Rev Up announced today the initial launch of The Congregation Pages, a niche local search engine connecting Churches and it’s members’ businesses with other members of the Church…

More and more, Internet search is becoming more focused on specific industries, says Jeff Palmer, CEO of Rev Up. Every where you turn you hear something about search and how “niche” it has become. The CongregationPages is another one of those examples, giving Churches a customized online business directory.

Let’s face it, though Google is great in so many ways, it also lacks in many others. There is no way Google, Bing, Yahoo or any of the big guys can do everything in search. There is just too much information to be able to give everyone a fair chance when it comes to online marketing. What about wanting to do business with like minded people? The niche area allows people to do this and it allows Businesses a better chance to be found by like minded people.

This idea suits me… I like the idea of niche directories. I’m expecting big news about this property, The Congregation Pages is another great idea!

Before I state my opinion, I better let you read the article.

So if this is true… how does a company like AOL/Time Warner make their decision on whom they are going to purchase? This is a question that I have wondered for a long time. It’s happened over and over again, a big company buys a smaller company and the next thing you know that smaller company product turns into, you guessed it… nothing. It reminds me of the Yahoo/broadcast.com deal, where Mark cuban instantly turned into a multi billionnaire and broadcast.com com is now…???

I have had the priveldge of working with some great profitable “local” web properties who have been purchased and within a year, they’re gone. I can think of at least 10 small, and I mean less than 10 employee companies who could really benefit from an organization like AOL but do you think they will be bought?

As a small business owner and a person who has worked with 1000’s of small business all across America, I want these big companies to step up and really make the right decisions and to buy the right companies. I’m tired of seeing the small companies not get what they deserve and that is a fair shot at being bought.

So Mr. Armstrong, we’ll be watching and if your focus is really about “local” than by gosh, we want to see you buy great “local” web properties. If you need any assistance in finding the best small companies to purchase, give me a call, I can help you out.