Type of Service

Description of Service

Examples of Service Providers

 Local Search (baseline) 

Discovery of local products and services based on search of business directories/ Yellow Pages publications.   Geocoding is used to match spatial locations.  Search interface most often presented as a  two-box search, one for the product/service and the second for the geographic location. Results may include website link or other Internet search options.  (Services are national in terms of market coverage)

Go2, Super Pages.com, Swithboard.com, A9, AOL Local, google Local, Yahoo Local, Ask Local (formerly Ask Jeeves Local)

 General Internet Search    used to find local products/services

Local search activity operating within a generic Web-based search engine, such as those operated by Google, MSN or Yahoo, that may be optimized to match  geographic keywords or descriptors.  Can normally be distinguished from baseline Local Search lack of location request box in query interface. These services do not yet use geocoding as an active part of the search process.

Google, Yahoo, MSN, Ask (formerly Ask Jeeves)

 Hybrid Local Search

Local Search (baseline) paired with a web-crawler that is used to augment/update information about businesses within local search areas.  Results may be augmented/corrected by information gathered through web crawling.[1]

Local.com, Windows Live Local

 Community Search

Non–comprehensive (product or service limited) passive local bulletin board-like services that represent products and services through advertisements similar to classified advertisements. Achieve spatial coverage by opening sites to serve specific local markets.  (These companies achieve national coverage by replicating service to serve new markets)

Craigslist, Kijiji

 Referred Search

Non-comprehensive Local Search that is based on referrals/rating of local business and service providers by users of these services.

Judy’s Book, Angie’s List

 Other Search Verticals (with local component)

Brandfinders and other search alternatives that focus on specific/ branded products or services and their spatial availability.

Wal-mart, Sears, Best Buy, Contractors.com Looksmart