TKG Data and Analysis: A Weekly Recap

Here is a recap of posts from last week, in case you missed any. Click below to read each post in full.

YPG Launches ‘Answers’ Using Praized Platform

Yellow Pages Group Canada, the leading YP in Canada, is going deep into social networking via the launch of answers.yellowpages.ca, a new Yelp-like service that relies on the wisdom of the community to ask questions, and provide recommendations and information about local services. All the information is portable to Facebook or Twitter, and can be embedded in user blogs. (read more…)

RHD Follows Idearc Into Chapter 11

Today R.H. Donnelley made an announcement that is unlikely to be much of a surprise. The company said it has

“filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in order to consummate a balance sheet restructuring.” (read more…)

Initial Thoughts on Google Wave

The blogosphere and tech media have been abuzz over the past 24 hours about Google’s new communication platform, Wave. It’s essentially a new way to communicate online that Australian creators Lars and Jens Rasmussen (brought us Google Maps) position as e-mail and IM if they were invented today. (read more…)

D7: The HuffPo’s and WaPo’s Different Takes on Local News

Two very different takes on local news were in evidence at The WSJ’s D7 conference in Carlsbad, California, today, as Arianna Huffington of The Huffington Post and Katharine Weymouth of The Washington Post were interviewed by former Post reporter Kara Swisher about their respective directions. (read more…)

Microsoft Brings us (Another) Search Engine

Microsoft made the expected announcement at the Wall Street Journal’s “D” conference today that it will launch a new search brand next week called Bing. Labeled as a “Decision Engine” (Jargon alert), it has a dizzying array of new features aimed at redefining the way we search and improving the current state of the art (read: Google). (read more…)

Telmetrics: URLs in PYP Ads Increase Overall Leads

Today Telmetrics released data showing that combining a URL displayed within a print Yellow Pages ad increased the overall leads driven by print Yellow Pages by 78 percent. On average, the company reports, URL visits represented 44 percent of leads while calls generated 56 percent of leads. The data highlight the new extended offering Telmetrics now provides to traditional media players in which it incorporates URL tracking with its standard call measurement solutions. (read more…)

D7: Twitter Considers Premium Services for SMBs and Pros

Conjuring up Twitter‘s business model takes a lot of imagination. But founders Evan Williams and Biz Stone, speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s D conference in Carlsbad, California, said the name of the game will be “enhanced capabilities” aimed at small- business and professional users — something supported by a WSJ poll showing that 24 percent of Twitter users would pay for it. (read more…)

CBS Adds Mobile to Outdoor Advertising

Last week at the Winning Media Strategies conference, Sam Matheny, GM of CBS-owned News Over Wireless, discussed how mobile calls to action are a natural extension to lots of traditional media, including out of home. This is particularly true with digital out of home outlets such as coffee shops or public transit, where there is a captive audience and a higher degree of demographic targeting possible. (read more…)

Observations on OpenTable’s IPO

OpenTable, the elite restaurant reservation service linked to hundreds of local media and organizational Web sites such as Citysearch and Superpages.com, defied naysayers last Thursday with a successful IPO that ended its first day at $28.71, 44 percent above its $20 opening price. (read more…)

‘Brand Affinity’ Localizes Online Endorsements by Athletes

Aggregating promotions so local businesses can logistically compete with national players has been a challenge. EPrize has done it for high-priced prizes such as cars. Now Brand Affinity Technologies is making it possible for local businesses to acquire paid endorsements by major athletes. (read more…)