MerchantCircle Press Releases

December 8, 2011

Nearly Half of U.S. Small Businesses Believe Economy has Worsened Over Past Six Months

Latest MerchantCircle survey of local merchants shows decreasing business optimism as hopes of a near-term economic recovery have faded.

December 8, 2011

Group Deals Gain Momentum Among Local Merchants

New MerchantCircle survey shows 33 percent growth in group deals over past six months; Google Offers sees 20 percent adoption rate since launching this summer.

May 5, 2011

MerchantCircle Launches Mobile App for Local Business Marketing

New iPhone app brings small business marketing to merchants on the go, allowing them to immediately respond to customer inquiries, stay on top of reviews and instantly create deals, photos and status updates and publish these across multiple social networks

May 4, 2011

MerchantCircle Now Featuring Free "Request a Quote" Functionality for Local Consumers

New feature enabled across the MerchantCircle network helps consumers searching for products and services connect with qualified providers in their local area.

April 6, 2011

MerchantCircle, Blekko Team in Effort to Fight Spam

Blekko, the new search engine that is using human curation to eliminate spam from search results, and MerchantCircle, the largest online network of local business owners in the nation, today announced a partnership that will weed out spam for users searching for small business resources.

February 15, 2011

Social Marketing Continues Meteoric Rise Among Local Businesses

New research from MerchantCircle reveals local merchants flocking to simple, free marketing methods such as social media sites, are slow to adopt mobile marketing and group buying

February 15, 2011

U.S. Small Business Confidence Increases For First Time Since Q3 2009

MerchantCircle survey shows better-than-expected holiday sales, increased optimism for growth in 2011

December 15, 2010

MerchantCircle Launches Chamber of Commerce Program to Connect and Promote Local Chambers and their Members

New initiative creates micro-communities within growing network of 1.4 million MerchantCircle members

November 18, 2010

MerchantCircle Launches Appointment Scheduler to Enable Free Online Booking Capability for its Members

First Offering From Recent TimeBridge Acquisition is Now Available to 1.4 Million Network Members

November 4, 2010

MerchantCircle to Revitalize the Bloglines Service

Largest Online Network of Local Business Owners will Assume Operation of the Popular RSS Service and Enhance it for the Future

October 27, 2010

Over 50 Percent of California Small Business Owners Favor Meg Whitman (R) for Governor According to MerchantCircle Member Survey

Lt. Governor Race Nearly Deadlocked According to Survey of Nearly 300 State Merchants

Q3 Merchant Confidence Index Reports State Business Owner Optimism Outpacing National Average

October 21, 2010

Survey Shows American Local Business Owners Lack Confidence in Government's Ability to Boost the Economy

MerchantCircle Q3 Merchant Confidence Index reveals 65% of Merchants Do Not Expect to Benefit from President Obama‘s Small Business Lending Act

October 13, 2010

MerchantCircle Breaks Into the Top 100 U.S. Websites Rankings According to Quantcast

Popular Local Business Network also Named as Top Gaining Web Property by comScore

October 5, 2010

MerchantCircle adds New Product and Service Specific Pages to Expand Online Reach for Merchant Listings

Users can now create unique web pages to highlight a product line or service offering

September 22, 2010

MerchantCircle Acquires TimeBridge to Offer Superior Online Scheduling Capabilities to over 1.3 million Local Business Owners

TimeBridge CEO Yori Nelken will Assume Role of Chief Technology Officer for MerchantCircle

September 9, 2010

MerchantCircle Boosts “MerchantCircle Answers” with Video Content from 5min Media

100,000+ Expert How-To and Lifestyle Videos Enhance Relationships between Merchants and Consumers

August 26, 2010

MerchantCircle Introduces “Local Content Studio” to Enhance Consumer Search Experience and Expand Merchant Exposure

Andy Halliday joins company as Vice President and GM to oversee development of new reward-based local content platform

August 24, 2010

MerchantCircle Announces Navam Welihinda as Director of Finance

MerchantCircle, the nation’s largest social network of local business owners, today announced that Navam Welihinda has joined the company as director of finance. Welihinda will lead the company’s financial management as MerchantCircle builds on its member base of more than 1.3 million merchants.

July 28, 2010

Colorado Merchants Report Higher Economic Confidence Than National Average

Merchant Confidence Index stands at 62.3 in Colorado, versus 60.6 nationally; Revenue expectations higher than national average; When credit is tight, Colorado businesses more likely to tap personal funds for business loans

July 22, 2010

New York Small Business Confidence Slightly Higher Than National Average

Merchant Confidence Index Stands at 61.5 in New York versus 60.65 Nationally; Pay and Headcount Plans Remain Steady as Half of Small Businesses Think the Worst is Yet to Come.

