Mapquest has introduced a new self-service Local Business Center, which does pretty much what you’d expect. It allows SMBs to claim and enhance their listings, just as they can on other local sites. (Wasn’t this already available?)
At the end of the process, it also asks business owners if they want upgrade their listings, offering two “premium” products for greater visibility. One is a Mapquest-specific product for $99 per year. The second is the Mapquest reseller version of Yext powerlistings for $399 annually.
The syndication feature is relatively unique. Otherwise the features of the Local Business Center are familiar and duplicated elsewhere. I also suspect this is a bit of a sales prospecting tool for the folks at Patch.
As with all self-service products directed at SMBs. If you build it they won’t necessarily come. But small local SEO shops will probably put this on their checklists and they will be the primary audience utilizing the tools here.
