InsiderPages just launched a redesign, which simplifies the site structurally and visually. It’s very “Web 2.0″ and clearly divides the site into three sections: find businesses, local advice and “my pages.”
InsiderPages previously launched “Insider Advice” (local advice), which allows the community members to ask questions of one another in addition to browsing or search local recommended businesses. All the major search engines (Yahoo!, Microsoft, Google) have similar functionality (Google’s is a paid service that will probably be forced to become free eventually). Otherwise, Judysbook offers this capability.
One wonders now whether this open-ended Q/A feature (online word of mouth) becomes the next essential component of local sites beyond reviews. It’s clearly valuable and part of a larger phenomenon. Human beings are making a comeback in a big way and “social search” is one of the hottest trends online right now.
InsiderPages also publishes a local “best of” print directory that it mails to members. This “reverse published” directory vaguely resembles a Zagat directory and helps brand InsiderPages and extend the value of its online product.
September 26, 2006 at 6:25 pm |
[...] InsiderPages, which just had its Web 2.0 makeover, has chosen FAST to improve its site search. I also received comScore data with the press release, which shows the following metrics (a self-selected, limited audience of local sites): [...]
September 27, 2006 at 3:25 am |
[...] InsiderPages, which just had its Web 2.0 makeover, has chosen FAST to improve its site search. I also received comScore data with the press release, which shows the following metrics (a limited audience of local sites). comScore August uniques (000): [...]