Sites unite for local search offering to offset Google dominance

A number of local-oriented companies are using tools developed by technology company Yext Inc. to improve small business listings on their sites, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Mapquest, Yelp and IAC's CityGrid are among the companies offering small businesses a $99/month offer to have news, promotions and pictures featured beside company names within across the network of sites.  

The opportunity for ramped-up listings is an effort to gain local-listing marketshare in the wake of Google's recent $25/month offer allowing small businesses to have similar additional content appear beside their search and map listing on Google search results pages.