I’m starting to think social search has a great future but I also think it’s difficult to start from scratch. I also think there might be an amazing opportunity out there for directory publishers (and anyone operating a local search site with a good amount of traffic) to launch a social search application to complement their current database of content. Who will be the first large-scale local social search site?” [...]
[...] iPhone: Cool, Wishing it was More Local If the buttons have to be pre-selected – ideally, they would not – it would have been really great for the local ecosystem if one had been slotted for a local TV station site. Or a local newspaper site.. Or a local search service. … http://blog.kelseygroup.com/index.php/2007/07/24/iphone-cool-wishing-it-was-more-local/ [...]
[...] iPhone: Cool, Wishing it was More Local If the buttons have to be pre-selected – ideally, they would not – it would have been really great for the local ecosystem if one had been slotted for a local TV station site. Or a local newspaper site.. Or a local search service. … http://blog.kelseygroup.com/index.php/2007/07/24/iphone-cool-wishing-it-was-more-local/ [...]
[...] Kelsey Group Blogs ? Marchex Officially Launches 100,000 Loca… 2pssts Chad shared this 27 days ago http://blog.kelseygroup.com/index.php/2007/06/27/marchex-... Just goes to show there’s "more than one way to skin a cat", apparently, 100,000 ways. Local and vertical online search company Marchex today announced the rather bold move of launching 100,000 local search sites. Yes that’s right, 100,000. The move represents the culmination of years of work in assembling a portfolio of URLs and companies that will come together to enable the ongoing content population and generation of such a massive base of sites. These URLs consist of locally and vertically oriented sites such as bayareahotels.com or newyorkdoctors.com. They also, importantly, include zip code sites (i.e. 94123.com) that cover 96 percent of U.S. zip codes. PSST! Pass it on… Did you like this psst? [...]
[...] Kelsey Group [...]
[...] more background on Pegasus, read here. To read Mike Boland’s original coverage of the acquisition, and interview with Mike Orren, read here. Blog: LocalBlog, User-Generated Content, Hyper-Local, City Guides, Local Ad Sales Posted by: Peter Krasilovsky at 1:57 pm- [...]
[...] In case you missed any posts last week, here are a few highlights. It’s About the Money, Remember Last week, Local.com announced that it will acquire PremierGuide, a white-label local search solution, for US$2 million. I’ve read a handful of reviews about this acquisition and most seem to be missing the most important part of this deal: It’s about the money. Specifically, it looks to me like this deal has a pay-back for Local.com of about one year. I spoke with Heath Clarke, CEO of Local.com, about the deal this week to confirm a few numbers. (read more…) [...]
[...] Yahoo Contact the Webmaster Link to Article youtube CityVoter Bets on TV Partners for Review Site » Posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Monday, July 30, 2007 This article contains copywritten material. Please click on the "View Original Article" link below to view the article on the author’s site. View Original Article » [...]
[...] See the video produced about TKG conferences here. Blog: Global Yellow Pages, Local Media Blog Posted by: John Kelsey at 9:39 am- [...]
[...] Vehix is also doing interesting things with lead gen. It’s new interactive TV product, demoed at the summit, and profiled in a past post, will bring qualified leads in via television. Here the purchase funnel from brand exposure to local search can be accelerated considerably. Specifically, it allows viewers watching a live TV ad to “telescope” in using their remote, to a Vehix module where they can browse local dealers and inventory, and also submit leads. It will be interesting to see this play out. [...]
[...] Partnering would require the perennial challenge of working with carriers who now seem unwilling to cede control (or the type of search revenue share that Google is asking for) to make this happen. This defeatist position on the part of U.S. carriers has been the number one detriment to mobile local search innovation and application development. [...]
[...] Like we reported in the past, YouTube has already begun to experiment with the inline ad format that Wojcicki hints at; and this type of integrated advertising is seeing some interesting developments we’ve covered from the likes of Blinkx and Adap.TV. [...]
[...] Even if it has its own device however, partnering would require the perennial challenge of working with carriers who are famously unwilling to cede control over every facet of their network and every device that runs on it. Talks so far have only resulted in Verizon scoffing at the search revenue share that Google is asking for in prospective mobile search advertising. Gphone and iPhone: Catalysts for Change? [...]
[...] Even if it has its own device however, partnering would require the perennial challenge of working with carriers who are famously unwilling to cede control over every facet of their network and every device that runs on it. Talks so far have only resulted in Verizon scoffing at the search revenue share that Google is asking for in prospective mobile search advertising. Gphone and iPhone: Catalysts for Change? [...]
[...] Even if it has its own device however, partnering would require the perennial challenge of working with carriers who are famously unwilling to cede control over every facet of their network and every device that runs on it. Talks so far have only resulted in Verizon scoffing at the search revenue share that Google is asking for in prospective mobile search advertising. Gphone and iPhone: Catalysts for Change? [...]
[...] Fraudulent Reviews: Most folks are smart enough to see through these fake reviews and will automatically discount them. As Paul says, all these do is hurt you, because no one likes a cheater or someone trying to manipulate the system. Read the Kelsey Groups take on Paul’s article here. [...]
[...] Like the rest of vFlyer’s product line (explored here), this is a seller-centric tool that aims to reduce the amount of cost and friction for real estate agents to market themselves and their properties online. [...]
[...] Here are a sampling of posts from the TKG blog this week, in case you missed them. vFlyer Taps Into Online Real Estate Classifieds widget provider vFlyer has launched a low cost website development and hosting product for real estate agents to post individual listings online. Like the rest of vFlyer’s product line (explored here), this is a seller-centric tool that aims to reduce the amount of cost and friction for real estate agents to market themselves and their properties online. (read more…) [...]
[...] Positive Market ResponseOur announcement has been greeted very positively by market leaders. Mike Borland of the Kelsey Group, a leading strategic research firm, applauds the move and says: Like the rest of vFlyer’s product line, this is a seller-centric tool that aims to reduce the amount of cost and friction for real estate agents to market themselves and their properties online. [...]
[...] Even if it has its own device however, partnering would require the perennial challenge of working with carriers who are famously unwilling to cede control over every facet of their network and every device that runs on it. Talks so far have only resulted in Verizon scoffing at the search revenue share that Google is asking for in prospective mobile search advertising. Gphone and iPhone: Catalysts for Change? [...]
[...] – Technorati – Search Engine Land – Search Engine Watch – VentureBeat – 606Tech – StartupSquad – Lifehacker – Kelsey Group – MoMB [...]
[...] As mentioned in last week’s post Here Comes the GPhone, one of the worries (among many) causing U.S. wireless carriers to exert so much control over the devices that run on their network is the development of wi-fi enabled phones. [...]
[...] Following up on my colleague Michael Taylor’s excellent post this morning on Google’s new quasi-sales force, I’ve been thinking more about what it could mean and how it fits into similar Google initiatives. [...]
[...] YouTube Contact the Webmaster Link to Article ajax ValPak.com Adds Web 2.0 Features » Posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Wednesday, August 08, 2007 This article contains copywritten material. Please click on the "View Original Article" link below to view the article on the author’s site. View Original Article » [...]
[...] my post yesterday on Facebook, I took a few shots at MySpace. Now my account seems to have been frozen. I haven’t been able to get in for almost 24 hours. This is probably incidental; Iclaim to be important enough or have a large enough megaphone for MySpace to take action. But it makes you wonder… Blog: Local Media Blog, Social Networkingby: Mike Boland at 11:53 am- [...]
[...] YouTube Contact the Webmaster Link to Article comcast Marchex Pays $20 Million for VoiceStar » Posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Thursday, August 09, 2007 This article contains copywritten material. Please click on the "View Original Article" link below to view the article on the author’s site. View Original Article » [...]
[...] Original post by Mike Boland for Myspace News The Consequences of Dissing MySpace [...]
[...] More information here: Kelsey Group BlogTechcrunchThe Praized BlogThe Local OnlinerScreenwerkPaidContent [...]
[...] In the daily news gathering of the wide-reaching local media world, social bookmarking services, like MyWeb, have become my best friend. There is a lot of potential for social bookmarking providers — if nothing else to grow stickiness among a set of products within a network, such as Yahoo!’s positioning of MyWeb and Del.icio.us. [...]
