Social Networks, Customer Reviews and Local Search: Rude Waiters Beware the Search Engines
This article gives the different avenues of searching for local information on the Internet. The local search technology includes: Social Networks, Business Networks, InsiderPages.com, Advertising on InsiderPages.com, and other local search sites with customer reviews. It discusses the components and benefits of each option.
Social Networks work through community websites, newsgroups, blogs, dating, and mailing lists that focus on a specific area of interest. Example service providers are Friendster and Okrut. Business Networks allow friends and colleagues to join and communicate. Business contacts are the focus. For example, if you need a job or a referral, a business network will be useful. Examples service providers of Business Networks are Plaxo and ReferNet.
Another form of searching for local information on the Internet is InsiderPages.com. You can check a local search blog that also includes business reviews. Advertising on this website is most effective for small businesses. The advertising is done through pay-per-call. Advertisers only pay when they receive a phone call through the website advertisement.