Local in New Orleans

just a thanks.

[Chicago]

It hasn't been the easiest of six months, getting this forum started.

What I do know for sure, is that there is a core group of you guys that have been instrumental in keeping the local search forum moving forward. Are any of you coming to New Orleans? I would like to know because I would like to take the time to personally meet and thank you.

Justin

[ortelius]

I'm not, unfortunately, but I do appreciate this forum being here. I have some clients who pay for local internet marketing -- small potatoes now, but I firmly believe it's going to grow. I just discovered this forum recently, and I wanted to voice my support.
Ortelius

[lorenzinho2]

Justin,

You already know me, but you can still thank me :)

Looking forward to catching up and chatting with any all local oriented folks (though I refuse to get into the "what is local" debate with Webwork.

Thanks to Justin for his insight - a couple of his posts on local advertising have been among the most valuable that I've seen on this forum.

[voltrader]

As a small - make that tiny - publisher, I've learned an incredible amount just by lurking. I'll try to step it up one of these days :-)

Thanks, and I wish I could make it to the conference!

[Webwork]

I refuse to get into the "what is local" debate with Webwork

Just in case you forgot what we won't discuss or debate:

Is "local search" going to be:

1. Local for locals by locals? Say, WidgetCounty.com by Bob and Betty McLocal?

2. Local for locals by Big Corp? Will Big Corp attempt to localize by hiring/paying locals to add local flavor? With Big Corp's overhead how will B.C. compete with Bob and Betty?

3. Local folks searching a 'remote locale', run by remote locals or Big Corp?

4. Is vertically integrated local data, offered by the likes of Hotels.com, a giant sucking noise on the profitability of local search? Will the Big D spend the next year acquiring Contractors.tld, Dentists.tld and so on?

5. Is it online YP, G!Local, Y!Local?

Corollary question: When it comes to "locals seeking locals" do they really need Big Corp, and if locals are any good at local then will remote searchers find their way to "local by locals"? How?

Oh these are interesting times. Lots to ponder, discuss, debate, lots to play with . . but not with you L.

No, that'll never happen, fershur. ;0)

[buckworks]

Webwork, sometimes you think too much! :)

[inbound]

I can't make it unfortunately, I'm busy with my new business (that has a local search angle).

I do think that we should all make an effeort to post more often on here though, it's sometimes days between posts.

The upside of that is that you don't have hundreds of posts to read every day though :)

[Chicago]

Good stuff. Sometimes big things can come of a small group of relations. Stay posted, I mean posting. Thank you.

[JeremyL]

I wish I could, as the conference is within driving distance. But I can't make it away for 3 days :(

Hopefully next conference.

[wantfieldh]

HI guys, I am really new to this forum and this industry in general.

However I am starting a site which I believe is very "local" driven. So I have been actively reading everyone's work. I would just like to thank everyone for the great postings. I would like to generate more noise but I guess I don't know enough at the momment to generate any.

Now would a site like craigslist be considered local? What about craigslist combined with yellowpage?

[Robert Charlton]

Justin - I can't count myself amoung the core posters here, but I am a big fan. This forum has some of the most thought provoking material on SEO I've seen during the time it's been active. Thank you.

Wish I could join you in New Orleans, but it's not possible. Hope to meet up eventually.

[Chicago]

looking forward to it lawrence. we will corner jeff (webwork), buy him a few drinks and let his brilliance irritate the s*it out of us.

speaking of brilliance... >>but it's not possible

smiling, robert. simply smiling.. >>eventually - yes.

long pause

>> Now would a site like craigslist be considered local? What about craigslist combined with yellowpage?

yes, yes

[bakedjake]

I'll be there. And if Webwork wants to cause all this trouble, he'd bloody well be there with cigars!

[iamlost]

Chicago - The Local Search Forum is what you've made it. I read, several times, your initial posts that framed the topic and made this the Search forum.

The G, Y, and MSN forums are so hysterical and why me and me too that it is hard to pick out the nuggets from the muck.

Discussing search rather than search engines, search direction rather than search algorithm, search opportunities rather than SERPs, the future rather than the present is, to put it mildly, refreshing.

I lurk more than I post learning much more than I contribute for which I thank you and the others. Will try to repay the favour in future.

Thank You