Facebook Ups the Ante on Local Business Searches

scribendi Blog, Digital Marketing

The focus on delivering hyperlocal search results is about to get even more intense. Facebook is quietly rolling out Facebook Professional Services, a search page that identifies the “best” businesses in a wide range of categories based on location and Facebook user reviews.

Search experts believe Facebook Professional Services will pose a direct threat to the dominance of Yelp!, which has been a leading resource for hyperlocal results. You can read more about Facebook Professional Services in this Search Engine Land article.

Right now Facebook Professional Services is available only for desktop use. But you can bet it won’t be long before a mobile version is up and running and delivering the “drill down” local results that please customers but pose a challenge to marketers. All the more reason to put more resources into a coordinated and active social media component as part of your overall marketing program.