You know those sites like CityData.com? They are called “National Local Sites”. They can spew out alot of data about your burg, but it’s all rather plastic and obviously designed with the prayer that someone will click their Adsense ad.
According to Technology Evangelist’s review of the data, it appears the “plastic” sites are big but not doing all that well.
As I look at this, I get the impression that national sites may not win the local search game. As far as I can tell, the only national site that really does local search well is Ticketmaster. When it comes to restaurants, events, bars, clubs, and other non-concert or sporting events covered by Ticketmaster, local sites seem to cover local scenes better than any national site to date.
I believe interest in local search is increasing, but not interest in local search provided by national sites.
If mapping was removed from the equation, truly local sites would do fare even better. However, since mapping is a key feature in the local search equation, local sites will either need to figure out how to elegantly integrate mapping into their offerings, or national sites will have to figure out how to become experts at local content.
This means that a GOOD local site with FLAVOR and opportunity to tie in the “social media” of reader comments, etc. stands a good chance of doing well.
It will require lots of human input though, not just the kind of input derived from rss feeds and database generated factoids.
Do you live someplace interesting with a thriving tourism industry (or a potentially thrivigng one)? Don’t let the “National Local Sites” make you think there’s no place for YOUR site.
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