Yahoo Local Search recently re-launched with a host of new features, improved functionality and a new look.
And while these new features add to an already functional local service one must wonder if these changes are "worth it"?
After all, who uses local search anyways? Why do a local search when you can just do a regular search, hoping for local results?
The truth is, local search is beginning to play a larger part in how we search. While we may not notice it, local search is slowly becoming integrated into the regular search results.
As such we have to be aware of local search and its options. Therefore in this article we will review the new Yahoo local search.
What's new with Yahoo Local
Well, there are a couple notable changes. First, the search functionality is much better. Not only could you search for a French restaurant in Chicago, but now you can search for a romantic French restaurant and have it return results.
And that ties into the second important change: Improved interaction with user input. In other words, people can contribute to the results, which helps make the search even better.
Remember when I said you could get results for romantic French restaurant? Well part of that is because of users who have contributed to different restaurant listings and saying that they are romantic.
That means that as more people use and contribute to the local search feature of Yahoo more types of these types of searches will yield better results.
But that's not all. The new local search also has a feature showing you what's happening in your area on the weekend. Things like events, shows and movies (along with reviews and show times) all appear.
Granted the weekender feature is limited to some larger urban areas, but we should see some improvements as time goes on - especially as the user base in an area expands.
There's also a feature which shows you what the top local searches were in your area. "Local Buzz" displays a new search cloud and exposes the most recent reviews of businesses in your area to see what people are buzzing about.
And there's an improved feature which allows you to store items for later review, among other things.
And my rating is...
4 out 5 with some caveats.
I have to say that I'm very impressed with the new Yahoo local search....As long as the city you want is in their database.
For example, smaller urban areas do not have much coverage if at all, and if you are outside the United States, forget it.
But, if you do live in a larger area you will find the new service most satisfying.