Local Search Without Maps
Posted by Sebastien on the 2007/05/01 at 01:09
in Ask City, Directories, Google Maps, Local, Local Search, Mapping, Microsoft, Superpages, YellowPages.ca -
Chris Linnett over at SearchEngineLand talks about a world where local search would not necessarily be tied to map-based navigation.
Local search is a process involving many variables, more often determined by use case than sheer location on a map. Can maps be an important part of local search? Absolutely, but not always and not for everyone. Many use cases do not rely on maps, and many people do not find maps an effective cognitive tool. Therefore, should maps dominate local-search applications the way they often do, especially given the core essence of local search? (…)
Imagining a major local search site without maps is extreme, given the ubiquity of maps and their utility in certain cases, but it is a worthy exercise. Maps are a piece of the local-search puzzle. Text-based refinements greatly enhance the utility of a site. As an industry, our ability to fill in the space with effective and relevant discovery and decision-making tools will ultimately define the quality of the local-search experience.