The Noisy Channel

My new role at Google (yes, it still feels new after not quite a month!) has given me a professional interest in local search. I’ve adjusted my reading materials accordingly, and I’ve started reading blogs that focus on local. Here are a handful that I’ve discovered so far:

• BIA / Kelsey Blog
  • By The Kelsey Group, a division of BIA Advisory Services that provides data and analysis on directories and local media.
• Exploring Local
  • By Mike Dobson, President of TeleMapics, a company that provides consulting services focused on local search.
• Local SEO Guide
  • Andrew Shotland‘s blog on local search optimization, small business marketing & search engine optimization strategy.
• Localsearchdatabase
  • By Gib Olander, Director of Business Development for Localeze, an online content management company serving businesses, local search engines and consumers.
• Mihmorandum
  • David Mihm‘s blog on local search engine optimization and marketing.
• Screenwerk
  • Greg Sterling‘s thoughts on online and offline media. Sterling used to run The Kelsey Group’s Interactive Local Media program.
• SEO Igloo Blog
  • By Solas Web Design, which specializes in web design and search engine optimization for small businesses.
• Understanding Google Maps & Local Search
  • By Mike Blumenthal, whose company offers consulting services and market research advice relating to maps and local search.

Not surprisingly, these blogs offers me a critical perspective on how Google and other search engines serve the local space.  Granted, everyone has their own motives–and it’s hard to avoid some tension in a space with the competitive dynamics of local search. But now that I’m no longer an outsider myself, I appreciate having others to help keep me honest as I work to make local search better for users and businesses.