Overture Services, Inc. (overture.com), a subsidiary of Yahoo Inc. and provider of online marketing services, today launched "Local Match", ...

Overture Services, Inc. (overture.com), a subsidiary of Yahoo Inc. and provider of online marketing services, today launched "Local Match", its new sponsored search product which delivers local search listings.

Local Match enables advertisers of all sizes, including businesses that do not have a Web site, to target customers searching online for local products and services. Advertisers can pinpoint a geographic area in which they would like their search listing to be shown and present customized offers like discounts and business details.

Geoff Stevens, General Manager, Local for Overture said, "The launch of Local Match marks yet another addition to our growing suite of integrated sponsored search offerings. As the product evolves, we are confident that both advertisers and consumers will realize the significant value of the highly targeted marketing and incredibly relevant search experience enabled by Local Match."

Greg Sterling, program director for The Kelsey Group said "Our research shows that slightly more than 25% of commercial searches performed by online buyers today are local, and we expect that figure to grow over time as local search capabilities continue to improve."

Overture's Local Match listings appear today in the U.S. on Yahoo! and MyCity.com, including MSN, ESPN.com, select directory partners and online marketplaces.