August 15, 2007 Comments (1)
It was just earlier this week when Yahoo came out with blended search, similar to what Google and Ask have recently done. Now they've gone a step further by updating Yahoo Local. Yahoo can arguably be considered the better local engine already, although this looks like another step in the right direction.
It's taking a bit to get used to, but I noticed one thing right away. It's stepping further away from the search engine look to more of a community-building look. For what Yahoo considers metro areas, right up top you see visual tabs for different "guides". These prominently include ratings and user reviews, maps and buzz tabs, and even an event tab to see what band, sporting event, or art scene is going on in your neighborhood this coming weekend.
I do like the community-building feel. Outside of pizza, music, and maps however, you do have to search around for other local services such as attorneys, lodging, or even piano lessons. Luckily, these local results still often show up in Yahoo Web searches, their local search box, and even from Google searches. ;)
Not everyone likes this new look. Yahoo does provide a suggestion board for those who want to share their thoughts.
I kind of like the look and my wife is uneasy with it. It certainly takes a bit of getting used to. The home page now has a streamlined feel to it, with more options and tabs.
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Paul Jahn is the owner of Localmn Interactive Marketing, a Minnesota-based Internet marketing company. Localmn focuses on helping local companies large and small leverage the most out of their search marketing campaigns depending on their respective needs, including SEO, PPC, local search, and social media campaigns. Paul also runs and contributes to the Localmn local search blog.
In addition to running Localmn, Paul also works with BuyOnlineNow - online office supply superstore along with one of their niche sites focusing on paper shredders, OrderPaperShredders.com. BuyOnlineNow provides close to 30,000 office products across the US from paper shredders, the infamous "Milton" red Swingline staplers to full office furniture solutions. For the increasing demand to serve Canadian customers, BuyOnlineNow.net was also launched in March 2007. With over ten years of Internet marketing experience, Paul has particular expertise in search marketing, with extensive knowledge of local search. |
Video blogger Sage Lewis keeps you up to date with what's hot in the world of search engine marketing.
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