Reputation Rating, Reputation Score.... Oh My!

When it comes down to it - the search engines don't give two cents about you. (10 cents a click - maybe. But you the business owner? No.) You've got to make things happen for you.

Showing up high on search engine results is almost imperative for business growth. Take for instance my experience yesterday. I was calling limo and bus services around the Napa/Sonoma Valley areas and I couldn't find any options left until the 4th page of results on Google. Can you imagine how great it must be for those transportation businesses that are listed on that first page of results - to always be sold out or utilizing all resources?

Anyway, not everyone can hire a marketing firm or search engine optimization specialists for thousands of dollars a pop. That's why we at least try to lay out guidelines that will help you come up higher in search engines - thus the 'reputation score' and 'ratings'.



Let me explain: Reputation scores, (like the one above), start off low until you create more content. Each picture you upload, coupon you build, blog you write - brings your score higher. This is to help you understand you need to create more content to get your business listing as high on the search engines as possible. Even if you have a website, it's good to list it on your MerchantCircle page - and vice versa. This is called cross-linking.

Now take a look at this picture:


This is another area where you have a reputation score. It points out whether you are listed on a number of yellow page directory sites. If you aren't, then that's one less chance for a customer to find you on the web - thus the lower reputation score. We do provide you with the links to each site so that you can take proactive steps to remedy the situation.

All of this is free. We only want to make sure that you know you have to be on the web, take proactive steps, and find new customers. We make it easy for you.

Sincerely,
Kevin
Community Relations

Wallet, Keys, Cell Phone... Check.

There are few things in life that we need to be so constantly aware of - pedestrians, stop signs, spouses... not as important. But cell phones, man, how did they get to become such an integral part of our lives?

We use cell phones to keep in touch, listen to music, browse the web, check e-mail.... pretty soon they'll have a toothbrush feature complete with spray toothpaste! Anyway, there's no getting past our reliance on today's cell phone. That's why we're announcing a partnership today with Cellfire.

Cellfire is a free service that automatically delivers savings directly to consumers through their cell phones, and provides frequently updated discounts specific to that consumer's geographic area. It's like, 'hey, I'm hungry. Let me check out my deals on my cell phone through Cellfire to see if there are any food deals nearby!'

This is great news, because for you, our merchant, there's even more venues for you to reach new customers. It's even more incentive for you to build new coupons, because, afterall, who doesn't want new customers?

Sincerely,
Kevin
Community Relations

Local is Everywhere!

That sounds like a paradox, but trust us -- its true! That is one of the main take-aways Kevin and I had after attending The Kelsey Group's Directory Driven Commerce Conference: The Future of Yellow Pages.

As technology opens our doors to new ways of finding, accessing, and processing information, local is going everywhere. Our local communities and favorite local spots are no longer confined to the streets in our neighborhood that we discover by walking around. Now local is discovered by consumers through online and mobile technologies including video, sms, and even video-games.

Hence, small business are continually finding and learning about consumer behaviors online. But how do you navigate with all the new technology options and new tracking mechanisms including call-tracking and web analytics. As a small business in a complex ecosystem of new options how do you find the right technology?

Those are the questions that we answer and continually explore to better serve our merchants. The big media giants no longer have all the answers and solutions to the pains of small businesses. For us, going to the panels and networking events thoughtfully put together by Pam and John Kelsey and their hard working team, gives us the ability to learn and connect with the right partners so that we can help local be everywhere but manageable.

Its just a matter of working together, learning from one another, and making friends a long the way.

Sincerely,
Irit

It's a Hard Knock Life.....

Or is it? Me and one of my MerchantCircle colleagues recently returned from The Kelsey Group's Directory Driven Commerce Conference: The Future of Yellow Pages. While the Yellow Pages has had a featured role in the life of small business owners for some time, there's little doubt of the prominence local internet will have on the future.

As a generation of youths grow up searching for goods and services on the web and on their cell phones, the need for print yellow pages will decrease. We live in an ever-increasing mobile world, where we don't lug around 5 pounds of yellow pages that leave our fingers black from page-turning. Our options are abundant and the companies looking to help make this local search process a faster and easier one are also vast.

One of the biggest reasons we go to the Kelsey Conferences is because of the wonderful partnership opportunities. We have several companies we work with that help distribute the coupons you build, whether on the web, on 4-1-1 calls, or on cell phones. Our goal is to make sure that you and the other 225,000 merchants on MerchantCircle can be found all over the web and anywhere a customer may find you.

We know the web isn't an easy place to navigate, so we form these partnerships to make sure it is easier and if we can do it for you - consider it done. We will continue to learn and develop to meet your needs, taking the hard knocks from your plate. No one said it was easy finding new customers, but first, you have to step up to the plate.

Sincerely,
Kevin
Community Relations

Real Estate TV

Here's an interview of our Chairman and Co-Founder Ben Smith, that recently aired on Inman TV - Real Estate Television. Check it out:

Real Estate Video by - Real Estate Blogger

Sincerely,
Kevin
Community Relations

Do You Hear That? It's Laura Lowell!!!

Here at MerchantCircle, we've been fortunate to be in the good graces of some very knowledgeable and fantastic folks. One of them, has helped us tremendously in crafting our message and making sure 'we're heard!' For instance, the MerchantCircle Newsletters are just one example of her handiwork.

We, here at MerchantCircle, are very proud that Laura Lowell, our Marketing Specialist, has written her first book titled: 42 Rules of Marketing. You can find the website here and her company here.

Check out her book - I jokingly say that Rule Number 36 is: 'Don't hire Kevin Leu.'

Congratulations Laura!
Sincerely,
Kevin and the Rest of the MerchantCircle Team

What's Wrong with Facelifts?

Every morning we all have a routine we go through. We shave, we put on make-up and every once in awhile we decide to grow a mustache, change up the color scheme or we decide to wear a bag over our head. Well folks, we've changed the way our merchant pages look. It's cleaner, bolder, displays the coupons without having to click away, and has more layout and design options.

Ain't it a beaut? Not to mention our Top Merchant Badges are here and ready to go. I'm still working on getting mine, only one thing left to do...... I want it, I want it, I want it. I think I'm going to shave my eyebrows off tomorrow. Facelifts are good.

Sincerely,
Kevin L.
Community Relations