[...] YouTube Contact the Webmaster Link to Article comcast Vehix Takes a Page from the Yellow Pages » Posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Friday, August 10, 2007 This article contains copywritten material. Please click on the "View Original Article" link below to view the article on the author’s site. View Original Article » [...]
[...] Google’s Initiative to Boost Their Local Business Listings In the last two posts I looked at how TomTom and Google are engaging users to contribute or refine map data. Today I came across the news that Google has started a program to pay independent contractors to capture the details of local businesses like stores, restaurants, and service providers. Google’s intention is to not only index where on a map local businesses are, but also more detailed information like opening hours, payment options, the various offerings, and a couple of photos of the store, storefront or building. While local businesses can already sign up themselves , this is clearly a move by Google to actively become tomorrow’s Yellow Pages. Clever as Google is, they encourage the contractors, which may refer to themselves as “Google Business Referral Representatives”, to introduce Google’s advertising opportunities while talking to store owners. And there is really a lot more to this. [...]
[...] Here are a sampling of posts from last week in case you missed them (click below to read each post in full). Vehix Takes a Page From the Yellow Pages My column for Search Engine Watch this month, Pimp My Vertical Search, takes a look at some of the directions being taken in vertical search, particularly in autos. Autobytel has begun to do some interesting things with its recently launched MyRide, while Vehix is utilizing its partnerships with cable companies to create interactive television modules (explored in a past post). But there is more to the story; Vehix is also turning a corner toward positioning its online listing distribution as more of a valued asset in the tool belt of its cable partner sales channels. (read more…) [...]
[...] Zac Efron Contact the Webmaster Link to Article comcast TKG Data and Analysis: A Weekly Recap » Posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Monday, August 13, 2007 This article contains copywritten material. Please click on the "View Original Article" link below to view the article on the author’s site. View Original Article » [...]
[...] Following up on last week’s post about the evolving mobile device environment, GigaOm reports (found via Digg), that a German company has developed an application that lets iPhone users access Skype. [...]
[...] Also, the Kelsey Group covered Lickety in a review of our latest deal with the Los Angeles Times. [...]
[...] Matt Booth on the Kelsey blog has a fairly extensive discussion of LicketyShip and the Recycler partnership. [...]
[...] YouTube Contact the Webmaster Link to Article yahoo Ask Gains Ground in Consumer Satisfaction » Posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 This article contains copywritten material. Please click on the “View Original Article” link below to view the article on the author’s site. View Original Article » [...]
[...] This will include the ability to embed MyMap mashups that are personalized or customized by a business or blogger in a way that relates to their business (i.e. a map of a downtown restaurant that is shown in relation to surrounding theaters, parking garages etc.). The embedded maps will also have the full functionality of Google Maps, including clicking and dragging, and satellite imagery. [...]
[...] YouTube Contact the Webmaster Link to Article yahoo Google Maps Makes it Easier for SMBs to b Find Meb » Posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 This article contains copywritten material. Please click on the “View Original Article” link below to view the article on the author’s site. View Original Article » [...]
[...] Amid the many redesigns we’re seeing in local online media, Yahoo! Local today announced a series of functional and aesthetic enhancements. They are mostly meant to accentuate and motivate more user generated content and social search tools, but also include a number of other evolutionary improvements. [...]
[...] YouTube Contact the Webmaster Link to Article yahoo Yahoo! Local: Now With More UGC » Posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 This article contains copywritten material. Please click on the “View Original Article” link below to view the article on the author’s site. View Original Article » [...]
[...] Yahoo! Local today announced a redesign and series of upgrades to its site. Many of these changes represent a new effort to bring out user generated content, and to motivate users to participate in user reviews, according to Brian Gil, lead project manager of Yahoo! Local. [...]
[...] Yahoo! Local today announced a redesign and series of upgrades to its site. Many of these changes represent a new effort to bring out user generated content, and to motivate users to participate in user reviews, according to Brian Gil, lead project manager of Yahoo! Local. [...]
[...] YouTube Contact the Webmaster Link to Article yahoo Why Internet Yellow Pages Can Compete for Local Search » Posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 This article contains copywritten material. Please click on the “View Original Article” link below to view the article on the author’s site. View Original Article » [...]
[...] As noted by Mike Boland and Peter Krasilovsky today, Yahoo! Local just rolled out its first redesign in two years with a focus on user-generated content. I know this is a big deal and involves huge sums of money, advertisers and visitors… but I’ve never had anyone tell me that they use this service… an arbitrary measure, but one that’s hard for me to shake. Peter K. compares it to an Oldsmobile… and I guess I’ve never had anyone crow about their Oldsmobile to me either… solid, always there. Does GM still make Oldsmobiles? [...]
[...] There are plenty of reviews (here and here) of the new site, so I won’t waste your time simply recapping what they’ve already said. Instead, I want to focus on the integration of “Neighborhood Groups”, which is easy to overlook. If you missed it, you can find this new feature near the bottom of the Yahoo! Local page after entering in your location info. [...]
[...] Accordingly, my former colleague at the Kelsey Group, Charles Laughlin posts on the recent TMP Directional Marketing data and disputes my characterization of it as a “tipping point“: Because the survey was conducted using an online panel, calling the results evidence of a “tipping point†from print to online is going too far. McKelvey believes a survey with a representative sample would be necessary to reach that conclusion. [...]
[...] One of those challenges, pointed out in UGC: To Be or Not to Be, is creating a destination that has consistent volumes of reviews across categories and locales. Generally, getting more that one review per listing is also challenging, yet important to get a true sense of a business — given false positives, false negatives and fraudulent reviews (think businesses writing about themselves). [...]
[...] Google has shown a clear interest in beefing up the content that is available to users in Google Local and Google Maps. A few months ago, it announced new features to its Local Business Center to allow businesses to add or edit information about themselves. This is very much in line with good SEO in making these listings more robust and also more user-centric. Now Google has also integrated user reviews features for any user to contribute information or opinion on a given business. [...]
[...] Here is a roundup of items from the past week, in case you missed any. Click below to read each post in full. Grayboxx: A Sneak Peek User ratings and reviews are among the hottest areas of local search (video and mobile being the others) in terms of media attention and funding. But there are still significant barriers to cross and challenges inherent in corralling a user base to participate in a review program. Yesterday I had the chance to talk with Bob Chandra, CEO of Grayboxx, a start-up with a beta product that aims to solve this problem using algorithms instead of humans. The company is very secretive about what’s under the hood, but Chandra was able to explain in conceptual terms what it is trying to do. (read more…) [...]
[...] We know well that online search has considerable effect on local offline purchase behavior. Likewise, it’s clear that the majority of retail purchases happen offline while a growing percentage of research is occuring online. [...]
[...] There is no doubt that online video is blowing up. With increased online use and investment levels on the supply side has come some interesting innovation and experimentation with respect to monetization opportunities, such as dynamically placed inline ads being developed by the likes of Blinkx and Adap.tv. [...]
[...] This deal with White Directories is on the heels of Jingle’s recent blockbuster announcement that Idearc would place its SuperPages.com information on Jingle’s 1-800-FREE411 network and open opportunities for its local advertisers to take advantage of the extended selling opportunities via free DA advertising. [...]
[...] Instead, WAP based website development will soon be leapfrogged by the next state of the art, which will be led by the iPhone and the mobile browsing standards it will set (as we’ve examined in the past). Some businesses, including mostly SMEs should waith this out. [...]
[...] I’m a day late to this because of SES craziness, but LiveDeal announced that it will integrate community discussion boards to its classifieds engine. This is a good integration for LiveDeal which will not only boost the conversations happening around classifieds listings, but also could serve to enhance the directory content that was recently brought into the fold via YP.com. [...]
[...] YouTube Jingle Expands Free DA Deal With Nuance » This article link is from an article posted at Kelsey Group Blogs on Thursday, August 23, 2007 This article contains copywritten material. Please click on the “View Original Article” link below to view the article on the author’s site. article link Provided by Technorati.comView Original Article at Kelsey Group Blogs » 10 Most Recent News Articles About Verizon [...]
[...] The Kelsey Group reported today… LiveDeal announced that it will integrate community discussion boards to its classifieds engine. [...]
[...] New local search destination Grayboxx launched today in it’s first locality of Burlington VT. As mentioned in Grayboxx: A Sneak Peek, the site will have a staggered launch starting in small towns and cities where it believes it has a competitive edge over other local search destinations that focus more on larger metros (rollout schedule here). [...]
