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Founded in 2005, MerchantCircle is the largest online network of small business owners in the nation, combining social networking aspects with a customizable web listing that allows merchants to attract new customers. More than 14 million MerchantCircle business listings across the country are easily accessed on major search engines.

Currently, over 750,000 merchants on the MerchantCircle network upload pictures, blog, build coupons, and newsletters, while also connecting with other business owners. In addition to its free services, MerchantCircle offers a portfolio of online advertising services including Search Engine Marketing, Website Directory Submission, Web Content Creation, and Business Verification.

MerchantCircle is located on Main St. in downtown Los Altos, Calif., and is funded by Rustic Canyon Partners, Scale Venture Partners, Disney's Steamboat Ventures, and IAC.  Learn more at www.merchantcircle.com.

• Of the estimated 14 million local businesses that are listed in print Yellow Pages, 750,000 have joined MerchantCircle in less than 3 years.

• Since revamping and adding to MerchantCircle’s suite of advertising products in December 2007, the number of paying merchants has increased from 500 to over 10,000.

• 67% of consumers prefer using the internet versus printed telephone directories. (Neilsen/NetRatings Survey)

• 43% say that Yellow Pages are ‘not effective at all.’ (MerchantCircle Member Survey)

• 90% decline in stock prices from 52-week highs for Idearc, RHDonnelly

Alabama -

“MerchantCircle has helped to bring in new customers and new leads. Before we joined, our website was coming up on the first and second pages of search engines. Now we’re coming up as the first result!” - Jaclyn Sawyer, Sawyer Furniture in Prichard, AL.

Arizona -

“We used to run newspaper ads and large Yellow Page ads. It was like flushing money down the toilet. With the economy being so bad, I don’t know why every company is not taking advantage of MerchantCircle.” - Michael Ortega, MC Leathersmiths in Flagstaff, AZ.

Arkansas -

“It’s important to stick with ways that work, while not missing out on the next opportunity and MerchantCircle has helped us come up at the top of Google search results. MerchantCircle and our website is the only thing we’re doing that we consider 21st century.” - Tish Whillhite, Border Express Co. in Fort Smith, AR.

California -

“MerchantCircle has by far, been the most effective, cost-efficient way for me to market my business. It’s hands-down, the best bang for my buck. My (ROI) return on investment sky-rocketed. In my first month, spending $30, I made by $1000 in trackable business.  I’ve tried almost everything – Email Campaigns, banner ads – they were a waste of money.” - Tuan Hoang, Sky Printing and Graphic Design Services in San Diego, CA.

Delaware - 

“MerchantCircle is the only thing I use to market myself on the web. My listing comes up on all the search engines and networking with business owners across the country has been great! It’s been really user-friendly.” - Erinn Chioma, Make Yourself Over, LLC in Bear, DE.

Florida -

“Too many people want to sit back and wait for money to roll in – it doesn’t work that way. I tell people that MerchantCircle is a combination of the Yellow Pages, Better Business Bureau and Myspace rolled into one. Using MerchantCircle has helped me pay the bills and grow my business.” - Tina Elmore-Wright, Scents of Peace in Archer, FL.

Georgia -

“I tried Google Adwords, Yahoo Search Marketing, ads on Craigslist, but MerchantCircle gave me the most visibility and brought me a lot of added traffic to my website.” - Diana Miller, Jupiter's Paws in Gainesville, GA.

Idaho -

“We advertised on the radio and the Yellow Book on the web, but it was kind of a joke. We didn’t see very much in return. MerchantCircle was one of the easiest services we used and our listing showed up high on search engines. People were printing out our coupons and bringing them in.” - Bryan Jolley, Dominator Performance Diesel in Pocatello, ID.

Illinois -

 “I absolutely love MerchantCircle. It was my first time being on the web, and MerchantCircle was so easy-to-use and self-explanatory. My MerchantCircle listing comes up first in search engines in just about every automotive service term you can think of.” - Amy Besthoff, Jeff's Auto Service in Lake in the Hills, IL.

