Yell.com launches new Facebook application - 15 May 2008
Yell.com, the online service from Yellow Pages, has today, May 15, launched a new Facebook application, developed with digital advertising agency AKQA, that will inspire Facebook users to find new activities to do and places to go.The Yell Socialiser, currently in beta mode, is a practical and inspirational application which allows Facebook members to pick from a range of activity types including “arty stuff”, “pampering”, “eating” or “night clubs”, then select up to five different venues in their chosen area.
These venues are marked on a Multimap map and personalised invites with themed images can then be sent to the user’s Facebook friends. Users can edit and adapt the plan once it is created.
The new Facebook application is Yell’s first move into social networking as part of its strategy to connect with new communities outside of its own platforms. By combining the core business-finding strength of Yell.com with the additional social functionality of Facebook, Yell is able to approach a wider audience and interact with it in a different, more social environment.
AKQA was briefed to develop Yell Socialiser based on Yell.com’s search functionality and search engine technologies, to give Facebook users an easy-to-use tool to find ideas for going out with their friends in any UK location.
Yell’s data team worked to group Yell.com classifications into wider categories allowing, for example, one search for “pampering” to include results from a number of different classifications such as beauty salons, spas and hairdressers. This feature has been specifically designed to draw from the widest selection of businesses to provide a comprehensive choice of entertainment options.
The business listings results on Yell Socialiser provide basic details such as address and telephone number, but where an organisation has bought advertising on Yell.com, more information is provided to facilitate decision making. Yell hopes to develop the application further based on user feedback.
Matthew Bottomley, head of Yell.com, said: "The internet is increasingly about collaboration and personalisation and, in future, brands will need to share content with other sites to reach a wider user base. Yell.com is delighted to work with Facebook in this way. Encouraging web users to engage with the brand in a fun environment will showcase how useful Yell.com is in everyday life and also inspire people to find something different to do in their spare time."
For further information about this press release, please contact the Yell Press Office.
Yell.com
Launched in 1996, Yell.com is a leading local search engine and a major online advertising medium for UK companies. Yell.com provides users with a direct route to finding a business, shop or service online using keyword, type of business, or company name and location as search criteria. Users can review relevant search results and quickly determine the right business for their needs.
Yell.com’s database of more than two million UK business listings including 207,000 searchable advertisers (December 2007) can be accessed via the web site www.yell.com or on mobile phones. Yell.com also has two free mobile services, application and browser based, making its business listings, maps and directions available to all mobile internet users.
www.yell.com provides several other features in addition to business details, such as zoom-enabled maps with directions, closest car parks and other useful local information. Personalisation features are available including downloadable toolbars and a personal Yell.com address book to keep a record of regularly used businesses.
Yell
Yell is a leading international directories business operating in classified advertising markets in the UK, US, Spain and Latin America through printed, online and telephone-based media. Yell’s principal brands include: in the UK, Yellow Pages, Yell.com and Yellow Pages 118 24 7; in the US, Yellow Book and Yellowbook.com; and in Spain, Paginas Amarillas and PaginasAmarillas.es. All these brands are trademarks.
AKQA Key facts
- AKQA is an independent, ideas-led agency
- Works in partnership with brand leaders to deliver innovation
- Has around 330 employees in London and 700 employees globally
- Offices in London, Amsterdam, New York, Washington DC, San Francisco and Shanghai
- One of the most awarded digital networks
- AKQA Mobile has launched ground-breaking campaigns for brand leaders on mobile devices
AKQA Recent awards
- Revolution magazine Agency of the Decade
- AdAge Digital Agency of the Year - March 2008
- AdWeek Digital Agency of the Year - February 2008
- Fast Company Top 50 World's Most Innovative Companies - March 2008
