Twitter had tried its hand at local search in the past, but the attempts fell short in many ways. Now, it has come out with Idearc’s Superpages on Twitter through Twitter.com/sp411.

Twitter users can run local searches of Superpages database and receive direct messages on Twitter itself. As a Twitter user, it is possible to retweet and share the results, which makes the whole setup fascinating. This is how you can do it.

1. You follow sp411 and then it will automatically follow you a few seconds later

2. You then send a direct message to sp411 (”d sp411″) with a query and location. Example: pizza in Seattle, “d sp411 pizza Seattle”.

3. Results will appear in all the Twitter notification places (email, SMS and direct message).

4. When you click on any of the links, you are taken to the business profile page on Superpages.

Only the first step is slightly elaborate, with you following sp411 and it following you. After this setup process, it is smooth sailing and the service is useful for those looking for a specific business location, phone number or address.

Superpages, instead of waiting for users to come to them, are taking its data where the users are. This similar to the business tactics displayed by some companies on Facebook.

Twitter.com/sp411 can also be used as a local mobile search tool. Once Twitter users start using this facility, more search tools with similar functionality may enter the scene. The bottom line is ‘the User is the King’.