Indiana -

“When I first started my business, I didn’t have the money to invest in paying for someone to build me a website,” says David. “MerchantCircle didn’t cost a thing and gave me everything I needed to write blogs, build coupons, write newsletters, upload pictures AND I was coming up at the top of search engines.” - David Milner, David L. Milner Photography in Fort Wayne, IN.

Kansas -

“I probably spent about $8,000 to $10,000 a year advertising in print and broadcast and saw very little return on my investment. The internet has been the most cost-effective and proven. MerchantCircle has really helped me grow my business and find a larger audience.” - Luttra Lewis, Girlfriends - The Salon in Olathe, KS.

Kentucky - 

“I was pretty amazed with MerchantCircle because it was pulling me up in search engines and I was able to connect with merchants in the area. Most of my customers don’t make purchases online, but they’ll do research online and they see my MerchantCircle page.” - Donna Feltner, Make a Memory in New Castle, KY.

Massachusetts -

“I got one response from that $400 ad – I was really disappointed. I tried the Yellow Pages, and I think they still have value, but they charge too much. As for the internet, I claimed my business on MerchantCircle and I’ve noticed a huge increase in phone calls and new students that found us through our listing.” - Sifu Gary LaChapelle, Maury's Kung Fu in Worcester, MA.

Maryland - 

“I like to write, so I use the blogs a lot. I use the newsletter feature and send out newsletters to my business contacts and customers twice a month. Out of everything I do online, MerchantCircle has been one of the best ways for me to bring in new customers and show up high on search engines.” - Leslie Fisher, Look What I Can Do! Dog Training in North East, MD.

Maine -

“I didn’t have the money to build a website, and MerchantCircle was free and easy-to-use. I was able to post my business information, pictures, send out newsletters and coupons to my customers, and the best thing was I was getting about 3,000 hits to my listing a month,” - Michael Weaver, Carriage House Cafe in Livermore, ME.

Michigan -

“I love MerchantCircle because of the newsletters – I use it every month to notify my clients on my monthly specials. Once I found out you could email coupons – I tested and sent out a number of them to draw customers back,” - Ann Hauer, Ann Hauer Reflexology in Madison Heights, MI.

Minnesota -

“All my advertising is online. The best bang for my buck has been through SEO services and link-building through high-quality sites like MerchantCircle and taking advantage of all their features. Organic ranking on the search engines is the key to success, and MerchantCircle has helped show up higher under key terms.” - James Morris, Engagement Rings By Secret Diamond in Saint Paul, MN.

Missouri -

“I’ve tried Google Adwords, link building, and link referrals, but MerchantCircle has been one of the best at helping to get the word out about my business. It’s pretty reasonable when you compare costs, and their free services like blogs and coupons are picked up immediately by the search engines.” - Fred Dodson, CarWorldConnect.com in St. Louis, MO.

North Carolina -

“It’s too risky to spend that kind of money on the phone book when more people are turning to the internet. It was just a waste of money for me.” - Thom Millage, All Spotless Carpets in Garner, NC.

North Dakota -

“When I bought it in December 2004, The Falk Company had 60 customers nationwide and no web presence. I put my company on MerchantCircle and now we have 300 customers!” - Damian McAllister, The Falk Company in Fargo, ND.

New Hampshire -

 “I was referred to MerchantCircle from another member I met at a Health Expo. Once I started using it, and writing blogs and building coupons – traffic to my site increased exponentially and I started to come up at the top of search engines for massages in my area.” - Susan Lacombe, New England Massage and Nutrition in Candia, NH.

New Jersey -

“I was looking to move my business to the next level and work with small business owners allowing them the opportunity to compete with the Fortune 500’s. I was already profitable strictly as a sales manager, but had limited resources to truly launch the business into the B2B marketplace. MerchantCircle was able to help me test new ideas taking that next step in my business.” - Jennifer Bilodeau, Coastal Dreams in Eatontown, NJ.

