Search Engine Journal

Ever take a drive down to Atlanta, Georgia? If you have, you probably had the chance to experience Kudzu. Kudzu is the Japanese weed which was plant to the US for erosion control which has no natural predators and grows so fast it can cover a span of road or patch of trees in a day.

Kudzu.com, owned by Cox Search, Inc., is an Atlanta based local search engine which connects consumers with area services and businesses. Like its namesake, Kudzu.com is a hit in Atlanta and hopefully will grow outside of the city, into the new markets of San Diego, Las Vegas and Arizona.

“Kudzu.com exemplifies how the Internet excels in empowering consumers to educate and arm themselves before they purchase, hire or recommend a local service or business,” said Tom Bates, general manager of Kudzu.com and vice president of Cox Search Inc. “Given the tremendous success and usage we’ve enjoyed in our first market, Atlanta, we’re ready to bring our local search engine and experience to these fast-growing metro areas.”

Since its May 2005 launch in Atlanta, the Kudzu.com local search engine has measured over 1.7 million unique visitors, with listings and customer reviews for services across the board.

Kudzu.com’s Atlanta stats include:

* 135,000 Atlanta-area service businesses listed in 146 categories.
* 16,000 listed businesses have upgraded their Kudzu.com listings to
include more detailed information, photos, video tips/ads, maps, special
deals and more.
* 45,000+ customer reviews.
* Month over month audience growth its first year of operation.

Setting itself apart from other local search engines, the Kudzu.com Atlanta site also offers a richer customer experience with video guides, “Ask the Experts,” promotional deals and discounts, and Kudzu.com Guides, which provide step-by-step instructions on how to choose the best service professional from relocation to renovation, party planning to pets.