As I sat at my computer last night constantly hitting the refresh button on my browser I could not help but to compare myself to an iPhone owner eagerly awaiting the launch of iOS4.  Then suddenly it happened; the new Superpages.com site was here.  After taking in the scenery of the new homepage I quickly dove into searching.

SuperMedia looked to achieve two key goals with this redesign.  The first is to improve the consumer experience.  They aim to do this by delivering local, relevant traffic.  The most apparent new feature is the addition of a Map Pack, with the top three listings going to advertisers that are local to the area of the consumer.   The emphasis on relevancy comes with the addition of reviews, coupons, and videos that now can be found alongside each ad.

The second goal is to improve the value of advertising to clients.  By driving more relevant, convertible traffic they aim to drive more sales for their clients, making their investment much more profitable.  The new format puts it in the hand of the advertiser to make their listing more relevant and appealing to the consumer through upgrading their ads with content.  SuperMedia has made it clear that while budget and maximum CPC do factor into their new algorithm, they are not the only factors.   Those who do choose to list a local address and optimize their ads and profile pages will see a lift in rankings.  National advertisers will no longer be able to buy their way to the top strictly through being willing to spend enough money to do so.

With the new site only having been up for a few hours the verdict is still out on how it will impact both consumers and advertisers alike.  The new site looks great: it is both aesthetically more pleasing and puts much more relevant information at the fingertips of the consumer.  Only time will tell how greatly the algorithmic changes will impact listings and shake things up.

Check out the changes for yourself: www.superpages.com