New Mexico -

“MerchantCircle has been great for me and my business. It’s really easy-to-use, brings me up in search engines, and more importantly, has been bringing me new customers.” - Amber Salazar, J&A Gifts and More in Albuquerque, NM.

Nevada -

“MerchantCircle’s the best thing for anyone looking to start a business. It teaches you everything you need to know and more importantly, it’s brought customers into my shop. With MerchantCircle I don’t even need another website.” - Bill Harper, Auto Glass Services in Las Vegas, NV.

New York -

“It’s extremely important people find me online since I don’t have an offline store. When I built my listing up on MerchantCircle, I started to become one of the first results on Google and Yahoo when you type in ‘Computer Service White Plains NY.” - Edward Martin, QH Computing in White Plains, NY.

Oklahoma -

“Right now, my On Cell Auto MerchantCircle listing is generating more than 400 page views a month. I knew with my Glass Aid listing that MerchantCircle was bringing me new customers, helping me establish contacts, and promote my business across the web.” - Alan Geiger, On Cell Auto in Oklahoma City, OK.

Oregon -

“We just weren’t seeing any return on investment. We’d put an ad in the paper and no one would come in. We did the same on the internet through MerchantCircle and we’d see 20-30 customers come in.” - Cory Sudbrock, Grande Ronde Fitness Club in La Grande, OR.

Pennsylvania -

“I, myself, don’t use the Yellow Book. I go to the computer to search and that’s why I don’t waste money on print,” - Dino Folino, TDF Limousine Service in Oakmont, PA.

Rhode Island -

“I pay $50 a month for YellowPages.com, $300 a year for Business.com, and $80 a year for SEO services, but nothing has given me as much value as my MerchantCircle listing. It’s brought me to the top of the search engines – I think every business should join MerchantCircle.” - Gail Cavanaugh, Gail Cavanaugh's Business Solutions in Newport, RI.

South Carolina -

“MerchantCircle has been the best for bringing in new leads and customers. We tried placing ads in papers, real estate offices, doing presentations, but nothing has been as good as MerchantCircle. It’s been easy to understand, to check your reputation, page views, build coupons – it’s all there.” - Jo-Ann Falace, Integrity Home Inspections of S.C. in Lexington, SC.

Tennessee -

“I love the setup. I love the fact MerchantCircle has so many tools we can use – newsletters, coupons…. There’s different levels of opportunity depending on how much you want to be involved. I think it’s wonderful you can connect and link with merchants all over the country." - Vickie Wills, CandleStick Farm in Watertown, TN.

Utah -

“It’s been great. I have a free listing and I’ve been able to use the blogs and newsletters to help me get the word out about my business. I have over 200 merchants in my network from the west coast to the east coast and I’m showing up high in search engines.” - Kim Penney, All Hours Mobile Notary in St. George, UT.

Virginia -

“Everything I needed was there – all the tools were perfect. Promotion from MerchantCircle has been great! The search engines are picking up my blogs and pictures. It’s like people know me all of a sudden, most of my orders have been with the help of MerchantCircle.com.” - Jennifer Moore, Baking Bread LLC in Locust Grove, VA.

Washington -

“We tried a number of advertising methods. Newspapers were probably the biggest waste of money, whereas, MerchantCircle was getting about 10-15 customers a week through our doors as a result of the blogs we were writing on our MerchantCircle page. We were showing up at the top of search engines in our area,” said Mike Ridpath, Evergreen Team Concepts in Evergreen, WA.

West Virginia -

“The reason I don’t do Yellow Page ads anymore, is because I personally don’t look at Yellow Pages at all. The ads were expensive and I wasn’t seeing a difference in customers. Most people search on the internet, so it’s important that they can find me.” - Barbara Joseph, Arrow Gift Shoppe in Morgantown, WV.