I certainly can’t argue that point, Todd — but, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. The system rewards early adopters, no doubt about it. That’s why I keep banging on and on about small businesses needing to jump on Local Search, while it’s still new, easy to enter, and offers little active competition (from other small businesses).

If I had a dime for every SBO that comes into OWT without a web site, saying “I know we should’ve done this YEARS ago!” … I could retire. I think a lot of SBOs will be saying the same thing about some of the current search marketing opportunities. You’re right that it won’t be long until “the good old days” are long gone.

There are enormous web opportunities for local and regional businesses.

Most B & M’s are not on the web, or not optimized for their products/services/business/ location.

Search for a local business/service on the web then look up the same products/services in the local YP. There will be endless more providers in the old YP.

Funny thing, users are sooooo getting away from using their fingers to walk thru the yp…when they can search on the web. The darn thing is they can’t find providers (local real estate is an exception).

Small merchants on the web may face significant barriers to entry by changing algo methods and big monied businesses but local businesses are looking at huge opportunities.

Dave

There is still, and will continue to be, a ton of opportunity, but the window for LOTS of opportunity is getting slowly smaller.

>4. User data validation for trust score
The use of toolbar and other data to validate that users are coming to the site (instead of just the need for links) - this makes some form of traditional marketing or linkbaiting a must, which in turn raises the necessary budget for marketing (raising the barrier to entry)

>6. SE’s shifting of the content revenue model
Adsense has devalued the premium content/ subscription model. I suppose in some ways this is more of an opportunity for small business than a raised barrier, but for the small business premium content publisher it is a death sentence.

I won’t debate all of these, as I think it’s two different things. There IS a lot of opportunity - and that opportunity will shift - but I think the “glory days” will slowly fade away. Great post!