With today’s tech-savvy consumer jumping online to find local vendors and listings, the need to advertise in the ‘conventional’ YellowPages is steadily sliding. Even YellowPages.com is a limited directory compared to the options available on Google and Yahoo!, and it’s easier than ever for businesses to get online and start advertising for little or no cost.
However, another website offers a fresh opportunity for local business; MerchantCircle.com allows anyone to create a listing, get referrals and testimonials from customers and clients ‘live’ on the site, and even partner up with an existing Google Adwords or Yahoo! advertising campaign. While the advent of Google local allows businesses to put themselves on the map, there are still limits on how much a first-time visitor can learn.
MerchantCircle.com allows businesses to leverage the business website and supplement it with a blog, online coupons, and even a newsletter.
The merchant pages offer innovative features and an attractive interface. Each page contains:
- A basic information section
- Google map
- Blog
- Coupons
- Newsletter for prospective customers
- Photo gallery
- Reviews section for a ‘rolling list’ of feedback
- Bulletin board for other listings and news
Best of all, it’s free.
MerchantCircle.com is the next step for local advertising and a simple way to help increase exposure in your target market.
A business can even type in their business phone number on the main page and find out what other people are saying or writing about the business on the web. So far, over 215,000 businesses have signed up, and the entire process takes minutes to setup. Listings are sorted by state, city, and zipcode and the main page also posts the latest businesses who join the network, providing additional exposure when the listing is created.
Finding a way to reach your local target market, at no cost whatsoever, is simple with the options available on the site. Upgraded packages are also available if you’re interested in something more robust and comprehensive. Take a look around and see if MerchantCircle.com can help your business.
Have you tried it yet? Share your results, thoughts, or comments below:
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