[...] In case you missed any, Here are some greatest hits from the past week of blog posts. Click below to read each post in full. Yelp Integrates Event Listings in 10 Cities Yelp has added events to its listings, maps and user reviews in 10 cities — San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle, San Jose, Austin, Chicago, Washington D.C., and San Diego. The feature includes a landing page for each event, a comment board and a “will you be attending” feature. Unlike Yahoo!’s upcoming.org, which is in a separate silo, the Yelp events feature is fully integrated (as Josh Lowensohn at Webware points out in his excellent and comprehensive review) (read more..) [...]
[...] This is part of RHD’s “triple play” effort – putting its own spin on the term that has also been used for the video, voice and data service bundles of MSOs and telecos. For RHD, this includes print (Dex), Online (DexKnows), and distribution through online partners. The latter includes this deal and other online distribution it gets from LocalLaunch, which it owns. [...]
[...] Analagous to the long term triple play efforts of cable providers and telecos (bundling voice, data, and video products), this works towards gaining better distribution of existing content. In this case, the content is the listings that RHD’s sales force brings in through traditional yellow pages ad sales. [...]
[...] Analagous to the long term triple play efforts of cable providers and telecos (bundling voice, data, and video products), this works towards gaining better distribution of existing content. In this case, the content is the listings that RHD’s sales force brings in through traditional yellow pages ad sales. [...]
[...] Analagous to the long term triple play efforts of cable providers and telecos (bundling voice, data, and video products), this works towards gaining better distribution of existing content. In this case, the content is the listings that RHD’s sales force brings in through traditional yellow pages ad sales. [...]
[...] As we’ve examined many times in the past, the opportunity exists for online newspapers to utilize their traditional assets (local trust, knowledge, newsrooms, advertisers, sales force, etc.) to create online destinations that pull together aggregated national news, personalization features, widgets and RSS (already being done by online aggregators), with these local strengths (which can’t be replicated by aggregators). [...]
[...] 4. The Kelsey Group writes about Metacarta… “given a tool that can reliably and automatically geo-code news stories to the neighborhoods or regions to which they are relevant, many possibilities emerge. These include search engines that can return results about news stories relevant to a particular location, maps that can spatially represent news stories, and email alerts for news content that is relevant to a given location. It should be pointed out however, that geographically targeted news is nothing new online and has been accomplished by the likes of Topix, Outside.in, and others. The difference is that Metacarta claims to do this in a more effective, automated, and scalable way (and is a platform, rather than a destination, that can be utilized by online newspapers).” [...]
[...] Video search and monetization has been a hot topic lately, following in the wake of the general hot topic of online video (as advertisers invariably follow the eyeballs). This was accelerated by YouTube’s announcement last week that it will integrate inline video ads. [...]
[...] As we have reported in the past, YouTube has already begun to experiment with the inline ad format that Wojcicki hints at, and this type of integrated advertising is seeing some interesting developments we’ve covered from the likes of Blinkx and Adap.tv. [...]
[...] Greg Sterling began the discussion on his own blog — Grayboxx about to Go Live — and then followed that up post-launch on Search Engine Land. Meanwhile, Mike Boland covered the news on the Kelsey Group blog, too. And finally, Peter Krasilovsky reports on one local writer in the Grayboxx target area who isn’t impressed with the results. [...]
[...] Yellow Book is the latest directory publisher to see the growing importance of online video advertising. Others to announce recent online video products include Idearc Media and White Directory Publishers. This is also the first announced initiative since Pat Marshall joined Yellow Book as its chief new media officer. Here is our post on Pat’s appointment. [...]
[...] 800-CallDex joins a number of recent announcements that overall represent a push by the directory publisher to diversify its revenue streams, ad offerings, and consumer appeal. (see Dex’s redesign, SMB video initiative, and recent partnership with Yahoo! Local). [...]
[...] Rumors and speculation of this day have swirled throughout the blogosphere over the past couple months, enough to start a Facebook group — an internet era petition of sorts — that swelled with users showing support (see previous post). [...]
[...] The cell phones of tomorrow will allow you to interchange between cellular and voice-over IP through Wi-Fi reception — even within the same call. These new “hybrid” phones are expected to crush the use of landlines by bringing a third, Wi-Fi based dimension to telephone service; effectively lowering the overall cost of phone calls. [...]
[...] ShopLocal announced today that it will integrate social tools that will allow users to establish an identity and share info and commentary on products. This is an interesting step for ShopLocal, which has already been known for some clever marketing tactics, particularly with viral video. [...]
[...] This is an interesting move for ShopLocal, which has already been known for some clever marketing tactics, particularly with viral video. It could be a valuable addition or user retention tool for its product, which is one of the handful of increasingly important sites that focus on driving offline conversions with online search. [...]
[...] This is an interesting move for ShopLocal, which has already been known for some clever marketing tactics, particularly with viral video. It could be a valuable addition or user retention tool for its product, which is one of the handful of increasingly important sites that focus on driving offline conversions with online search. [...]
[...] Here is a sampling of coverage from this week, in case you missed any posts. Click below to read each post in full. ShopLocal Gets Personal ShopLocal announced today that it will integrate social tools that allow users to establish an identity and share info and commentary on products. This is an interesting step for ShopLocal, which has already been known for some clever marketing tactics, particularly with viral video. (read more…) [...]
[...] The Kelsey Group Article describing prevalence of online research leading to offline purchases [...]
[...] Indeed the product proved very elastic, as consumers flocked to stores to pick up iPhones at the new price over the weekend. We’ve said many times in the here and in our recent mobile forecast that the price will come down (though we didn’t expect it to happen this quickly), and copycat devices will flood the market and compete on price. [...]
[...] Scanscout, a company we wrote about two weeks ago, announced a strategic investment from Time Warner today. After speaking with CEO Doug McFarland here are three points that summarize TW’s role. [...]
[...] The Kelsey Group posted Why Internet Yellow Pages Can Compete for Local Search last month.B In their article, they provided five reasons why they feel that IYPs will grow faster than local search over the next few years: [...]
[...] En remettant cette annonce en perspective des deux plus rC)centes, on ne peut qu’admirer le talent d’Apple et de Jobs dans la stratC)gie produit et le management de la communication : – la baisse des prix de l’iPhone de 200$ aux US favorable C l’C)cosystC(me Apple: l’C)lasticitC) au prix est importante sur ce produit. – le remboursement de 100$ par un bon d’achat Apple pour tous ceux qui avaient achetC) le produit au prix de 599$. Lisez la lettre de Steve Jobs C ses clients. [...]
[...] The Kelsey Group’s U.S. Mobile Advertising Forecast predicts that the U.S. mobile ad market will grow from $33.2 million in 2007 to $1.4 billion in 2012, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 112 percent. At the same time, the number of mobile Internet users will grow from 37.9 million in 2007 to 91.7 million in 2012, a CAGR of 19 percent. [...]
[...] The Kelsey Group’s U.S. Mobile Advertising Forecast predicts that the U.S. mobile ad market will grow from $33.2 million in 2007 to $1.4 billion in 2012, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 112 percent. [...]
[...] The Kelsey Group’s U.S. Mobile Advertising Forecast predicts that the U.S. mobile ad market will grow from $33.2 million in 2007 to $1.4 billion in 2012, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 112 percent. At the same time, the number of mobile Internet users will grow from 37.9 million in 2007 to 91.7 million in 2012, a CAGR of 19 percent. [...]
[...] This comes days after ShopLocal made similar integrations. One difference is that ShopLocal primarily leads offline transactions, whereas pronto is more of an online shopping engine. But the moves generally bring both companies into the “social shopping” realm. [...]
[...] They will also need to provide comprehensive content and information across business listings and all locales, making it just as easy for consumers to find the perfect plumber in Poughkeepsie as it is to find the perfect hotel in New York City (this traditional data challenge has taken on new forms with user-generated ratings and reviews). [...]
[...] Amateur sports and lifestyle services are great vertical categories that are generally worth many times more in their own wrapping than in a magazine, newspaper or Yellow Pages. Active Networks, whose leadership and original funding … …more [...]
