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Yahoo Local Map Improvements

As Mashable and Screenwerk’s blog reported, Yahoo Local has improved its mapping functionality allowing user’s to move a big blue circle around the map and have the site automatically make changes to their search results. I admit the UI is pretty slick. However I think it is another example of how local search sites continue to miss the bigger issues with local search, the lack of personalization. These systems use ratings as the primary sort order but how do you know if you’ll agree with the rater. Most people who post comments on these sites do so because they had either a really bad or a really good experience (or more likely they know the owner, or ARE THE OWNER). We believe that by predicting a personal rating for each destination is what seperates MyFriendSuggests.com from other local search sites.

Getting back on topic about Yahoo’s new search, I’m the first to admit the look and feel of this feature is pretty slick. However it’s frustrating that when you change any of the search criteria it reruns the search and shrinks the map again (forcing you to click expand). Other than that this feature is a welcome addition to Yahoo’s local search.

P.S. MyFriendSuggests.com’s search functionality also allows you to focus the scope of your search by zooming in or out on the map and clicking “Refresh in Map Area”. It may not look as slick as Yahoo’s but it seems to work well for me.

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