Local Search is not a new way of looking at search, however, it is a new way of looking at advertising. Yellow page companies, search engine marketing firms, and phone utilities with a large installed base of customers are all getting in on the business.

Local.com - Rapidly expanding local search resource. Simple keyword-driven. Allows users to bookmark via Furl. Sponsors can advertise via Yahoo search listings.

Yahoo Local Maps (Beta) - Update your business listing for free (for now). Enhanced listings are $9.95/mo and include a tagline and two links to online coupons or related site pages.

Google Local Targeting - Unlike Yahoo, the ad placement is not a pay for placement listing. Google wants to keep the listing free, but allow Adwords' advertisers to target locally via geo/zip/city-targeting in Adwords.

Froogle Local - Use the Froogle Merchant Center and Googlebase to upload your product listings, store hours, etc.

Metrobot - $40 yearly listings for small businesses nationwide. Paid listing is four lines of text. All listings appear on a street map. Better for metropolitan areas.

TrueLocal - Auction advertising, starts at $1. Track impressions, phone calls, clicks, impressions followed by actions, etc. Excellent listings depth for searchers and low cost for local listings placement.

More local search content:

• Local Search Guide
• Judy's Book
• Ask Jeeves - UK goes local.