After exploring Yahoo's Mapspam, I started investigating Yahoo's end user local reporting features more fully. I may have underestimated Yahoo's features to deal with spam (and to abet it). The new Yahoo Local is making a strong attempt at encouraging user input and content about local businesses with reviews, soliciting and actually reading end user suggestions for improvements and even allowing users to add business level details to specific records.

This article is part of Local Search Week here at Search Engine Land, a special look at local search marketing issues in the run-up to our SMX Local & Mobile conference next month.

This last feature, while buried deep within the local record, has much more "clout" than I originally imagined. While in New York City over the weekend, I took the time in Yahoo Local to "update this business" for the "New York Florist" that had fabricated their address and I indicated to Yahoo Local that they were closed.

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