ClickZ: Why Won't Local Search Carry Its Weight?

Nate Elliott explained why his JupiterResearch study gave such short shrift to local search, predicting it will grow at a slower rate than other search media: he says these new local search engines still stink. Pointing out that today's local search engines most often fail to find what people are looking for (he points to his own recent unsuccessful search for own his local bike shops), Elliott blames this for the reason people generally aren't searching based on location. Also coming in for some credit for the slow growth are the physicians, restaurants, and car repair shops that haven't yet learned how online advertising works.