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Recognizing opportunities for growth in the local search marketplace, Internet Yellow Pages (IYP) and Search Engine companies are uniting in a number of ways to serve users and advertisers. Not only are business models merging, but companies are collaborating.
To capture this fast-paced activity, the Yellow Pages Association, along with sponsor Superpages.com and supporting partners comScore, SEMPO (Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization) and The Kelsey Group, offers the Local Search Guide, which profiles IYPs, Search Engines, Search Tools, Mobile Tools and selected Vertical Directories. The Local Search Guide also includes regular Viewpoint columns from industry thought leaders, a search term Glossary and other Resources.
The Local Search Guide is updated frequently to add new companies and reflect changes in the industry. As you visit and use the Local Search Guide, please send comments via email to localsearch@yapr.com to let us know what we can do to better serve our visitors. For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions below.
FAQ
What is the Local Search Guide?
Who created the Local Search Guide?
How does YPA play a role in Local Search?
Who are the Supporting Partners of the Local Search Guide and what is their role?
How many company profiles are included in the Local Search Guide?
The Local Search Guide also has a company sponsor, how does that work?
How are company profiles developed?
How are IYP and Search Engine rankings generated for the Local Search Guide?
What is the Viewpoint Section of the Local Search Guide?
What criteria must a company meet to be included in the Local Search Guide?
How can I submit my company for inclusion in the Local Search Guide?
How can I submit a Viewpoint column to the Local Search Guide?
Who can I contact for more information about the Local Search Guide?
Q. What is the Local Search Guide?
A. The Local Search Guide is an Internet Yellow Pages (IYP) and Search Engine Who?s Who. Updated frequently, this objective resource profiles IYP, Search Engine, Search Tool, Vertical Directory and Mobile companies? Local Search capabilities.
Q. Who created the Local Search Guide?
A. The Yellow Pages Association? (YPA), the trade organization of a print and electronic media industry valued at more than $26 billion worldwide ($14 billion U.S.), launched the Local Search Guide in December 2004.
Q. How does YPA play a role in Local Search?
A. The Yellow Pages industry is a pioneer of Local Search. For over 100 years, the Yellow Pages business model has provided national and local advertisers a forum to reach local consumers. Since the first Yellow Pages was published in the 1880s, on-the-street sales forces have collected data on local businesses, the gold standard for Local Search content.
Q. Who are the Supporting Partners of the Local Search Guide and what is their role?
A. The Local Search Guide Supporting Partners are leaders in the Local Search industry and contribute content to the Local Search Guide. Supporting Partners include comScore, an Internet audience measurement company; the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO), a non-profit association working to promote the value of Search Engine marketing; and The Kelsey Group, a research and analysis consulting firm.
Q. How many IYP, Search Engines and Search Tools are included in the Local Search Guide?
A. Currently, the Local Search Guide profiles 21 IYP, 17 Search Engines, 31 Search Tools, 29 Vertical Directories and 20 Mobile companies. This number will grow as additional Publisher, Search Engine and Search Tool companies move into the Local Search market.
Q. The Local Search Guide also has a company sponsor, how does that work?
A. Beginning in February 2007, YPA accepted sponsors who contribute funds to the upkeep and expansion of the Local Search Guide for a one year period. YPA is pleased to have local search industry leader, Superpages.com?, as a sponsor.
Q. How are company profiles developed?
A. All profiles are produced using public information. Each profile includes categories of information that were selected for their relevance to Local Search.
Q. How are IYP and Search Engine rankings generated for the Local Search Guide?
A. As a Supporting Partner, comScore Networks, a consumer research firm, is providing objective, third-party rankings of the Top 30 Internet Yellow Pages (IYP) by IYP searches and the Top 30 Search Engines by Media.
Q. What is the Viewpoint Section of the Local Search Guide?
A. Each month the Viewpoint Section features perspectives on the Local Search industry from analysts, journalists and industry professionals.
Q. What criteria must a company meet to be included in the Local Search Guide?
A. Internet Yellow Pages (IYP): IYP companies profiled must contain Yellow Pages content including local search results on a multi-regional or national level.
Search Engines: Search Engine companies profiled must generate geo-targeted results with either a local or IYP tab.
Search Tools: Companies featured in the Search Tools section of the Local Search Guide do at least one of the following: provide directory listings, transform existing print products to online content, combine Web services with VoIP and phone capabilities, or provide search capabilities through a network of users.
Vertical Directories: Web sites profiled offer valuable content and serve as an online index of local vendors in well-defined categories. Vertical market e-commerce sites are not included, as their focus is online sales rather than local search.
Mobile: Companies profiled do at least one of the following: provide publishers and/or advertisers mobile search applications, offer a voice recognition platform for local search advertisers or provide free directory assistance.
Q. How can I submit my company for inclusion?
If your company meets the above criteria send a request to localsearch@yapr.com with a brief company description.
Q. How can I submit a Viewpoint column to the Local Search Guide?
To submit a Viewpoint column to the Local Search Guide, please send to jenniferlm@yapr.com. The Viewpoint section features byline columns from local search thought leaders. Columns are limited to 250-350 words and must be original content, not printed elsewhere.
Q. Who can I contact for more information about the Local Search Guide?
A. For more information about the Local Search Guide, send your inquiry to localsearch@yapr.com.
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© Copyright 2004 – 2008 Yellow Pages Association