Search Monkey = Big Opportunity for the Savy Yahoo Local Market

Writing by Brick Marketing on Monday, 2 of June , 2008 at 12:37 pm

What is SearchMonkey?

Essentially, SearchMonky is a potential goldmine for Yahoo Local businesses, large or small. It is Yahoo’s (better) answer to Google’s Onebox and Microsoft’s WebSlices.

Yahoo is opening up its search platform , and the results can be big. There are a lot of layers and abilities that being built into the platform that will enable 3rd parties to really influence search results.

What’s the big deal about an open platform?

An open platform will give all web site owners the opportunity to present more useful information on the Yahoo! Search page, in comparison to what is presented on other search engines. It doesn’t matter if your website is big or small, all site owners will be able to provide additional information about their site directly to Yahoo! Search.
The results mean that instead of a simple title, an abstract and a URL, users will finally be able to see in depth results on the search.

Don Campbell discussed how could have a huge affect on Yahoo Local businesses.

Yahoo hinted that they they might turn on some “applications” by default, for example Yahoo Local. This means that small businesses listed in Yahoo Local might produce enhanced search results, for example including a map or other information about your business.
Recommendation for Small Business Websites:
1) Get your business listed in Yahoo Local. That way, if Yahoo decides to include a Yahoo Local SearchMonkey app as a default, your business will show up with enhanced results if you are listed in Yahoo Local with a complete profile.
2) SearchMonkey looks for special data inside websites, based on a standard called microformats. Your website should include this data so it is available to Yahoo as they crawl and index your site. This way your business information is available to any developers who build SearchMonkey apps, and you will show up with enhanced results as this gets adopted over time.

Each of the main search engines are using gadgets in one form or the other in their results. , and Yahoo has SearchMonkey.

Category: Yahoo Local

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