Yell announces plan to become online hub
Yell has announced a four year plan to become an online hub for local businesses, with a launch planned for three months’ time.
This plan comes as a way for the company to expand following the decline of the printed Yellow Pages directory, as more people turn to the internet to search for companies.
The e-marketplace will be launched before the end of the year and trials are to begin next month, but a name has not yet been announced. It will allow users to find companies in their local area, and will sell services to companies registered to the site, including loyalty schemes and marketing initiatives.
Chief executive Mike Pocock said: "It will be a single site where consumers can get access to all their local merchants and understand what services they offer. No one else is doing this at the moment."
Yell said they hope to have 75% of its business online in four years’ time, as compared with 50% right now. It has been suggested that this move could increase their market tenfold.