You’re quite correct. A few days ago, I went to Google and put in “Brunch Northern Virginia” and there wasn’t anyone advertising. None at all. What a missed opportunity for hundreds of restaurants.

@Mike Keliher

First off, good to see you again. Secondly, you’re right. Larger companies will be taking the lead I think. They’re the ones that understand. Many of the local businesses still view advertising as either putting fliers on cars or by blowing the entire ad budget by advertising the local prestigious publication.

First, it’s interesting to consider how these troubled “traditional media outlets” will fare in terms of offering new online advertising options at the local level. I think about what a couple of our Twin Cities television stations and MPR are doing, and I see a lot of potential there — for consumers and, therefore, advertisers.

Second, just because we’re talking about “local advertising” as the future doesn’t mean we’re limited to smaller, more local companies — those you mention as more likely to be dealers of little more than brochureware — as the saviors of ad-based media.

The car dealership down the road and the dentist by the office aren’t the only folks who would, could or should advertise in my local market. Dell, Best Buy, Wells Fargo, T-Mobile and others are well-suited for localized advertising but have little if any connection to a specific local market.