July 22, 2010

California Small Business Confidence Slightly Higher Than National Average

Merchant Confidence Index Stands at 61.5 in California versus 60.65 Nationally. Social Networking Eclipses All Other Forms of Marketing for Local Businesses.

July 15, 2010

U.S. Merchant Confidence Remains Flat Despite $30 Billion Stimulus Plan

Merchant Confidence Index Stands at 60.65 According to Survey of Nearly 10,000 Small Businesses; Gulf States More Pessimistic Than National Average; Social Networking Becomes Leading Marketing Method Among Small Business Owners

June 23, 2010

MerchantCircle Launches “Mayors” Program to Promote Increased Local Social Networking for Business Owners through Competition

Local Connection Game Increases Invitations to Business Social Network nearly 60% in First Weeks of Program

May 24, 2010

VeriSign and MerchantCircle Partner to Provide VeriSign Trust™ Seal to Over 1 Million Small Business Owners

Largest National Community of Local Business Owners Will Offer VeriSign Authentication and Verification Process to Increase Trust Within MerchantCircle Network

May 21, 2010

MerchantCircle Announces Local Merchant Engagement Event Tour

Building upon successful Northern California event, nation’s largest business social network stages national tour to engage community merchants and provide social media marketing workshops.

May 12, 2010

MerchantCircle Expands Nation’s Largest Local Business Network Internationally

Local internet leader releases beta versions of popular marketing platform in Canada, United Kingdom and Australia

May 6, 2010

MerchantCircle Adds Director of Search Audience and Community Manager to Growing Team

Mark Munroe returns after five year hiatus while Robyn Hannah joins to engage member base

April 28, 2010

MerchantCircle Releases Content API for Location-Based Application Developers

Leader in local web will give developers access to local business content from more than one million merchants

April 13, 2010

MerchantCircle Broadens its Answers network through New Deals with Answerbag.com and HelloMetro

Partnerships will increase visibility of MerchantCircle member expertise across multiple platforms

March 11, 2010
January 18, 2010

MerchantCircle Signs One-Millionth Local Merchant to its Social Network and Publishing Platform

An estimated 1 in 15 U.S. Local Business Owners Use MerchantCircle to Reach Local Consumers Online

December 8, 2009

MerchantCircle Partners with Relevant Ads to Help Local Business Connect with Customers Online

Relevant Ads Customers Will Receive Free Listing on MerchantCircle.com, Leveraging MerchantCircle’s Over 20 Million Unique Consumer Visitors Each Month

November 16, 2009

New "Merchant Confidence Index" Shows Economic Sentiment Is Low Among Small Businesses, But Glimmers Of Hope Emerging

More than 12,000 Merchants Respond to First Quarterly Survey: Low Expectations for Holiday Sales, High Expectations for Business Survival, Some Plan to Start Hiring

October 12, 2009

Nearly Half of Small Businesses Surveyed Have Profiles on Facebook and Twitter

Survey reveals a new class of small business owners, 45 percent of whom use social media to promote their businesses online

September 9, 2009

MerchantCircle launches new "Neighbors" and "Answers" products to save consumers time and money

Consumers Can Now "Follow" Their Local Merchants and Get Expert Answers to Important Questions

August 27, 2009

MerchantCircle Launches First Action-Driven Results Program for Local Business Owners and Ad Agencies

The Pay-Per-Action Program Leverages MerchantCircle’s 20 Million Monthly Unique Consumer Visitors and Drives More Local Customer Leads

August 19, 2009

Web.com and MerchantCircle Expand Partnership to Improve Online Visibility for Local Businesses

Web.com Becomes Exclusive Provider of Search Engine Marketing Services; MerchantCircle Expands Membership through Addition of Web.com Customers

August 10, 2009

MerchantCircle Partners with Demand Media to Enhance Its Consumer Search Experience and Expand Local Business Offerings

Deal Provides Distribution for Demand Media’s Industry-Specific Content and Leverages MerchantCircle’s 20 Million Monthly Unique Visitors

June 30, 2009
April 23, 2009

New Study Shows More Than 2.1 Million California Small Business Jobs Will Be Lost Over the Next 3 to 4 Years

1.5 Million Face Immediate Risk of Job Loss as a Result of Small Business Owners Who Took out Toxic Home Mortgages according to Bornstein & Song, CPAs & Consultants Study with MerchantCircle

Toxic Mortgage Study will Continue Nationally, Including Florida, Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada

February 26, 2009

New nationwide Survey Shows Only 22% of Small Business Owners Approve of New $787B Stimulus Bill

More Than 44% Say Their Business is “Unhealthy” or in “Danger of Closing”

February 5, 2009

New Research Shows Small Business Owners Increasing Their Use of Blogging During Economic Downturn

