Welcome to the new Local Search Insider!
Today at our Search Starts Here conference in Las Vegas, the Yellow Pages Association announced a new start of sorts for itself: a new name – Local Search Association – and new look that reflects our changing industry.
To coincide with our new brand, our blog is now called Local Search Insider – update your bookmarks to www.localsearchinsider.com.
In the past decade, we’ve seen the Yellow Pages industry evolve from a focus on publishing print directories to today serving as integrated local search provider via print, online, mobile and social media. And as the view of Yellow Pages companies has expanded, so has the view of the entire industry. Now our “local search” industry involves all sorts of companies and media – large and small – that help local businesses connect with consumers. Today Yellow Pages companies, search engines, local business sites, vertical sites, deal of the day providers, and many other companies are competing and partnering to help small businesses succeed.
And as that industry expands, so too does our mission at the Local Search Association. We are pleased to be welcoming members like CityGrid, MerchEngine, Kudzu, Telnic Limited, Kenshoo, Thrive Analytics, deCarta, dotMobi, VendAsta Technologies and NO PROBLEM into the Association.
These new members face many of the same opportunities and challenges as our traditional member base and the Local Search Association will work together to find integrated marketing and local search solutions for our customers. This collective group represents the best local search marketers in the world. We will continue to serve our long-time Yellow Pages members as well as the ever-expanding universe of companies connecting local buyers and sellers through digital advertising, social networking and mobile platforms.
The goal of the Local Search Association is to deliver time-tested and cutting-edge solutions spanning digital, print, mobile and social media. Combined with strong local sales forces, I believe we will become the most trusted marketing advisors to local businesses and position them for success in the broader local search space.
More to come as we embark on this new journey!
