Posts Tagged ‘Auskunftsportal’
Telegate markets Google AdWords
25 Jul. 2008 | Author: 
Telegate has announced a strategic alliance with Google. In the future, businesses represented in the Telegate’s online directories 11 88 0 and Klicktel can advertise using Google’s Pay-per-click (PPC) “AdWords“, for which the advertiser only pays when the ads are click-on by users. Telegate joins the fray in competition with other local-PPC providers such as Yahoo! or suchen.de.
As announced by the enterprise in a press release, the cooperation stands to profit above all small and medium size undertakings. This target group has historically under-utilized this marketing opportunity. Now firms signed as directory clients with Telegate can now also choose to add search engine marketing via Google. Thus, a company can have better localized and context-based access to potential clients, by registering specific keywords with the Google AdWords program, with these ads displayed in either or both the online presences of Telegate and Google.
Of course, such a deal needs to bring benefits to both the directory-provider and the search engine giant: Telegate, sees the collaboration as strengthening their position as ‘leading’ special local search provider in Germany. Google profits in turn through the experience and ‘know-how’ of the 400-strong Telegate team.
Google Maps extends local content offering
Google Maps is transforming itself ever increasingly from a classic Local Search service to that of an all-encompassing localized information service.
The function “My Maps”, which allows users to generate content and make that accessible to other users, was seemingly one of the first steps in this direction. Recently, the sector-leading search engine added localized photos and videos to the “My Maps” arsenal, accessible under the “Explore this area” (after entering a location in the search field) … see our post.
Just weeks after the above innovations, comes the “More” button, to be found at the top right corner within the displayed map (in all views). Using this feature, one can access even more resources such as photos, panoramas (Panoramio) as well as local-interest articles from Wikipedia. If one selects Wikipedia, for example – for every location where any relevant Wikipedia content exists, a small Wikipedia symbol appears on the map. When clicked, the symbol opens an extract from the online-lexicon in a pop-up window, with a link to the full article. The text describes relevant content e.g. Buildings, streets, places or institutions.
Through these new functions, Google wants to ease the discovery of information about the geographical context, for its users. This was detailed by Christoph Oehler, Product Manager at Google, in Google’s Lat Long Blog.
Upcoming features anticipated for Google Maps include the probable integration of relevant Local News. Such a function is apparently available, according to the Google Lat Long Blog, as of May 2008 in the US-version of the virtual earth program Google Earth. This capability is soon expected for the German-edition of Google Earth as well as Google Maps (maps.google.de). This was announced in a separate announcement by press spokesman Stefan Keuchel, in an interview with “Spiegel-Online”.
Local Search using wissen.de
The knowledge portal wissen.de, and t-info GmbH (the holding concern for suchen.de) have joined forces on this project.
suchen.de has been integrated into the start page of the online-knowledge site, using a search field, labeled ‘Local search on-site’ [de=Lokale Suche vor Ort]. wissen.de users now have access to various local search functions gleaned from the databases of t-info, as announced by the wissen.de team in a press release. Most interesting is that specialized suppliers are not only discovered via directory category, but now also using product names.
The locality-based enquiry functions as usual. After the entry of search-term and location, one views a results list. However the generated results are only the basic version of suchen.de. Practical features such as map-view and search, route planner or business cards linked to individual results (some of which have free calling options) are not included at present.
Posted in Local Search per PC, Local Search, News, Local Search Engines | 
Tags: Auskunftsportal, lokale Informationen, suchen.de, Suchmaschine, t-info, wissen.de, Wissensmagazin | 
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GoYellow.de displays user ratings
The internet online directory GoYellow.de provides users with much information, in addition to the customary contact details. As of the end of April 2008, many search results now offer user- posted ratings (under the link “Bewertungen” en=Ratings).
GoYellow.de has however not reinvented itself as a Web2.0 portal. The displayed feedback/ratings are not generated by other GoYellow users, but rather by users of various partner portals of the online-directory. As is to be gathered in a press announcement by the GoYellow Media AG, the displayed ratings are gleaned from the driver portal autoplenum.de, the service auction portal blauarbeit.de, gastronomy portal restaurant-kritik.de, and the local ratings community GoLocal.de (which is another service belonging to GoYellow Media AG).
Whomever wishes to air their opinion regarding artisans, restaurants, doctors or other service providers, and/or rate these, is only able to do so directly via the above partner portals.
