MerchantCircle upgrade offers localized options for merchants

One of the biggest changes is the integration of the Reply! platform. Reply! is an auction marketplace connecting businesses with local buyers using CPE and CPL options.

"The new solutions we're introducing today represent a significant integration of Reply!'s patented marketplace technology with MerchantCircle.com following our acquisition of the company in 2011. We're taking the category way beyond providing reviews and contact information of local merchants to actually facilitate meaningful connections between consumers and local businesses," said Payam Zamani, founder and CEO of Reply!, Inc. "While MerchantCircle.com is the first major media property to integrate the Reply! platform to connect consumers directly with merchants, this solution will soon be available to any media site on a white-label basis."

More than one million local merchants are part of MerchantCircle. For those businesses, the upgrade includes a feed center, similar to Twitter, to help find leads, a DealStore to help merchants make the most of deals, coupons and other offers as well as a sponsorship package allowing local businesses to place listings in city or category specific areas.

For consumers the changes include ways to request quotes from local businesses for services, connection to ratings and reviews of products or services and the ability to have questions answered by MerchantCircle's community of experts.

Tags: local marketing, location based targeting, MerchantCircle, smb tools