Local Matters Search Solution Helps Directory Publishers “Go Social”
Thu, 28/01/2010 - 22:09.
Member news
“Directory publishers have a tremendous opportunity to expose their advertisersto more prospects using social media , delivering quality leads and ultimatelygrowing publishers’ revenue,” said Kris Skavish, Vice President of Products andMarketing for Local Matters. “Our approach is to more effectively harnessthe power of Facebook and Twitter to engage and encourage consumers to spreadthe word about local businesses.”
According to Skavish, Destination Search integrates innovative technologiessuch as:
• Easy Sharing via Facebook and Twitter -Leverages consumer connections by making it easy to share reviews andrecommendations with contacts on Twitter and Facebook and drive more traffic tothe local search site in the process. Plus, this reduces the barriers tocontent contribution using Facebook Connect or Twitter for account creation andcontent sharing.
• Search Integration with Twitter andFacebook - Expands the reach of the local search site. Consumers can searchthe site by sending a direct message to a Twitter account tied to the publishersite—and get a Tweet back with search results. Or, through the Local Matters Facebook search application,consumers can conveniently access a basic map-based search without leavingFacebook.
• Comprehensive Social Media Feeds onAdvertiser Profiles - Increases SEO value and provides more comprehensivebusiness listings. This feature allows advertisers to integrate their ownsocial media elements (web sites, blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, etc.)into their pages.
“The rise of search and social media means that ‘plain old listings’ don’treally cut it for publishers or their small business advertisers,” said NealPolachek, President of BIA/Kelsey. “In fact, those that don’t evolve stand indanger of being disintermediated by a new group of socially-based contenders.One solution for publishers that we’re impressed by is Local Matters’‘destination search.’ It compellingly puts together many of the best features ofsearch and social media, while leveraging publishers’ traditional (and stillconsiderable) strengths.”
In addition to new social features, Destination Search includes seven majorenhancements focused on improving the consumer experience while optimizingpages for the search engines.
Destination Search already powers some of the leading directory publisher websites in Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark , Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, NewZealand, Poland, Portugal ,Romania , Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Statesfor clients such as Truvo, European Directories, Yellow Pages Group (NZ),Pagini Aurii and DexB2B.
Thousands of conversations happen online each second. Yet, directorypublishers struggle to successfully tap into these conversations to generate asteady stream of leads for local businesses. According to local search andonline advertising pioneer, Local Matters, social media is one way to engage consumers with unique, local content, inturn driving them to advertisers. Local Matters’ flagship product, Destination Search <http://www.localmatters.com/Destination_Search>, integrates powerful social media enhancements designed to tackle some of themajor challenges facing directory publishers, including driving traffic,retaining advertisers and improving profitability. Destination Search is anindustry leading solution that transforms a database of local information intoan engaging consumer-focused web site.
“Directory publishers have a tremendous opportunity to expose their advertisersto more prospects using social media , delivering quality leads and ultimatelygrowing publishers’ revenue,” said Kris Skavish, Vice President of Products andMarketing for Local Matters. “Our approach is to more effectively harnessthe power of Facebook and Twitter to engage and encourage consumers to spreadthe word about local businesses.”
According to Skavish, Destination Search integrates innovative technologiessuch as:
• Easy Sharing via Facebook and Twitter -Leverages consumer connections by making it easy to share reviews andrecommendations with contacts on Twitter and Facebook and drive more traffic tothe local search site in the process. Plus, this reduces the barriers tocontent contribution using Facebook Connect or Twitter for account creation andcontent sharing.
• Search Integration with Twitter andFacebook - Expands the reach of the local search site. Consumers can searchthe site by sending a direct message to a Twitter account tied to the publishersite—and get a Tweet back with search results. Or, through the Local Matters Facebook search application,consumers can conveniently access a basic map-based search without leavingFacebook.
• Comprehensive Social Media Feeds onAdvertiser Profiles - Increases SEO value and provides more comprehensivebusiness listings. This feature allows advertisers to integrate their ownsocial media elements (web sites, blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, etc.)into their pages.
“The rise of search and social media means that ‘plain old listings’ don’treally cut it for publishers or their small business advertisers,” said NealPolachek, President of BIA/Kelsey. “In fact, those that don’t evolve stand indanger of being disintermediated by a new group of socially-based contenders.One solution for publishers that we’re impressed by is Local Matters’‘destination search.’ It compellingly puts together many of the best features ofsearch and social media, while leveraging publishers’ traditional (and stillconsiderable) strengths.”
In addition to new social features, Destination Search includes seven majorenhancements focused on improving the consumer experience while optimizingpages for the search engines.
Destination Search already powers some of the leading directory publisher websites in Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark , Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, NewZealand, Poland, Portugal ,Romania , Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Statesfor clients such as Truvo, European Directories, Yellow Pages Group (NZ),Pagini Aurii and DexB2B.