• Blumenthal's , Wednesday, September 5, 2007 1 PM

The input and verification process for Yahoo Local makes it easy for businesses to get listed in the database and rank fairly highly. This is a great way for local businesses without extensive SEO knowledge to increase exposure or build up a Web presence on the cheap.

But according to search pro Mike Blumenthal, the system's simplicity makes it more susceptible to hacks that pump the listings with fake businesses, companies that are not really local, or other instances of "Mapspam." And while Yahoo Local's Mapspam problem is currently not as widespread as Google's was, Blumenthal says that "it is harder to spot, there are fewer options for reporting it, and Yahoo seems less willing to pull it down."

Read the whole story at Blumenthal's »