[...] Yellow Book made it official and announced it deal with AgendiZe, with the aim of adding word of mouth functionality to the yellowbook.com IYP. Here is a copy of the release. The company has alsorolled out a video ad trial, signaling a ramping up of energy around adding new products, functionality and distribution to its IYP. My colleague Peter Krasilovsky originally posted on thisback on Sept. 5. Blog: Local Media Blog, Independent Publishers, Internet Yellow Pages, Social Search Posted by: Charles Laughlin at 12:09 pm- [...]
[...] More context here, from the Kelsey Group. [...]
[...] Idearc Media announced today it is buying the Switchboard online directory asset from InfoSpace for US$225 million. This is the latest in a series of moves by Idearc to own more elements of a comprehensive IYP/local search platform. The company has scheduled a call for later this morning to discuss the rationale for this acquisition. We’ll report more after the call. [...]
[...] Sprint announced this evening that it will launch a mobile search service that rides on Microsoft’s Live Search for Mobile. This will include location-based and voice-enabled search, which will pull in Tellme’s platform that Microsoft acquired earlier this year. Some of the high level features will include: [...]
[...] Arnold Zafra wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSprint announced this evening that it will launch a mobile search service that rides on Microsoftbs Live Search for Mobile. This will include location-based and voice-enabled search, which will pull in Tellmebs platform that Microsoft … [...]
[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]
[...] A session on online video this morning at the DDC conference explored some of the opportunities for directories to integrate video on their site, and video ad units in the toolbox of their sales reps. [...]
[...] Building a Better Database: Getting Harder All the Time from the Kelsey Group about the difficulties of assembling local data. « Goog-411 rolls out bill boards in the hinterlands? [...]
[...] Finally, the Kelsey Group just published a U.S. Mobile Marketing Forecast 2006-20012. If you can get your hands on it, there’s a lot of great data there. The main takeaway points I had were that 1) the mobile advertising market in the US will grow to $1.4 Billion by 2012 and that 2) there are concrete factors that they believe are strong indicators that the growth is for real this time. [...]
[...] A session on online video this morning at the DDC conference explored some of the opportunities for directories to integrate video on their site, and video ad units in the toolbox of their sales reps.Read more… [...]
[...] Some of the most interesting discussion from the panel resulted in the friendly disagreement over the use of a strict taxonomy for organizing listing data versus the much newer philosophy of tagging content as a user sees fit. YellowBot, which has been in beta for the past few months, is embracing a tagging method, similar to a del.icio.us or YouTube approach, where a user who comes to its site to log a review of a local business or correct a business listing can tag the listing he is reviewing or updating with the tags he sees appropriate, not having to limit himself to predetermined bucket of keywords or categories. [...]
[...] On a related blog post, there was a discussion on building a better database. I’m not sure what Yellowbot was doing there (they just use Localeze data), but I am glad they were. [...]
[...] Last week’s DDC conference was a success on many fronts. In case you missed it, below is a recap of blog coverage from the show. Thanks to all who attended or contributed. Now it’s time to start gearing up for ILM ‘07 in November which will be co-hosted for the first time by Search Engine Strategies. It’s shaping up to be a great event and the program and speaker list continue to expand. Those will be available later this week here, and a sneak peek is also here. More to come. Global Yellow Pages Leadership Forum My feeling about this week’s DDC2007 conference is that everyone was able to come away with what they wanted to hear. For instance, we heard that usage is declining, but Paul Gordon of Catalyst Paper said that demand for Yellow Pages paper is up 25 percent in the past few years primarily because of new books. (read more…) [...]
[...] The survey also measured response rates from online video, coming up with numbers similar to those in TKG’s User View (results in past post). Specifically 64 percent of the TNS study respondents claimed taking action after seeing a video ad (44 percent went to websit; 33 percent to a search engine; 22 percent to a physical store; 21 percent discussed with friends). [...]
[...] The forecast breaks mobile into three distinct ad segments: ad-sponsored directory assistance, mobile Internet (search, browse, etc.) and multi-modal applications. The two largest contributors of revenues, says the report, will see a substantial increase in usage:Â For more information on the KelseyGroup, please visit this link. [...]
[...] Well, Mr. Smith has gotten our attention and he has certainly dumped a bucket of gore on anyone who has Yellow Pages or local search on their Google Alerts. Frankly, Mr. Smith’s approach of using Google Trends to determine the future of an entire industry is a bit like looking at the trends of American car companies and extrapolating it to the entire automobile industry. This is true if for no other reason than Yellow Pages is a great deal more than just IYP. [...]
[...] The Kelsey Group: SignOn San Diego Adds Local Wikis TaraB @ 2:48 pm SignOn San Diego Adds Local Wi… [...]
[...] Bill Bonner wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThe site currently has 20 national ad sales persons, and typical national advertisers include mortgage lenders, auto makers, home improvement, home developers and insurance. b Itbs an easy sellb given the sitebs affluent base of users, … [...]
[...] It’s sometimes useful to track search terms as an indication of demand and popularity of products, both online and off, as Chris Smith has done in his column referenced yesterday by John Kelsey. [...]
[...] All of this has driven the popularity of local social search and the integration of consumer reviews features by Google Maps, Citysearch, Yellowpages.com, Dexknows and a growing list of others who are convinced that reviews are something that users are coming to expect in local search experiences. They are probably right, but the challenge, as we keep saying, is motivating reviews across other (non-popular) categories, such as plumbers. (Grayboxx could be on to something here). [...]
[...] For those who weren’t able to attend DDC, you can see the recap of coverage here on the blog. There is also a quick take on one of the main theme’s of the show on YPA’s Local Search Guide reproduced below; and a longer recap on Search Engine Watch earlier this week. Of Yellow Pages, Sales Reps, and Alphabet Soup: The Report from DDC While print medium doomsday predictions continue, there have been optimistic mainstays at recent industry conferences such as the Kelsey Group’s annual Directory Driven Commerce (DDC) show. The rally cry at last week’s DDC show was the need to repurpose existing print strengths to take advantage of the growth in online advertising and search. [...]
[...] Based on the same logic that drives Krillion’s consumer value proposition, the thought is that most conversions happen offline (especially for high consideration items like appliances and flat screens), while an increasing amount of research is being done online. [...]
[...] An interesting panel today at SMX attempted to find this elusive animal although Ingenio CMO Marc Barach warned the audience at the onset not to expect the question to be answered because an answer doesn’t exist. [...]
[...] What it means: one of the 2007 trends I had predicted last December is atomization. After signing large-scale wholesale deals with directory publishers worldwide to power an important social element of their local search sites (the Save & Share function), Agendize atomizes its tool and tries to tap into the long tail for new business opportunities. Any web site can now embed the save & share tool. Understanding that self-service is not a realistic option for quick adoption, the company hopes to strikes distribution deals with directory publishers to bundle this new offer within their other advertising packages. I think this product add-on makes sense if directory publishers can find a way to integrate it seamlessly in their current offers. It would allow publishers to claim additional trackable advertising ROI. The Kelsey Group blog has a great write-up on this news. You can also see Agendize’s presentation at Demofall 07 here. Disclaimer: I piloted the partnership agreement between Yellow Pages Group and Agendize a few years ago. [...]
[...] But I finally had the chance to catch up with CEO Alexandre Rambaud on Friday to dig deeper on what the product means for small businesses, overall online advertising trends, and for Yellow Pages publishers’ ability to more effectively deliver leads across platforms. The latter is a message that has gotten louder and louder over the past few years, most recently at DDC. [...]
[...] To follow up on Peter Krasilovsky’s post on former Industry Standard editor Josh Weber, The New York Times reports on the rumor that the defunct bubble era mag could be resurrected. This comes weeks after fellow “new economy” magazine Business 2.0 announced that it will cease publication. [...]
[...] is becoming increasingly important on a local level given some of the price inflation and complexities in search engine marketing (see TKG forecast data). Andrew is a key voice on thisa nuts and bolts level analysis that’s a good supplement to the higher level, longer term strategic analysis you’ll find here. Check it out at the link above. Blog: Local Media Blog Posted by: Mike Boland at 7:07 pm- [...]
[...] Beyond being just another sighting, this one hovers right above an Ask.com “algorithm” billboard, causing a veritable smack down of recently hyped outdoor ad campaigns. [...]
[...] This will happen through a new video ad delivery model that includes an initial pre-roll ad and subsequent ads that are delivered based on a user’s session length (more explained here). There are also small ad overlays, within the video windows, similar to those developed by YouTube, ScanScout and others. [...]
