“Local Search” has been defined as search on Internet yellow pages and mapping sites. But it can equally be defined as a process by which consumers use the Internet for research to help them make offline buying decisions. In that sense it has very broad implications across a range of online categories and vertical segments.

In the past few years, Local Search has been the subject of considerable attention and even hype. And while consumers are heavily engaged in Local Search, marketers (large and small) are still struggling to figure it out. Today (Thursday, June 14) at 1pm Eastern I’ll offer a fairly comprehensive overview of the state of Local Search called Local Search Advertising: The Challenges and Opportunities.

Please join me to discuss the current state of “Local Search” as well as these and other relevant topics:

• Who are the current leaders in local search?
• How traditional media and marketers are shifting strategies?
• Why social media and vertical search cannot be ignored?
• Trends and forecasts for the future of local search?

Local is the “most important vertical” and something that no search marketer can afford not to know about. The webcast is at 1pm Eastern time. You can register here.

I hope you’ll be able to join us!

Related Topics: Search Marketing: Local Search Marketing

About The Author: Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land. He writes a personal blog Screenwerk, about SoLoMo issues and connecting the dots between online and offline. He also posts at Internet2Go, which is focused on the mobile Internet. Follow him @gsterling. See more articles by Greg Sterling