I believe local web site directories, not search engines, will benefit small businesses in the future. Why?

Question

1) It is more convenient to search for area businesses on a local web site directory than on a search engine when the right bundle of services are offered to the public.
2) Most business owners are not online savy. Local site owners can work directly with area businesses and help them find what the public is looking for from area businesses.
3) A local web site directory can create uniformity for online sites, and it is easy to remember area businesses under one site.
4) Search engines generate most of its traffic by offering free services to the public, and big businesses will spend as much $250,000 per day to promote their business on these sites. Area businesses can offer services the public will use and promote a local web site directory through word of mouth advertising. In exchange for free advertising, online merchants can generate income by promoting their sites on these pages.

Answer 1

You need to read the new study by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and comScore that lauds the great benefits of online local directories.

According to the study "Impacts and ROI of Internet Local, Classifieds, and Directory Advertising" shows that online local directories can be a powerful medium to drive online and offline sales. The local space attracts highly valuable customers who are likely to convert both online and offline (though the study finds that most of the conversion occurs offline). The study offered several case studies (e.g. Verizon superpages, Cars.com, etc.) and looked at the funnel analysis for each as well as the conversion rates.

View the Powerpoint summary of the study here http://www.iab.net/resources/iab_localsearch.asp