[...] Queercents wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAt Microsoft’s recent Searchification event in Silicon Valley, the company demo’d a new set of features for Live Search and MSN. [...]
[...] Serbia, Qatar and KazakhstanIt barely existed just a few years ago. Because of the economic conditions in the United States, US ad spending growth is expected to be only 2.5 percent. Still we are better off than Serbia, Qatar and Kazakhstan. [...]
[...] Serbia, Qatar and KazakhstanIt barely existed just a few years ago. Because of the economic conditions in the United States, US ad spending growth is expected to be only 2.5 percent. Still we are better off than Serbia, Qatar and Kazakhstan. [...]
[...] In case you missed them, here are a sampling of posts from the past week from the TKG blog. Click below to read each post in full. MSN Video Boosts Features; Sets Sight on Local At Microsoft’s recent Searchification event in Silicon Valley, the company demo’d a new set of features for Live Search and MSN. Today I had the chance to follow up with MSN’s Rob Bennett, GM of entertainment video and sports, to drill down on some of the enhancements specifically made to MSN Video. Among other things, Bennett’s outlook on video opportunities tie back to local, given some of the natural synergies his division will have with Windows Live Local and Live Maps. (read more…) [...]
[...] More importantly, this makes Google’s moves into mobile more competitive with Microsoft than with Apple, as previously speculated. From the New York Times: In short, Google is not creating a gadget to rival the iPhone, but rather creating software that will be an alternative to Windows Mobile from Microsoft and other operating systems, which are built into phones sold by many manufacturers. And unlike Microsoft, Google is not expected to charge phone makers a licensing fee for the software. [...]
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptReachLocal , a provider of local online marketing solutions for SMBs, has raised $55.2 million in new financing. [...]
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptThe New York Times sheds new light on the Google’s possible moves in the mobile world. The latest is that it’s clear Google will likely release an operating system and a number of mobile apps, rather than its own phone. … [...]
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptThe New York Times sheds new light on the Google’s possible moves in the mobile world. [...]
[...] Serbia, Qatar and KazakhstanIt barely existed just a few years ago. Because of the economic conditions in the United States, US ad spending growth is expected to be only 2.5 percent. Still we are better off than Serbia, Qatar and Kazakhstan. [...]
[...] This is analogous to what Google is already doing with text ads throughout the AdSense publisher network, it just takes it to the next step with video content. This is also the next step in the video ad formats it has already begun to test with YouTube ads which insert a small text ad overlay at the bottom of the video screen, about ten seconds into the video. These AdSense integrations will also include a more static text ad that sits above the video window. [...]
[...] This follows the general trend towards video as a value added layer to local directional advertising. With YellowBook.com’s integration of video in last month, every major U.S. IYP now has video capability to some capacity for business listings. For LiveDeal, video now joins a set of content formats it has brought into the fold in the past six months to improve its site experience and expand its monetization opportunities. [...]
[...] Mike wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptCampbell, a veteran of previous start up efforts in Canada, was convinced that this model was necessary to differentiate CanWest in what is becoming a competitive directory environment in Canada. The directory operation hopes to gain … [...]
[...] This follows closely behind many local search and internet yellow pages sites that have blended local search and video over the past year, such as Yellowpages.com, Superpages, and Citysearch. Every major U.S. IYP in fact now has video capability in some form, as there is a clear trend towards video integration in local search. [...]
[...] Serbia, Qatar and KazakhstanIt barely existed just a few years ago. Because of the economic conditions in the United States, US ad spending growth is expected to be only 2.5 percent. Still we are better off than Serbia, Qatar and Kazakhstan. [...]
[...] Google keeps finding new places for YouTube videos to live. After integrating video with AdSense earlier this week, it announced today that it will imbed YouTube videos throughout Google Earth, where relevant. [...]
[...] Today’s announcement basically means that any video uploaded to YouTube that is geotagged will automatically show up on that location in Google Earth. Though this will attract an early adopter-sized following, it could eventually open up lots of possibilities for travel videos and also small business video advertising which is gaining steam all over the place. [...]
[...] The sales rep recruiting game has just gotten a bit more crowded and a lot more competitive. As we have discussed at our conferences and in recent Kelsey Advisories, with the influx of new online directory players such as Citysearch, Yodel, LiveDeal, ReachLocal and the added growth of YellowPages.com’s sales force the recruiting space for online sales reps is much more crowded. If we add in the demand created by newspapers and TV stations also seeking online savvy sales reps then experienced online sales reps are as scarce as hen’s teeth or as valued as gold (you pick the metaphor!). While this may be a boon for professional sales rep and sales management recruiters this massive need for skilled online sales reps means companies will have to battle for candidates in the areas of base salary and benefits and add in a few creative recruiting methods to meet their man power needs. [...]
[...] Michael Taylor writes about “local online” start ups with lofty advertising sales ambitions… In a recent post on Venturebeat.com, Dan Kaplan reveals ReachLocal is aiming to dramatically increase the size of its online sales force. “Local search marketing company ReachLocal will use its massive $55.2 million infusion to build a gigantic sales force that it hopes will dislodge the Yellow Pages as the de-facto place local businesses spend their promotional dollars.â€Â Kaplan makes a good points on the grand goal set out by ReachLocal “To add some perspective, ReachLocal has around 300 salespeople; the global Yellow Page market employs more than 41,000 in sales alone. Zorik Gordon, ReachLocal’s chief executive, doesn’t balk at that figure, and suggests that a sales force of 10,000 or more might be in the cards. This is an unprecedented goal for an Internet-focused company, and a risky one. It comes at a time when the market for talented salespeople is extremely tight.†[...]
[...] Here are a sampling of posts from the past week. Click below to read each post in full, and expect more coverage of local search happenings this week, which has already gotten off to a quick start. A Good Online Sales Rep Is Hard to Find The sales rep recruiting game has just gotten a bit more crowded and a lot more competitive. As we have discussed at our conferences and in recent Kelsey Advisories, with the influx of new online directory players such as Citysearch, Yodel, LiveDeal, ReachLocal and the added growth of YellowPages.com’s sales force the recruiting space for online sales reps is much more crowded. If we add in the demand created by newspapers and TV stations also seeking online savvy sales reps then experienced online sales reps are as scarce as hen’s teeth or as valued as gold (you pick the metaphor!). (read more…) [...]
[...] As Rucker’s comment suggests, the company employs a small sales force of about 4 reps for the five bay area towns it serves — an integral part of its model. The company could also continue to extend its feature set (video ads were most recently added) to increase advertiser and user interest around what is already an elegantly designed and feature rich interface. [...]
[...] Survey: ‘Local Search’ Broader than ‘Google’ THE KELSEY GROUP A new survey of 2,000 consumers by Nielsen/Netratings for WebVisible found that 86 percent of those surveyed used the Internet to find a local business from which to shop, a dramatic rise from a similar survey from last year where it was 70 percent. Most of the respondents – 74 percent – said they use a search engine when they are looking for a local retail or service business. For these consumers, local search isn’t just synonymous with search engines such as Google or Yahoo. It includes all the different flavors of local media, directories and city guides online. Sixty-five percent use Yellow Pages, 50 percent use Internet Yellow Pages, 44 percent use local newspapers, 33 percent use white pages, 29 percent use TV and 18 percent use consumer review Websites. Indeed, users have a hard time pinpointing the one source that triggered a “local search” buying decision. Traditionally, this has been an ace-in-the-hole for Yellow Pages, which are thought to be among the best media for getting consumers when they are actually ready to buy. Source> [...]
[...] Some are barking louder while others are biting harder, but overall there seems to be more activity in online partnerships and product development. YPG’s distribution arrangement with Google extended last week is another example. Support for this type of action was also echoed loudly during Scott Pomeroy’s Keynote at the recent DDC conference. [...]
[...] Mike Boland [...]
[...] Microsoft of late has exercised a Google-esqe frequency of announcements for online products. After upgrades to Live Search and MSN Video in and around the recent Searchification event, the company last night announced enhancements to Live Search for Mobile and Live Search Maps. [...]
[...] Idearc’s SuperPages.com is rolling out video around the U.S. after a limited test of sales channels and production in Seattle, San Francisco and L.A. The tests, which Kelsey’s Charlie Laughlin reported on in July, involved fewer than 100 customers. [...]
