Customers are increasingly looking online for local businesses. Online advertising that targets local markets is a growing area on the internet, and the big search engines are working to refine their offerings. Yahoo! Local has made a move by introducing Featured Listings. It's a straightforward, subscription-based, self-serve model that offers a tier of flat-rate monthly fees for advertising.
The cost starts at $25 per month and includes guaranteed premium placement in Yahoo! Local, detailed reports of your listing's performance, and a customizable listing and business details page. Rates can vary with business location and category--high-population areas like New York City and high-demand business categories like florists command rates of up to $300 per month. Featured Listings does offer a simple way for businesses to test out the local online advertising market and find out firsthand if the returns justify the investment.
Originally published in the September 2006 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine