CBS, CityGrid To Publish Online Directories

CBS Local Digital Media and CityGrid Media are partnering on an online directory will result in local businesses gaining broad exposure to millions of online and mobile consumers across the country, CBS announced this afternoon.

CBS Local Pages will provide businesses of all sizes the opportunity to be featured on CBS’s two dozen branded websites across the country and hundreds more through CityGrid, a local content and advertising network owned by IAC.

Included in the listings will be general business information, editorial and user reviews, insider tips, videos and photos, links to the businesses websites, online offers, links to menus and reservation systems, social media links, maps and directions.

“By delivering local advertisers cost-effective and efficient solutions for their marketing and sales needs, CBS is able to reach the active consumer interested in utilizing local search to make purchase decisions,” said Ezra Kucharz, president, CBS Local Digital Media, in a prepared statement.

“Consumers who reach a business listing are already at the point of decision, and they now have what they need to choose a particular establishment. The information is easily consumed and shared by local customers, and completely integrated with the businesses social media initiatives.”

“A media powerhouse like CBS has deep relationships with small business advertisers,” said Neil Salvage, EVP, advertising, CityGrid Media, in a press release. “We’re honored that they chose CityGrid as their digital platform, which extends their reach to the hundreds of web and mobile partners in our network.”

CBS will leverage its extensive sales force to sell its Local Offers product. Clients can target their campaigns by specific category and neighborhood, and will receive real-time reporting of consumer activity and engagement with their listing.

In August 2010, CBS Local Media launched CBSNewYork.com, which it calls “the first website in the tri-state area that combines the best brands in local media and offers visitors a truly ‘local’ New York experience.” Since then, sites in 23 additional markets have debuted resulting in CBS Local being among the top 5 most visited local properties on the Web (comScore, February 2011), according to CBS.