[...] Idearc’s SuperPages.com is rolling out video around the U.S. after a limited test of sales channels and production in Seattle, San Francisco and L.A. The tests, which Kelsey’s Charlie Laughlin reported on in July, involved fewer than 100 customers. [...]
[...] CEO Richard Rosen told me that his data shows about 2/3 of calls to local merchants go unanswered, while inaccurate or outdated local business data is a well known issue. Rosen, a former exec at Jambo and CallSource, launched FastCall last March and we wrote about it in the here (also see the company’s presentation at DEMO). [...]
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerpt Several auto dealers at JD Power’s Automotive Internet Roundtable Oct … . The paid search that he does do goes entirely to Google – something echoed by the other dealers [...]
[...] This has been a message we’ve heard for a while, but it seems the dial has been turned up on the talk but also to a certain degree the walk. There is still a long way to go but we’re seeing more sales channel partnerships and even online pure-plays making moves towards building small sales forces. [...]
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptIn case you missed them, here are some sample posts from another action packed week in local search. [...]
[...] Yahoo!’s personal homepage and news reader MyYahoo! has been redesigned. It’s not clear whether or not this was a wide scale relaunch or, like many other Yahoo! product launches, if the company is rolling it out to different users over time. Mine was revamped as of this morning, as this joins a long list of recent online product redesigns. [...]
[...] Judy’s Book was among the small graduating class of reviews sites that entered the market a few years ago including Insider Pages and Yelp. Yelp of course is going strong (the “last one standing” according to Techcrunch), while Insider Pages was acquired by Citysearch last spring. [...]
[...] Mr. Local SEO Andrew Shotland writes today about vertically oriented website development and hosting products for small businesses. This is an interesting concept because it brings together two local trends we’ve written extensively about; webification and verticalization.First, with webification, the concept is that there are many businesses out there that don’t have websites. With this, the addressable market for online advertising is diminished. This is the reason why many search based advertising providers such as Google and Yahoo! have lowered the barrier to get online with free or cheap website hosting and development products. [...]
[...] In case you missed any, here is a sampling of posts from the TKG blog this week. Click below to read each post in full. Yellow Pages Odds n’ Ends Charles Laughlin takes a look at the week in Yellow Pages. (read more…) [...]
[...] Kelsey Group did a snapshot blog post recently that highlights the success of Pages Jaunes’ online business, and also describes a modest print decline. It triggered me to dust off an unfinished post I had started after hearing Michael Datchery, CEO speak at the September EADP congress in Paris. [...]
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today on Local Directories Help Eniro’s Sweden Print ResultsHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerpt [...]
[...] 3D mapping company EveryScape today launched its product for Boston, Miami, Aspen and New York. We’ve written a great deal about the potential for 3D mapping to become a centerpiece of the local search experience in published reports and blog posts. [...]
[...] The product will also will also augment the larger effort to increase sales through a growing physical sales force – something we’re seeing many online pure plays increasingly build out to varying degrees (most recently seen by yesterday’s announcement from Yodle). [...]
[...] In another related news, YellowPages.com (owned by AT&T) announced the release of a version of their site for the iPhone. According to iLounge, “the new web app can be used by visiting yellowpages.com on an iPhone or iPod touch” [...]
[...] There is a lot of buzz today around a Wall Street Journal article (sub req.) that reveals the latest in Google’s impending entrance into the mobile world. As reported in a recent New York Times article and supported in a previous blog post, this will likely involve a mobile operating system rather than an actual phone. [...]
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptOther notable adds include ShopLocal CMO Bob Armour, Scott Ferris from Microsoft’s Atlas division, and City Voter’s Josh Walker. There is also a brand new Local Mobile panel, featuring Gary Roshak, who has migrated from Marchex to … [...]
[...] As we speculated a few weeks ago, FastCall 411 has officially taken its product portable so that it can “live” on other local search sites. [...]
[...] Answering the question posed yesterday (”Where do we go from here?“), Yahoo’s first move out of the gate in the post Terry Semel era was to acquire high school and collegiate sporting site Rivals.com for a rumored $100 million. [...]
[...] In case you missed any posts, here is a weekly recap of select happenings in local search, yellow pages, and online media. Read below to read each post in full. Gannett’s Metromix Investment: ‘Under $10 Million’ Gannett is teaming with Tribune on a 50/50 basis to take the latter’s Metromix entertainment site national, and reach into the highly valued 21-24 year old market that doesn’t typically use newspapers–online or off. The JV plans to cover the top 30-35 markets within a year, including invasions of cities where neither media company has a newspaper or TV station. A 12 person sales team will anchor the national effort. (read more…) [...]
[...] This will really open things up in the mobile world and is a true game changing event. This joins Apple’s similar move to release it’s software development kit (SDK) to the 3rd party developer community which will similarly enable a lot of innovation. Mobile Local search will see a great deal of that innovation and many other implications of these moves were explored in our post last week. [...]
[...] First, we are reiterating our US mobile forecast through 2012. The forecast breaks out usage and revenue into the three ad segments: Ad Sponsored Voice Services, Mobile Search and Browse and Multi-Modal Applications. Today’s announcement gives further indication that this is indeed the correct lens through which to view this nascent ad market. Our US forecast calls for these three segments to grow from $33.7 million to $1.42 billion, a 116% CAGR through 2011. We should start to see mobile services via Android in 2008 in Europe, the US and Pacific Rim. [...]
[...] Classifieds aggregator LiveDeal has been on a roll this year in bringing new content into the fold to become more competitive as an overall local search destination. First it brought directory listings to compliment its classifieds listings, then it brought in social media (classifieds discussion boards), then video. [...]
[...] Some of these local advertising possibilities for Facebook have already been developed around classifieds, while MySpace has seen some activity around SMBs creating profiles to gain exposure through viral marketing. The new ad platform could create a channel for these businesses to more meaningfully market themselves on MySpace, similar to the way artists and bands have historically done. [...]
[...] Kelsey Group Blogs » Social Networking Ad Targeting: The Local Angle [...]
[...] In case you missed any posts, here is a weekly recap of select happenings in local search, Yellow Pages and online media. Read below to read each post in full. LiveDeal Gets More Social Classifieds aggregator LiveDeal has been on a roll this year in bringing new content into the fold to become more competitive as an overall local search destination. First it brought directory listings (via YP.com acquisition of LiveDeal) to compliment its classifieds listings, then it brought in social media (classifieds discussion boards), then video. Now the site has gone further down the social path by bringing in reviews content from Yelp. (Read more…) [...]
[...] Local Headlines: Tues Nov 6, 2007 Posted November 9, 2007 In Yellow Pages, the Competition Isn’t the Other Fellow At the Directory Driven Commerce conference we held in 2006, the theme was “Adapting to a Shifting Marketplace.†In my opening remarks, I noted that Ford Motor Co. had been the second-largest automobile company in the world behind General Motors for 70 years. [...]
[...] DG wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptGoogle announced the beginnings of a consortium that includes 30-plus members to create an open source mobile operating system called Android. The operating system is built on the open Linux Kernel and uses the liberal Apache v2 open … [...]
[...] In Matt Boland’s Column at the Kelsey Group Blog, he discusses the NY Times article on iPhone’s potential effect on local search. [...]
[...] Kelsey Group Blogs » Google Earth, Now With Video [...]
[...] Google’s Software Development Kit for its open source mobile operating system, Android, was released today (see last week’s post for background). Google has also produced a video that exhibits some of the applications that can be developed on Android. [...]
[...] the deep penetration mobile phones have in most developed countries, and the rapidly improving web interface of most mobile systems, mobile web as a marketing vehicle will grow in prominence. In thealone, The Kelsey Group is forecasting web marketing to grow from $20 million in 2007 to $944 million by 2012. According to Matt Booth, Kelsey’s Program Director of Interactive Local Media“The mobile and search markets are linked, and we believe market share in one could affect the other. Therefore, search portals will push hard into mobile in an attempt to retain their dominantpositions.” All of this said, mobile is the next frontier for directory publishers since this is a marketplace where they can gain dominance with their SME data and enhanced mapping features.the likes of Google and MSN focusing on this market this is a battle publishers need a win or dominate in order to create another growing revenue source. Blog:Yellow Pages, Local Media Blog, European Directories, Advertising Networks, Mobile Posted by: Michael Taylor at 7:51 am- [...]