MerchantCircle Research Shows Local Business Owner’s Use and Understanding of Blogs To Attract Customers at Its Highest Point Ever

January 15, 2009

New MerchantCircle Promotion Helps Small Business Owners Disappointed with Print Yellow Pages

Largest Business Social Network Will Purchase Yellow Page Ads if Participants Aren’t 100% Satisfied

November 19, 2008

New Study Reveals MerchantCircle Introducing The Concept Of Social Networking To 400,000 Local Businesses

More Than 75% of Members Have No Other Web Presence At All and Use MerchantCircle to Create a Record Amount of Local Content

October 15, 2008

MerchantCircle Revolutionizes "Feet On the Street" Salesforce By Tapping Current Business Members

More than 700 of MerchantCircle's 630,000 Local Business Owners Rewarded for Signing-Up Business Neighbors to Network

October 7, 2008

New Nationwide Survey Shows More Than 54% of "Main Street" Business Owners Will Vote McCain/Palin to 36% For Obama/Biden

Small Business Owners Choose McCain, Even Though 52% Say the Current Administration Has Not Represented Local Business Owners Well

October 3, 2008

More than 44% of small business owners say $700 Billion dollar financial bailout will not help them, and 35% not sure according to new study

Despite White House and Congressional Efforts to Persuade Main Street America the Bailout is Needed, Nearly 80% of Small Business Owners Remain Unconvinced.

September 30, 2008

infoUSA Announces Partnership with MerchantCircle to Provide Local Merchants a Competitive Online Presence

infoUSA Powers MerchantCircle’s New Local Directory Submission (LDS) Service to Improve Local Business Data Accuracy and Distribution

September 23, 2008

MerchantCircle Partners With Web.com to Offer Its Members New Online Marketing Solutions and Professional Website Design

Strategic Partnership Enables Local Businesses to Create a Stronger Online Presence

September 16, 2008

MerchantCircle and Spotzer Partner To Provide Every U.S. Business a Free Promotional Video

600,000 MerchantCircle Members Get High Quality Videos Without Cost or Complexity

September 3, 2008

MerchantCircle Launches the Web's First Marketplace for Local Business Owners to Cut Expenses.

B2B Companies Can Now Market Directly to Local Merchants Across the Nation

August 6, 2008

MerchantCircle Launches the Web's Easiest-To-Use Instant Website Service

Offering Designed to Help Local Merchants Acquire Customers Online in Tough Economic Times

July 2, 2008

Yahoo! partners with MerchantCircle to help local businesses get more customers.

Partnership Comes on the Heels of MerchantCircle Surpassing 500,000 Members with More than 5,000 Paying Customers

June 19, 2008

MerchantCircle Gains Traction at the Expense of Yellow Pages

Local business network surpasses 500,000 members with more than 5,000 paying local customers

December 19, 2007

Merchantcircle Launches Web’s Easiest-To-Use Online Advertising Products for Local Businesses

New Offerings Allow Local Businesses to Advertise on Top Destination Sites Including Google, Yahoo!, MSN, Ask, and Citysearch

November 28, 2007

Citysearch Announces Strategic Partnership With Merchantcircle, Web’s Fastest Growing Local Business Network

  • Deal Gives Citysearch Access to Web’s Largest Peer-to-Peer Network of Local Merchants
  • MerchantCircle to leverage Citysearch Content and Pay-for-Performance Business Model
November 7, 2007

MerchantCircle Announces $10MM in Funding from Previous and New Investors

Momentum Growing for Largest, Fastest-growing Network of Local Business Owners Company to Pursue New Market Opportunities that Benefit Local Merchants

October 23, 2007

Merchantcircle and Webvisible Partner to Bring Local Business Owners Unrivaled Online Advertising Options

Deal Gives the Largest and Fastest Growing Network of Local Merchants Increased Visibility on Top Search Engines including Google and Yahoo!

September 26, 2007

MerchantCircle Partners with Cellfire to Offer Hot Deals at Thousands of Local Merchants Nationwide

Consumers from Coast-to-Coast Can Now Save Big at Their Favorite Local Businesses Using Their Mobile Phone

January 17, 2007
January 10, 2007

MerchantCircle partners with edgeio to extend the availability of local online coupons

Merchant-built coupons gain greater exposure as edgeio increases unique consumer content

December 6, 2006

MerchantCircle launches first online solution for business owners to manage all aspects of web identity

Small business owners can now view and manage everything that's said about them on the web — from one site

June 5, 2006

MerchantCircle Launches First Online Business Network For Connecting Local Businesses to Local Internet Advertising

MerchantCircle.com Delivers Marketing Tools and Advertising Opportunities, Allowing Local Businesses to Effectively Promote Themselves Online