A couple of months back local search was considered an important and powerful driver for the paid search market in a very interesting article by Greg Sterling, Managing Editor of The Kelsey Group and local search expert. He mentioned a "mixed message" about search engine marketing out there in the Internet. One message was that paid search growth was starting to slow as the market "matured." The other version was diametrically opposed and stated that search was still in its early adolescence and was going through growing pains, to extend the metaphor. The following article is a comparison between the reference article and a look at local search evolution today. Greg's complete original article can be found in the Searchenginewatch.com website, further information and stats on local search marketing may be found at www.sempo.org. http://www.internetworldstats.com/articles/art070.htm