[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]
[...] Fresh off of a day at NewTeeVee’s excellent online video show – the first of its kind that size – I had the chance to talk to the very interesting EZShow. [...]
[...] Yellow Pages publishers need to maintain their circulation if they are going to continue to show the strong profit margins that investors are used to. We believe that it is time for the industry to advertise the value of Yellow Pages once again, rather than leaving advertising spending to each publisher. Consumers, and even most advertisers, don’t differentiate between Yellow Pages directories so ad spend by one directory often cancels out advertising by another (think presidential debates). While the U.S. Yellow Pages trade associations are contemplating a merger, we hope that part of the discussion will relate to significant contributions by members to advertise the utility, ease-of-use and high return on investment of both print and Internet Yellow Pages. [...]
[...] This is analogous to Google letting businesses edit and contribute data to its Local Business Center, which enhances the organic business listings that surface in Google Maps SERPs. It extends similar capability to the rest of the online user population (or at least registered Google users), and has the similar goal of improving local listings data. [...]
[...] click here for full story [...]
[...] In case you missed any posts during the short week last week, here is a recap. Click below to read each post in full. Bebo Provides Mainstream Content — Attracts Big Brands Last week Bebo, the global social network, announced its new OpenMedia platform partnerships. The network has partnered with major media brands to deliver premium content to its 40 million users. Partnerships include CBS, MTV Networks, ESPN, the BBC, Channel Four, ITN, Yahoo! and BSkyB, as well as emerging media companies like Music Nation, Next New Networks, Crackle, Ustream, Last.fm and JibJab. (read more…) Should Publishers Embrace Opt-Out? This question arose last week at the Yellow Pages Today event in Zurich, which was built around the theme of “Driving Value.” A late addition to the program was Wenche Holen, who runs the Nordic publisher Eniro’s Norwegian operations. Holen was asked to talk about her company’s experience in fighting a serious challenge from an environmental group (Naturvernforbundet) that urged the creation of an opt-in system, which would require consumers to actively vote to receive a print phone book. (read more…) Amazon’s Kindle e-Reader Signs 7 Newspapers Amazon yesterday launched a $399 electronic black-and-white e-reader called “Kindle” that can quickly download books and customized versions of newspapers, magazines and blogs over a limited-use free EVDO network. Seven newspapers are included in the first batch of content: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Atlanta Journal Constitution and San Jose Mercury News. (read more…) Urban Mapping Forms Partnership, Gets Into SEM Game Urban Mapping yesterday announced a partnership with mapping technology provider Placebase. Placebase basically has an API built on mapping tiles (the standard unit of Web 2.0 mapping) that lets developers do a lot with pushpins. This comes in handy in mapping mashups for enterprise applications that require lots of dynamically plotted points. Urban Mapping, for those who don’t know, has a very interesting neighborhood data engine that generates and uses neighborhood-specific terms to better index mapping data. This takes into account the types of colloquial geographic modifiers some users will type in their local searches (”west end,” “southie,” “china basin,” etc.) (read more…) Google Works to Solve ‘Last Block Problem’ Google announced that it will now allow users to change address information in Google Maps. This will let any registered user click and drag map arrows to a different place on the map if they are incorrect. This is analogous to Google letting businesses edit and contribute data to its Local Business Center, which enhances the organic business listings that surface in Google Maps SERPs. This latest development extends similar capability to the rest of the online user population (or at least registered Google users) and has the similar goal of improving local listing data. (read more…) [...]
[...] We launched Oodle 2.0 one week ago today, and given all the incredibly hard work our team put in, we’re gratified to find that we’re receiving good responses. Big shout out to all the press who wrote reviews of the site. This is for you, TechCrunch, Mashable!, Greg Sterling, Cheezhead, Marketing Pilgrim, auctionBYTES, VentureBeat, CNET, RentVine, AppScout, Kelsey Group, Search Engine Watch, and Resource Shelf. [...]
[...] I ran across the Kelsey blog post on the acquisition via Techmeme in which it says, “In fact, we ran considerable analysis around the acquisition of StepUp Commerce for $65 million and the Google-Intuit deals last year. . . Kelsey was the only firm pre-briefed by these companies ahead of the acquisition and partnership.” [...]
[...] See the Kelsey Group for an optimistic take on its efforts. The company has a long list of VC backers, including Draper Fisher Jurvetson , Intel , Redpoint Ventures , IVP , Global Retail Partners , Meritech Capital. Tagged N/A VentureBeat Community [...]
[...] The Wall Street Journal this week gave a nod to some of the developments in online video for SMBs. The Journal cites TKG data about online video as a direct response medium that SMB advertisers are starting to recognize and value. [...]
[...] Original post by Mike Boland [...]
[...] Serbia, Qatar and Kazakhstan… a growth business. It barely existed just a few years ago. Because of the economic conditions in the United States, US ad spending growth is expected to be only 2.5 percent. Still we are better off than Serbia, Qatar and Kazakhstan. [...]
[...] The Kelsey Group [...]
[...] SEM resellers and fulfillment firms will meanwhile be an important part of this value chain, as is explored in a TKG report that will publish tomorrow. Recent investments in ReachLocal and Yodle are a testament to this. [...]
[...] This has been discussed for some time in local search circles as a key challenge. But how do you track this post search activity in practice (beyond survey data)? A number of examples were given including coupons, call tracking, landing pages that are specific to traffic sources, and in store pick up features. [...]
[...] Peter Krasilovsky did a good job previously of explaining the system. [...]
[...] But as paid search becomes more time consuming with advertisers having to managing hundreds, if not thousands of keywords, and costs increasing with its popularity, some local advertisers are looking elsewhere for new customers online, as The Kelsey Group found. When looking to best allocate their budgets, local advertisers must not forget their old friend — the display ad. [...]
[...] With 15 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers accessing news and information via the mobile browser, mobile search represents a huge growth opportunity for SEO’s. The Kelsey Group recently revealed that nearly half of mobile users will be looking for a mobile phone with better Internet capability when they make their next mobile phone purchase. [...]
[...] The acquisition didn’t get the mainstream spotlight for the most part; admittedly, it’s not the sexiest announcement out there. But it is big, and has gotten a nod in certain local search circles (Kelsey Group post here; and of Frank Watson posted about the deal here on SEW). [...]
[...] Kelsey’s Michael Boland, provides some interesting factual research and information on how video does result in conversions and in action in his blog post: TKG On Online Video. [...]
[...] Google’s head of Maps and Earth John Hanke keynoted this morning at ILM:O7 and went in to depth about these products’ recent announcements. These include MyLocation, terrain maps, user address corrections, and enhancements to MyMaps. [...]
[...] John Kelsey writes today… In 2005, Jonathan Weber launched New West Publishing, an online independent local media company designed to serve the “culture, economy, politics, environment and life style of the Rocky Mountain West.†Today NewWest.net is structured as a regional publication that also focuses in on seven local markets. He reiterated… the difficulty of selling local online advertising. Success requires patience and persistence, the blocking and tackling of the online local media business. At the same time, you need talented players and a good strategy. These could be described as great content and local authenticity. [...]
[...] Injecting ‘Social’ into Local MediaBy Mike BolandFisher’s purpose in purchasing Pegasus: Fisher wanted to do something more dramatic than just re-do their website. It was buy or build a new website, from their standpoint. With the Pegasus acquisition, Fisher can totally re-create the …Kelsey Group Blogs – http://blog.kelseygroup.com [...]
[...] Serbia, Qatar and Kazakhstan… a growth business. It barely existed just a few years ago. Because of the economic conditions in the United States, US ad spending growth is expected to be only 2.5 percent. Still we are better off than Serbia, Qatar and Kazakhstan. [...]
[...] In addition to the Kelsey write-ups, Mike Boland has captured links from the press and bloggers who attended our event. It was good to have them aboard. And Mel Taylor tooks some great shots. [...]
[...] In addition to the Kelsey write-ups, Mike Boland has captured links from the press and bloggers who attended our event. It was good to have them aboard. And Mel Taylor took some great pictures. [...]
[...] But as paid search becomes more time consuming with advertisers having to managing hundreds, if not thousands of keywords, and costs increasing with its popularity, some local advertisers are looking elsewhere for new customers online, as The Kelsey Group found. When looking to best allocate their budgets, local advertisers must not forget their old friend — the display ad. [...]
