MerchantCircle.com Releases Mobile App

Merchant Circle, a popular business directory website that also serves as a business blogging and marketing tool, has released their mobile application. The mobile app will allow your customers to post a review from inside your business to your MerchantCircle.com profile page.

This is another sign that business directory sites are following Google’s lead into mobile apps. The MerchantCircle mobile app is free for the iPhone and allows you to search for local businesses that are listed on MerchantCircle.com. The app also makes it easier for consumers to review businesses, if they are promoted to do so.

Should You Care About MerchantCircle.com

MerchantCircle.com is a free directory platform that also has blogging, coupon, and multi-media posting capabilities without cost.  The one drawback is that unless you upgrade your free listing, your directory page will contain third party ads.  This is not unique to MerchantCircle.com.

MerchantCircle.com does provide a source for inbound links and for many businesses, the site indexes well for their name.  This makes it worthy of some consideration.  Also, reviews from MerchantCircle.com can be rolled into Google Places.

Using the mobile app is straightforward but the search mechanism for finding local businesses is clumsy.   I would download the app and make your own decision on whether you want to post positive reviews on this directory site.

Business Directory Synchronization

The automotive industry needs mobile apps that allow customers of dealers to post inside the store to places like DealerRater, Edmunds, Judysbook, etc.  I expect to see more mobile apps for these popular consumer reating websites in the coming months.

As with all business directory websites, it is important that your business name and address are consistent across the web.  Business Directory Synchronization is very important to establish search relevance for businesses, especially on Google Places.

There are sites that offer directory synchronization services for a fee but in some cases, a manual approach needs to be taken because of the specific nature of how larger car dealer groups or auto malls  appear on the web.

MerchantCircle.com is another tool in a dealer’s online business directory strategy, check it out.

Brian Pasch, CEO

PCG Digital Marketing

Text PCGedu to 75674 get information on our upcoming conferences
Brian Pasch

Tags: brian pasch, merchantcircle mobile app, mobile review apps, pcg digital marketing