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Yahoo Launches Yahoo Local
Thuesday, October 04, 2004
Integration of Yahoo Local into Yahoo Search and Yahoo Front
Page further Demonstrates Commitment to Providing the Best Search
Experience on the Web.
Yahoo has launched Yahoo Local. Building on Yahoo's position as
the most popular local destination on the Internet, and consumer
feedback gained through beta testing, the new Yahoo Local is now
accessible on the Yahoo Front Page and Yahoo Search. Yahoo Local
leverages Yahoo!'s leading search technology, comprehensive local
listings, innovative mapping functionality, and user-generated content
to deliver a more relevant and precise search experience for consumers
looking for local information online.
"We're very excited to fully integrate our local search product
into the Yahoo search experience," said Jeff Weiner, senior
vice president of Yahoo Search and Marketplace. "Given that
local is one of the most popular and valuable search categories
for our users, Yahoo Local serves as yet another example of Yahoo's
ability to innovate in order to provide the highest quality search
experience on the Internet. Furthermore, this launch continues to
demonstrate Yahoo's unique ability to extend search to key vertical
areas such as local, shopping, travel, news and more."
Yahoo Local offers comprehensive merchant listings and provides
consumers with the tools necessary to pinpoint localized information
and businesses in their hometown, or any other location in the United
States. As a result of extensive feedback and usage from hundreds
of thousands of users since the beta launch in August, Yahoo further
enhanced its local search tools, including:
-- Improved relevance algorithm to deliver more precise local results
based on the type of search
-- Increased comprehensiveness via additional data sources
-- Streamlined rating and review system to enhance community involvement
-- Improved integration of SmartView and driving directions from
Yahoo Maps
-- "Also try" search suggestions to help users quickly
find what they're looking for
-- Improved interface for narrowing and sorting results by price,
rating and distance
"The new Yahoo Local is a more powerful, precise and comprehensive
product, affording users a higher quality search experience. Local
searchers can now feel like an insider in the neighborhood they
are exploring, whether it is knowing the best bakery, bookstore
or tailor," said Paul Levine, general manager, Yahoo Local.
"We will continue to improve our local search product by aggregating
deeper content, adding more innovative features and further integration
within the Yahoo! network."
Local search is an increasingly vital tool to connect consumers
and businesses. Merchants can ensure placement on Yahoo! Local in
the United States through Overture Local Match -- a sponsored search
product that allows advertisers to precisely target customers interested
in a specific neighborhood and present customized offers and business
details to them. Overture Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Yahoo. Additionally, the launch will provide a feedback form
for merchants and consumers to submit additional information to
Yahoo! about a business or service in their area. This feedback
will be evaluated, checked for accuracy and incorporated into the
product once confirmed.
Yahoo Local Marketing Campaign
Today, Yahoo Local also rolled out an extensive marketing campaign
across the U.S., designed to showcase the unique, compelling and
precise "finds" that Yahoo! Local can provide. The campaign,
executed locally through an integrated online/offline advertising
and "street team" buzz marketing campaign, underscores
Yahoo!'s commitment to delivering local information when and where
users need it.
Beginning today, consumers will be able to experience Yahoo! Local
at the world's first-ever interactive bus shelters. Situated in
New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, people can search for businesses
in the surrounding neighborhoods, view them all on a single map
and actually print the information at the bus shelter to take with
them. Additionally, Yahoo! Local will offer consumers a chance to
discover the "Local Finds" of their neighborhoods, through
an online promotion that features special prizes from some of the
most popular merchants and services in each area. People searching
for information in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los
Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington D.C.
will see an invitation at the top of the page to enter the contest
for a chance to win prizes from local merchants, such as Scoop in
New York City, City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, Geno's Steaks
in Philadelphia, and much more.
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