Yahoo Local Listings

Adds free 5 page website

[eWhisper]

In additional the free (or paid enhanced) Yahoo local listings, they've upped the offer with a free 5 page website.

The templates are very basic (appears no HTML allowed in the info), customization is very limited, however, it's another move to capture the large SME marketplace who don't have websites.

[listings.local.yahoo.com...]

[bakedjake]

Huh.

"Loss leader" comes to mind.

[Webwork]

Simply points out the very real need for each industry player to peer well into the future and, without particular regard to what Brand-X is doing at the moment, ask themselves: What, exactly, is the value of our model and how - within our specialization, resources, technology and assets might we evolve such that we can meet new challenges without assuming 1) we must become "Brand-X" to compete/survive, and 2) without steering by looking in their own corporate rearview mirror - or the Brand-X sideview mirror - to determine where to go with the assets that they have to work with right now.

If I had to be a dinosaur in these circumstances I think I'd choose to be a raptor, not a Brontosaurus or a T-Rex.

So, when is BarryDiller.com going to buy a data aggregator and turn it into an instant online business search utility?

I'm stunned at the inability of the data aggregators to make a move to dominate commercial search. They should have made a move 5 years ago. Now, the SEs are looking to beat them at their own data aggregation game by collecting business data with "free" incentives, like free websites, listings, etc.

Dear data aggregators: WAKE THE F for Ford Edsel UP. It's almost dinner time and you're neither on the guest list nor on the menu.

[lorenzinho2]

Not sure I get this.

Seems like this would cannibalize their Enhanced Listings.

On the other hand, if Yahoo can end up hosting say 50% of small businesses (some estimate that 80% are without Web sites), their local data will rapidly become superior to anything that comes from Acxiom or Infousa as it will be updated by the business owners themselves.

Better data that is updated more frequently will attract more users than those services dependent on rapidly decaying Acxiom data.

[ken_b]

Sign up the businesses that have no website yet and then upsell some of them a Yahoo store?

[GameMasterM]

Brilliant plan and the data gathered will be invaluable. Once they have them (SEMs) Yahoo will offer the newbies a domain name and as mentioned a Yahoo web store.
Yahoo is to be commended for this innovation.