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Category Archives: Local Search
Twitter and Local
Andrew Shotland takes on Twitter and local in his recent post…
There has been a lot of digital ink spilled over Twitter’s local search implications. Over the past few months several Twitter services have launched with a local angle. I thought it would be interesting to get them all in one place and provide some details…
Mega Local Sites in the News
CitySquares in Boston and beyond says business is good with advertisers’ coupons being hot.
Citysearch rebuilt its site. “Elements of the revamp include a more intuitive interface, an embrace of social media, a major focus on video, some new twists in mobile, and the development of a full-fledged local ad and content network that offers an alternative to Google’s dominant position.” -Local Onliner
Service Magic is doing very well, despite the general economic conditions. Co-founder Rodney Rice’s “6 Keys to Success in Local Services” via Andrew Shotland:
- Build supply before demand
- Choose the right vertical focus/right branding
- Execute as a service business, not a dot com (too true)
- Control customer acquisition costs – apply real business metrics
- Utilize technologies that make sense now – not in 3, 5 or 10 years
- Focus on yourself, not the competition (the best advice ever)
Angie’s List took in more VC money recently, bringing it’s total raised to about $66 million. And Shotland reports Angie Hicks saying “The biggest competitor in the space is ‘your next door neighbor.’” Interesting. In this light, Angie’s List offers another way to buy your way out of something you just can’t find the time to do… get to know the neighbors and have conversations with them. Front Porch Forum, on the other hand, is free and uses things like plumber recommendations among clearly identified nearby neighbors as a way to help connect neighbors and lead toward more vital communities.
And again from Shotland…
The thing I love the most about both Angie’s and Rodney’s talks is that they are both very much outside the local search/Silicon Valley community in some ways (well Angie did raise a bunch of $ from VCs and Rodney did sell out to IAC, but besides that), but they are both incredibly successful.
Center’d integrates people, places and plans
Mike Boland posted today about a conversation with Center’d's CEO who…
positions the company as a deeper dive into events, which breaths more functionality into all of the nuances of planning local outings. With the tag line, people, places, plans, it also brings in some social features and local search functionality.
The value proposition lies in the integration of these otherwise disparate local media categories. The idea is that a group of friends can plan a weekday dinner outing, find the location, read reviews (Yelp integration), invite people, and set up a landing page as a central source for event management. One can argue that this already exists with Google Maps, Yelp, and Evite, but the main point is that it doesn’t exist all in one place.
Center’d formerly was known as FatDoor.
Find needle in haystack? No problem…
Sometimes it’s the little stories that catch my attention on Front Porch Forum. Like Shelly’s posting on her FPF neighborhood fourm three days ago…
Hello, Neighbors! My preschooler got off the schoolbus today missing a blue CROC shoe. He was sitting in the front seat and the driver thinks he kicked it off and it fell out somewhere in Huntington.
We know all about missing footwear, mittens, etc. in our house. It’s the proverbial needle in the haystack search, I figured. Well, Shelly just posted again today…
Thank you Neighbors and Thank you Front Porch Forum! My son’s croc shoe was found and returned!
Now that’s what I call “local search!” Let’s see Google do that. 
“All Experts” Recommend Front Porch Forum
Just stumbled across this exchange posted on AllExperts.com… (thanks David!)…
Expert: David Beckett
Date: 8/27/2008
Subject: Temporary HousingQuestion
Hi David – I read your answers about Burlington and my husband & I decided to move here from Los Angeles a few months ago… We love it here. I am French and we need to go back to France for family reasons from November through March 2009 and I would hate to leave the house empty for a host of reasons.Ideally we could rent the place (we have a beautiful 4 bedroom house in the Hill section) but I am not sure where to post an ad. The other option would be to have a professional come on a regular basis to ensure that everything is OK (i.e. heating still on). Do you have any recommendations for either solutions?
I assume we are not the only people to leave Vermont in the winter, I was just curious if there were any obvious resources available that we are not aware of.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Answer
Hello Isabelle – Glad you like Burlington! … You might also post a note on your “Front Porch Forum” email list, without your address of course, just asking if neighbors have people to recommend as short term renters or housesitters. If you haven’t gotten onto your neighborhood “Front Porch Forum” yet – I recommend it. You can read archives and sign up at http://www.frontporchforum.comPlease feel free to contact me directly – I’m happy to help. I live in your neighborhood.