The collaboration with blauarbeit.de also brings other advantages to users of GoYellow.de: craftspeople can bid directly on the projects posted by GoYellow.de users, for artisan or garden work. A similar service has been on offer for a while already though GoYellow, as a result of the cooperation with MyHammer.de.
Posted in Web Communities, Local Search per PC, Local Search, News |
Tags: Auskunft, Auskunftsportal, Autofahrerportal, autoplenum, blauarbeit, Branchenbuch, Branchenverzeichnis, GoLocal, GoYellow, lokale Informationen, restaurant-kritik, User Generated Content, Verzeichnisdienst, web2.0 |
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Leaner and faster: the mobile version of DasTelefonbuch
DasTelefonbuch [essentially ‘White Pages’ for Germany] recently remodelled its web-presence (see our report). The latest addition to this site is the mobile-version of this address directory.
This was announced by DasTelefonbuch-Servicegeselleschaft in a press release. The new mobile version, named DasTelefonbuchmobil.de, has been trimmed down in time for the re-/launch at the beginning of April 2008, and is thereby faster and more comfortable to use.
Searching here now is concentrated on the two main fields – Name/Telephone Number and Place. The results are now easier to scan, and can be utilized with the minimum number of clicks. Especially practical is the use of the WTAI function (Wireless Telephony Application Interface), which allows a direct interaction between the WAP-browser and the mobile device. For example, this allows for direct dial of telephone numbers, using the generated search results. Route planning is also enhanced, by allowing generated routes to display in both map and satellite views.
Also new: along with German, English, and French, the mobile service is also accessible in Turkish. Further languages are planned, according to the company.
Existing features of the first generation service have continued into the new version. For instance, it is still possible to download contact details of generated results, in vcf-format. And inverse searches are still provided for the research of a name to link to a known telephone number.
The free service functions using all WAP or internet-ready devices and providers. The system automatically recognizes the device being used, and adjusts the display criteria accordingly. The service even offers an “iPhone-Ready” function which will no doubt please the growing user community of this cult phone.
Posted in Local Search on the go, Local Search per Mobile phone, Local Search, News, Practical features |
Tags: Auskunftsportal, Branchenbuch, Branchenverzeichnis, DasTelefonbuch, DasTelefonbuch-Servicegesellschaft, DasTelefonbuchmobil.de, DeTeMedien, lokale Informationen, mobile lokale Suche |
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suchen.de wins award for local advertising feature
The local search engine suchen.de managed to take home an award at the Innovation-Prize 2008, for its localized click-based advertising functionality.
Local online search machines and web-directories are an effective advertising platform, especially for small and medium-sized companies. The advertising capabilities of suchen.de were found to by particularly useful by ‘Initiative Mittelstand.’ The management of the local search engine suchen.de, t-info GmbH, received the award for Innovation, in the category “Internet Services” for their advertising facility.
As announced on the website of Initiative Mittelstand, t-info has been honored for tailoring click-based advertising (a standard feature in virtually all the major search engines) to the local search sphere. This means the user only sees an ad, when the content is relevant to his local search query, whether locality, service or product specific. (See our post.)
The advantages serve both the user and the advertising enterprise – the user only comes across relevant search and advertising hits, resulting from his search, and the advertiser is able to target location-specific potential clients, as a result of clear market need (as reflected by the user’s search criteria). Through this specificity or target-group, wasted revenue is reduced and accordingly advertising costs to the companies.
Launched in 2004, the annual Innovation Prize honors the most innovative and relevant products, solutions and services, specifically for the small and medium-sized business sector in the arena of information and telecommunications technology. In 2008, submissions for consideration for the awards topped the 1600 mark, eclipsing all former submissions [see Press Release].
Live Search Maps: another update
The German-version of the local search engine Live Search Maps, operated by Microsoft, has recently been pepped up with several improvements.
These new features are described by Toni Pelg, a Business Manager at Microsoft, in a post on Windows Live Blog.
The search results – generated by suchen.de – are now sorted according to the distance from the entered location. Additionally, duplicate results have been reduced significantly. These measures should increase the search speed and the overview clarity.
Not only the search performance has been improved, but also the content has been updated and tweaked. Users are now able to find more German towns and cities, using the Bird’s Eye view [de=Vogelperspektive). Pelg listed the newly updated locations as including Düsseldorf, Essen, Koblenz, Neuwied, Neuss, Detmold, Gütersloh, Gummersbach, Nordhorn and Paderborn.
