In the good old days of print and books, utilizing a search engine meant opening the phone directory, looking for services meant consulting the yellow pages, and hitting the

Enter key to get a results list meant finding the right number to call or address to go to. The good old days, however, have found themselves online: there are now virtual yellow pages available by accessing various websites, and without traveling, you as a user can access the yellow pages of countries all over the world.

As in the brick-and-mortar world, online yellow pages categorize businesses according to the goods or services provided. These online directories are available for browsing, and will contain different information on the business, depending on what may be made free for online yellow pages users. Some online directories even allow users to edit information, give recommendations, or post comments and reviews on a business posted online. With the Internet slipping slowly into the mobile phone market, there are now mobile yellow pages that can allow WAP users to access online directories through a browser installed on their cellular phone.

Online yellow pages can therefore be a good tool for making your business name known, as well as an easy way for prospective customers to contact you. If you are a home business owner hoping to expand your market base and get more customers from all over the world, then you may want to consider the advantages and disadvantages associated with online yellow pages, which will be discussed next.