Michael Boland

Michael Boland is the program director of The Kelsey Group's Mobile Local Media program. Mike is a frequent speaker and organizer at top industry conferences including Search Engine Strategies and The Kelsey Group events. Prior to joining The Kelsey Group, Boland spent several years as a technology journalist.

Recent articles by Michael Boland

The Future of the Mobile Web: To App or Not to App?
Improved capabilities of the Safari mobile browser in the latest iPhone have lots of implications for mobile local search. They essentially make it easier to build mobile products without having to spend time and money on native app development. Jun 12, 2009

Twitter and Local Search: A Status Update
Twitter search brings structure to all the noise with an index of real time conversations. but is the excitement around Twitter causing us to force unnatural mashups, as with local search? May 15, 2009

Skype Dials in to Local Search
The online phone service will spin off as an independent company next year, giving it a greater ability to redefine itself. Local search could be one way to do this, tying Skype in with a local search engine with click-to-call functionality. Apr 17, 2009

Getting Closer to Mobile Local Search's Day
The year of mobile has perpetually been on the horizon, proving time and time again to only be a desert mirage. Now we're closer than ever, but the market is understandably cautious of bold claims about mobile search and location-based services. Mar 20, 2009

Replicating the Web: Will Google Dominate Mobile Search?
With mobile Web publishers, Google is following the same path it did online many years ago: Partnering with publishers to share ad inventory and planting its search box all over the place. Feb 20, 2009

Of Local Search, Love Meters, and Raking Leaves
This week saw a series of events and announcements that indicate more love for local search, despite a continually faltering economy. Jan 16, 2009

Local Search: Where's the Love?
Local search sometimes seems like Rodney Dangerfield: It can't get no respect. But there have also been glimmers of hope for local, if you watch closely enough. Dec 19, 2008

Searching for Something to Watch
TV and search are converging. Finding something good to watch could soon be more like online search, and less like browsing through a cable channel guide. Nov 21, 2008

The Future of Online Ads: Location, Location, Location
Location awareness -- the concept that a device knows exactly where it is -- is changing the way mobile search works. Search applications are being developed to tap into this capability and serve more locally relevant content. The next steps will be for national advertisers and ad networks to serve ads that are actually useful and actionable for local users. Oct 24, 2008

When will ROBO's Time Come?
"Research online, buy offline," (ROBO) is the concept that a growing volume of product research is happening online while the majority of buying remains offline in physical stores. A growing number of local search engines are basing their business model on the concept. But why haven't ROBO features picked up on a mass market level? Sep 26, 2008

More articles by Michael Boland