The most extensive improvements concern the Route Planner. One can now link directly to this page, and use the facility without entering start and finish locations, according to Pelg. This allows the Route Planner results to be added to bookmarks/favorites. Website operators are now also able to embed the results in their web pages. Further it is also possible to print out the generated route plan, by selecting the printer icon (in the menu bar, on the right) and then decide whether to choose the instructions in Text form, Map form or both of these for the printed output.
meinestadt.de adds new local information
The city-portal now offers improved local weather information as well as information about walking routes.
As of the beginning of April, meinestadt.de, in cooperation with a new partner, MC-Wetter (MeteoGroup), has unveiled new information concerning local weather conditions. Under the “wetter” [en=weather] link, one is now able to find weather forecasts for the coming five days for every German town and region, as well as current conditions, such as relative (perceived) temperature, ‘Bioweather’ or pollen count.
In addition, on the start page, a further new partnership with wanderkompass.de [en=’wander compass’], provides a special section dedicated to walking/wandering/hiking with regional and national updates and news. In a press release, the owners of meinestadt.de, the firm allesklar.com AG, lists over 1,200 foot routes all over Germany. This feature can be found for every German town, city or community under “Reiseführer” [en=Travel Guide]. However, the offering is as yet not complete in its coverage of all towns and regions, for foot-route information. Recently, for example, for Stuttgart, only links to national footways were displayed.
Phone directory “DasTelefonbuch” gets a new look
The telephone online directory DasTelefonbuch has pepped up its web presence and can be found sporting some new features and an updated interface.
Relaunched in March, above all the design of the portal has been changed. On the start page, the search fields take a stronger central focus than before. Links that were previously more prominent, such as Area Codes and Postal Code Finder, as well as Themes such as Emergency numbers, are now to be found somewhat smaller, placed under the entry field.
Also new: on searching, the user already receives a preview of all available content, in the generated results list. Using this new feature, it is possible at a glance, to scan available additional information (e.g. e-mail or URL) using the detail preview, in addition to the standard details like phone number and address.
This detail view, accessed by clicking the name or the “All Information” link, serves to make the site much more user-friendly and accessible. Previously one was already able to print, e-mail, fax or sms a selected entry, but this functionality was not clear and was easily overseen. This has now been remedied. The new ‘look’, using attractive and easily recognizable icons, placed on a dark grey background, now displays these former practical features under the “Use Contact” section, where one can also find a map-view and a route planner.
A press release also lists other features offered by the website, including the uploading of business adverts, photos or videos, and additional information about products, services or hours of operation.
New Cooperation between local directory services
The person search service yasni.de has joined forces with 11880.com, and YellowMap has integrated the ratings offering of autoplenum.de
yasni.de and 11880.com
Recently, yasni.de, a search engine for people, utilizing Web 2.0 elements, and the information portal 11880.com (Telegate AG) have been collaborating. As a result, telephone numbers and addresses are now obtainable on yasni.de, as announced by the presenters in a press release. Conversely, 11880.com now links a person search, by the provision of a link labeled “What does yasni.de know about this person’s name?” directly to yasni.de.
Steffen Rühl, founder of yasni.de, explained this new strategic cooperation in its quest to expand and reinforce its leading position as the most-used person search engine in Germany. This service was started at the end of October 2007 under the motto “What does the Net know about you?” It accesses publicly available information on the web around the name search. Additionally registered users are also able to submit their own profiles.
YellowMap offers ratings from autoplenum.de
The “Knowledge platform for Drivers” – autoplenum.de has been cooperating with online directory YellowMap, as of mid-February 2008.
As announced by autoplenum.de in a press-statement, users of YellowMap who search for car showrooms, dealerships or repair shops, are now able to access autoplenum.de member ratings (on a separate tab) of these facilities, as well as their addresses. This facilitates users of YellowMap to gain additional insight and assist their qualified choice, without unpleasant surprises. A direct link to the autoplenum.de website also enables YellowMap users to share their own experiences and ratings of this business branch, with autoplenum.de users.
Posted in Local Search per PC, Local Search, News, Local Search Engines, Practical features |
Tags: 11880.com, Auskunftsportal, autoplenum, Branchenbuch, Telegate, yasni, YellowMap |
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