Local search network Local.com announced that they will begin integrating local video ads in their website courtesy of an agreement with Jivox.
The current implementation incorporates geo-targeted video ads from Jivox, an online video advertising service for local businesses. Local.com plans to aggregate geo-targeted video ads from other providers, before ultimately selling video ad units to its growing base of direct Local.com advertisers.
This is the first phase of a longer term strategy by Local.com to capture share in the emerging local video market. The Kelsey Group forecasts that this market will grow to 747,000 video-enabled small- and medium-sized businesses and $1.5 billion in revenues by 2012.
Website Magazine has covered Local.com as well as Jivox in the past quite a bit. This is an important announcement for those already utilizing Local.com's ad network as well as those looking into advertising a local business on a local level.
Previous Coverage of Jivox: