Merchant Circle gives marketers their own social space

If you'd like your own social network but aren't sure where to begin, check out a few offerings from Merchant Circle. The company offers businesses, small to large, individualized space on the web. That space can be customized to include social features, product information or simple contact and direction information.

by Kristina Knight

Currently, more than 15 million companies are taking advantage of the free web listings, which appear in organic search query results in engines like Google.

Though the application has been compared to yellow pages and classified sites, there is actually one specific difference: while yellow pages/classified sites are focused on the consumer, Merchant Circle listings are geared toward the marketer or merchants. The merchants, then, can reach out to consumers through the space.

From a social marketing aspect, there are several differences as well but we'll focus on just one: merchants are in charge of their social space through the platform. Marketers can create blogs and can even create their own merchant-to-merchant connections, giving consumers more reasons to come back.

Because the listings are localized, a bridal gown merchant can connect with a local florist and a caterer so that brides and wedding planners can find everything they need in one stop.

Tags: classified advertising, ecommerce, online advertising, online content, social marketing