[...] Here is another posting of Mike’s from the Kelsey Group blog talking about local media and how online news and video is effecting traditional forms of local media. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Online Video in 2008″, url: “http://kaiyzen.com/?p=33″ }); [...]
[...] Talking Local @ SES Chicago, Charles Laughlin, Kelsey Group Blogs [...]
[...] This deal continues a pattern of deals from Idearc to build its distribution platform, via small and large partnerships or acquisitions. At the top of this list is the September acquisition of Switchboard from InfoSpace. Other smaller deals in the same vein include agreements with YellowUSA.com, Intellistrand, WhitePages.com and others, plus its acquisition of LocalSearch.com from American Town Networks. [...]
[...] Lots of other great event coverage at the Kelsey Blog. [...]
[...] Lots of other great event coverage at the Kelsey Blog. [...]
[...] Also notable is that the Swicki was recently launched for video search, a growing area being explored by companies we’ve profiled here in the past including Blinkx, Scan Scout and Adap.tv. This happened through a recent partnership with Blinkx. “We were waiting for video to mature to a certain point,” said Eurekster CEO Steven Marder in a recent conversation. “One, where video feeds were good enough, and two where we could parter with someone aggressive enough to do what we want to do. We think Blinkx is the most advanced in analyzing video for content and meaning.” [...]
[...] Yellowbot made a big splash in the local search world earlier this year when they launched and grew very quickly for a site that was basically just a directory of businesses and service categories. Within three months of its launch the site reportedly had somewhere between 500,000 and 1,000,000 monthly visitors. [...]
[...] Back in April we wrote about BuzzLogic, a San Francisco based company whose desktop software app finds out where particular topics are being discussed throughout the blogosphere and online news media. [...]
[...] The deal to consolidate the Netherlands directories market has Truvo exiting the Netherlands (assuming regulators approve the deal next year) and European Directories rolling up the two brands, Gouden Gids (Truvo) and DeTelefoongids (ED), into a single directory platform. The two publishers have fought a bitter battle for market share over the past several years. [...]
[...] What I find interesting about the book is that it’s been essentially unchanged for 100 years. The offices of our newly-acquired call tracking company, VoiceStar, have an amazing selection of antique phone books in their waiting area, some only 20 pages long and some even including instructions for how to dial your phone. Flipping through them reminds you that even as ads got bigger and color was added, it’s still really just a list of local businesses. Today, the Kelsey Group blogged about some recent comments from Yellowpages.com (AT&T’s Internet arm) about the potential they see in a “three screen†(i.e. Internet, phone and TV) strategy for non-book advertising. What Peter Krasilovsky mentions is that while some other players in the space like Verizon have sold their yellow pages arm, AT&T still sees real (and increasing) value in theirs. While the revenue growth numbers that are discussed show a lot of hope for and investment in the success of non-book advertising, what’s telling is that AT&T isn’t devaluing the advertising in the book in favor of these other sources. [...]
[...] Original post by Kelsey Group Blogs [...]
[...] This purchase is a critical move for YellowPages.com and it clearly signals to the rest of the directory industry that call-tracking/pay-per-call will be the unifying standard in local product bundling, allowing a single sales force to sell multiple media formats. In the same vein, Marchex acquired Voicestar earlier this year. [...]
[...] Original post by Kelsey Group Blogs [...]
[...] It’s also yet another point of differentiation in a long-standing feature war between mapping providers. Interactive features, personalization, social media, and more recently 3-D mapping have become the hallmarks of this competition. [...]
[...] WebVideoReport has started to put some numbers on the growing online video space. It joins GigaOm’s NewTeeVee in exclusively covering this space, and has put out some interesting articles in the past few weeks. [...]
[...] The latter is interesting because it looks at the CPM rates for a sampling of mainstream online video channels. This includes mostly pre-roll video ads but also looks at video ad overlays, which are beginning to displace a certain degree of pre-roll advertising, thanks to the efforts of companies we’ve profiled here in the past, including ScanScout and Adap.tv. [...]
[...] The Kelsey Group: Last week the Swedish directory publisher Eniro announced that it has selected Stockholm-based Picsearch to power a video search feature on the eniro.se portal. Picsearch has a relationship with Eniro via its provision of a video search feature on Kvasir.no, Eniro’s Norwegian Web search platform. [...]
[...] This agreement comes close on the heels of ED’s announced acquisition of Gouden Gids from Truvo, a deal that awaits regulatory approval in the Netherlands. If approved, that combination with consolidate the Dutch directory business into a single dominant player. [...]
[...] Citysearch will meanwhile get more distribution for its content and its advertisers which, in the long run, could increase its own traffic as well as its value proposition to advertisers. The latter is obviously of interest to the city guide, and is something it continues to augment with local sales investments. [...]
[...] As promised, today I had the chance to talk with Local.com’s VP of Bus Dev and Sales Peter Hutto, who took time away from his vacation to provide some more color on yesterday’s partnership with Citysearch. [...]
[...] Yahoo’s Map Upgrade And The Fight For Local Search Supremacy – Yahoo Maps has added new “drag and drop” functionality for routes, giving users the option of customizing their driving directions for things like shortcuts and traffic avoidance. Yahoo has also upgraded the search interface, putting photos and reviews right inside the window that pops up for business listings. [...]
[...] Posting has been light over the past few days, but a lot happened before that. If you missed any posts, here is a recap. Click below to read each post in full. A Holiday Wish One of the many reasons the Internet has bloomed in the U.S. is that the Administration, under the leadership of Ira Magaziner, former head of U.S. Internet policy, allowed the World Wide Web to grow without putting unnecessary restrictions on it. Yesterday, the FTC issued a very unsurprising decision allowing Google’s proposed merger with DoubleClick. (read more…) [...]
[...] There has been lots of talk about local merchant video ads this year, a trend pushed forward in the most meaningful way by Citysearch’s May integration of video ads. We’ve also seen every major U.S. IYP do the same this year, in various ways. [...]
[...] There has been lots of talk about local merchant video ads this year, a trend pushed forward in the most meaningful way by Citysearch’s May integration of video ads. We’ve also seen every major U.S. IYP do the same this year, in various ways. [...]
[...] Poking Fun at Local Video There has been lots of talk about local merchant video ads this year, a trend pushed forward in the most meaningful way by Citysearch’s May integration of video ads. We’ve also seen every major U.S. IYP do the same this year, in various ways. As we’ve mentioned many times, this brings video advertising within the grasp of many SMBs, as it’s always been of interest, but cost prohibitive on cable. Economics aside, part of the ecosystem that is developing around online video also involves a rising quality standard pushed by online video vendors such as TurnHere and EZ Show. (read more…) [...]
[...] goes straight to the source with its own growing sales channel. This build-rather-than-partner strategy is no easy task, but ReachLocal continues to scale up and show that it can be done. TheOctober $55 million cash infusion (and resulting $305 million valuation) is a vote of confidence in this model and a means to continue to develop it. The same can be said (albeit to a lesser degree)newly minted AdWords reseller status. Blog: Local Media Blog, Paid Search, Local Ad Sales Posted by: Mike Boland at 10:24 am- [...]
[...] Following closely behind its integration of Citysearch content (including reviews) last month, Local.com announced today that it will integrate two million reviews from Yelp. This was made possible by Yelp’s recent release of its API for local search sites to build mashups and pull int its reviews. LiveDeal recently did the same. [...]
[...] As we’ve mentioned in the past, Urban Mapping’s core product is used by most portal mapping providers to index mapping data with the anticipation of the colloquial terms searchers might use (i.e. “near caltrain station”, “Southie”, etc.). The company has also branched out by providing this neighborhood data as a valuable tool for search marketers to use in the process of keyword generation for geotargeting. [...]
[...] All of these factors also work towards increasing inventory and the value proposition to advertisers, set forth in the October launch of Zillow’s ad product HomeDirect. [...]
[...] Peter Krasilovsky’s post this morning got me thinking about MySpace’s future. It makes a lot of sense that the company would come out with an ad product to rival Facebook’s Pages and Ads programs. It has already made a few moves in this direction. [...]
[...] As we’ve mentioned a few times, Android along with the iPhone will erode the carrier control that has stifled innovation in the mobile world thus far. Basically any incentive to innovate mobile applications was stifled by the fact that products had to pass through the filter of each individual carrier for various model phones and operating systems. [...]