This case study looks at the digital services model used by Dow Jones Local Media Group. Its strength is combining a variety of services for local merchants who are shifting marketing dollars to digital - but not to advertising. Included is the organizational structure, products, vendors, sales force issues, and results for the first three months. more

A few key statistics can instantly convey how consumers have moved to mobile devices and the neccessity for local advertisers to reach consumers on mobile phones. One of these super sales statistics is that half of all searches are on mobile devices. We asked Andy Vogel, VP of emerging media at the Los Angeles Times, how his sales team uses this fact in sales presentations. more

BizzBuzzSearch.com, a spin off from the Evening Post Company, aims to take on Yelp in smaller markets by partnering with high traffic local media sites. Here's how the platform works. more

On the spectrum of directories that include user-generated content, Wimgo is one of the most advanced. Wimgo doesn’t just use Facebook instant-connect to capture user-information, it also uses integrate people’s Facebook likes and their friends likes with business records in the directory, providing a key advantage over other recommendation sites like Yelp. Here's how they did it, and our take on this as a partnership opportunity. more

SeniorChecked, a directory of certified home service providers, demonstrates how local directories are evolving to serve different kinds of marketplaces. After the original business strategy faltered, a team of executives at AOL left to turn-around the start-up. Here's their plan, led by CEO Chris Spanos, to solidify the business model and take a run at the Better Business Bureau. more

Customized shopping sites developed by the Evening Post Publishing Company include elements of business directories, coupon sites and dining guides. Each is a standalone site, but relies heavily on newspaper site promotions. Together four sites generate $400,000 a year, and growing. Here's a close look at ShopBrazos. more

BCLocalBiz.com, a directory launched at Black Press in April 2010, is designed to compete directly with IYP’s in its local markets. Project manager Jason Naidu's team started with a database from Axiom, loaded into eDirectory software. The software mapping was enhanced to identify hyper-local neighborhoods and communities, allowing a user to refine their search. A home page widget also promotes featured listings, and with 115 sales in the first quarter. Here's an analysis of the site. more

YellowBook.com is doubled 2009 online sales to $400 million in 2010. Since yellow page companies had a head-start on other media in transforming their companies lessons learned are relevant to all media types. At Borrell Associates Local Online Advertising conference, Patrick Marshall, Chief New Media officer, gave nine keys to their success. more

It should be another cut-throat first-to-market battle. On the heels of announcing its IPO, Reach Local has acquired SMBLive, a company that provides reputation management tools. The product is interactive and competes with Marchex, a local media partner. more

Marchex is signing up local media companies to resell it's new "reputation management" software to small businesses who want to keep track of what's being said about them online. Here's how this compares with ReachLocal's new reputation management product, Cloud Profiles. more