via Techdirt:Looking For Local Search
A new study has found that when people are searching online for a place to buy something, approximately one out of every four is looking for a local retailer they can go to buy the product, rather than just looking for an online retailer. With that high a percentage, you can understand why the search companies are all starting to invest in local search offerings. What will be interesting is how this percentage changes over time. Will people become more internet focused (location doesn’t matter) or will they continue to search out local stores (which may depend on the strength of local search options)?
Far be it for me to stand against the tide of the death of distance…
of course, if you can figure out an internet users location, there may be a business in providing local merchants.