Panos Bethanis of Directory M #ILM09
DirectoryM is a huge local search network that most people in the local search biz don’t know anything about. Here’s waht Panos had to say:
It looks like DirectoryM takes in a lot of third party data to provide relevant content. They either crawl and suck it in or they have a deal with the partner to provide it.
The examples are a local newspaper that provides news around a topic like childcare in their city and a national vertical like ParentsConnect provides additional content. For a local car search, Directory M pumps in content from Car & Driver and then grabbed data from a state car dealer association, state DMV, etc.
I like what DirectoryM is doing. The problem with most IYPs is that they are very broad and therefore a mile wide and an inch deep in most categories. By creating vertical-specific experiences with third-party content they are starting to provide an interesting user experience.
1/3rd of the Chamber of Commerces in the US gave DirectoryM their membership lists via a single email inquiry. Data hounds fire up your email clients.