Local Search Forum?

Somewhere to go for local search topics...

[SEOMike]

I'd like to discuss local search with people, but don't want to put it in something so broad as SE Promotion, or something so focused as Google Adsense and the like. I think it'd be a good idea for a forum dedicated to local search, the technology behind it, optimization for it, and a laundry list of other topics. I personally am focusing on this relatively new technology as I think it will really take off once it comes out of beta and saturates the market.

Opinions?

[DaveAtIFG]

<shameless rant>We need a better name than "local search!" Local search means searching my desktop, as opposed to searching my server or web searching! I like geosearch or geotargeting or localized search! But I'm easily confused... :)</shameless rant>

Although there will be some common issues, as each major SE moves to localized search, there will be unique aspects to each implementation. Wouldn't it make the most sense to include discussion in the Google News, Yahoo, or Microsoft Search forums?

[SEOMike]

Well, I did think about that. If localIZED ;) search is spread out, it'll be hard to have a single look at the whole topic and what's going on. You'll have to sift through hundreds of posts if you miss a few days to find what's going on.

Besides, it is likely to have new players. I live in Kansas City, and the paper mentioned a company that will develop a search engine to rival google but targeted to localized searches. Not saying they will succeed, but I think there is enough chance of new localized search companies coming into play. Why not discuss everything in one forum?

The timing of my suggestion my be premature, but I thought I would get it out there and let everyone chew on it a while.

[Brett_Tabke]

I don't know how we would ever keep it straight Mike? I think people would be posting in the wrong forum all the time.

It is like the situation between the Google forum and the SE promotion forum. They get confused all the time.

[SEOMike]

Hmmm... haven't thought of that. Well, maybe I'm a little premature. Someday the locale specific engines will saturate the market well enough to warrant this.

Thanks for the comment Brett. Sometimes it's good to see it from an Admin prospective.