Online Marketing News this Week – 17th Dec 2010

Growth in the importance of local reviews

Local consumer survey 2010 by brightlocal.com reports ‘significant development’ in the importance of local reviews across an increasing range of services.  This is matched by continuing growth of socialised directories like Yelp and Qype which encourage reviewing and the importance of local search services such as Google Places which carry reviews.

“Online reviews, once the domain of restaurants, pubs and bars, are permeating into every type of local business sector from tradesmen & accountants to florists & driving instructors. Local consumers have a growing voice and more & more they’re documenting their experiences online, in a very public manner.”

Some key findings:

• 70% of people have used the Internet to find a local business in the last year.
• 11% of people aged 16-34 use the Internet almost every day to find a local business.
• 67% of local consumers have consulted online customer reviews of local businesses.

Bing claim 11.8% market share, up 40% since launch.

Yesterday’s Search Summit 16/12/2010 shows Bing confidently on the up in the US.   70% increase among heavy and medium users.  40% of younger users saying they are prepared to recommend them.  As the screen shot shows local and what they are calling social search are going to be important battle grounds with Google.  Using your mobile to plan your day or night, even as it is happening, is set to become an easier and better experience.  A look at the list of partnerships they have set up (see the screen shot below) shows clear intent and the emphasis on integration with social media platforms is significant.  The likes and dislikes of your facebook ‘friends’ may influence your personal search results as provided by Bing in the future.

Related posts:

1. Online Marketing News This Week – 9 July 2010
2. Online Marketing News This Week – 09th Dec 2010
3. Online Marketing News this Week – 31st Dec 2010
4. Online Marketing News This Week – 2nd Sept 2010
5. Online Marketing News This Week – 20th Aug 2010

This entry was posted on Friday, December 17th, 2010 at 5:02 pm and is filed under Online Marketing Digest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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