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Solo's blog provides the resources that microbusinesses, solopreneurs, freelancers, and other super-small businesses need to start, operate, and grow.

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One of the biggest opportunities for small businesses is to provide better customer service than larger competitors. Why is stellar small business customer service so important? Consider these statistics:\nNearly 80% of customers have pulled the plug on an intended purchase based on poor customer service, according to a survey by American Express.\nA Glance report revealed that more than 90% of customers who have a negative service experience with your company will avoid giving you repeat business.\nWhen a customer has a negative experience with your business, it takes 12 positive experiences to make up for it.\nTo understand what constitutes excellent customer service, you must first know what to avoid. By upsetting or annoying your clientele through common errors when serving them, you can end up sending them directly to your competitors.\nHere are the top 5 customer service pet peeves to avoid like the plague:\nFailing to answer consumer questions\nAccording to Harris Interactive, consumers say companies don’t adequately answer their customer service questions half of the time. Never ignore customer concerns or fail to provide a convenient avenue for them to ask questions. By responding promptly and honestly to feedback and queries, you’ll gain competitive advantage over the other half of businesses that aren’t getting this point right.\nSeparating customers from a human touch\nFew experiences are more frustrating than getting stuck in an endless loop on the phone that leads from one recorded message to another, with no way to speak to a real person. In fact, an American Express survey found that around 7 in 10 people will hang up the phone on your business if you don’t provide an option for them to talk to a live person. And be sure that they can reach someone quickly (in two minutes or less), since three-quarters of customers feel it takes too long to reach a human voice by phone. No one wants to hear the cringe-worthy recorded message, “Please continue to hold.”\nProviding inconsistent service\nHere’s a shocking statistic: 99% of customers feel that companies are inconsistent in meeting their expectations. Clients need to be able to rely on your business, which means everyone who works for you needs to be on the same page in providing a high level of consistent service. Be sure to offer the necessary training to new hires, regularly manage expectations, and enforce accountability around this critical business deliverable.\nBeing treated with indifference or rudeness\nIn his book \nHow to Win Customers and Keep Them for Life\n, Dr. Michael LeBoeuf found that the top reason businesses lose customers relates to poor treatment. Whether it’s you as the business owner, one of your managers, or an employee who mistreats your customers, the result is the same: it hurts your bottom line. Emphasize to your employees that a positive attitude is critical when interacting with customers, and that indifference or rudeness will not be tolerated.\nNot being recognized as an individual\nContactPoint Client Research discovered that employees only ask for the customer’s name 1 in 5 times. Yet great customer service is about building relationships, and personalization is an important part of the equation. By getting to know your customers and recognizing them as people, you’ll build rapport and trust, which can lead to repeat business and referrals.\nTurning it around\nIt’s smart to encourage customers to contact you directly with feedback about their experience with your business — particularly if they’ve been subject to customer service pet peeves like these five above. If you can solve customers’ problems with a solution that ultimately makes them feel good about the service they received, you may avoid a negative tirade on a customer review site.\nWhat’s more, research shows that you can sometimes make up for poor customer service if you take the right action after the fact. Lee Resources reports that if you listen to a customer’s complaint and resolve the matter in his or her favor, you’ll get repeat business 70% of the time.\nSources:\n
\nhttps://about.americanexpress.com/news/pr/2011/csbar.aspx\n
\nhttp://ww2.glance.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Counting-the-customer_-Glance_eBook-4.pdf\n
\nhttps://conversational.com/9-great-facts-about-customer-service/\n
\nhttps://www.helpscout.com/75-customer-service-facts-quotes-statistics/\n
\nhttps://ww2.glance.net/resources-blog/blog/\n
\nhttps://medium.com/@Courteous_Answering_Service/customer-service-and-telephone-statistics-your-business-should-know-1481b2c8aba\n

Avoid these 5 customer service pet peeves

In this article:\nWhy small businesses should consider Yelp advertising\nHow does local business advertising on Yelp work?\nHow much does it cost to advertise on Yelp?\nLove it or hate it, Yelp is a big deal for small businesses. Yelp says that 82% of their users visit intending to buy, and 89% of those who do buy make those purchases within a week of visiting. So it might make good business sense for you to take advantage of advertising on Yelp. \nWhy Yelp advertising may be right for your small business\nIt may be worth it to your small business to budget for Yelp advertising, because not only do you get premium placement on the #1 local/regional website on desktop and mobile (according to a comScore report), but when you pay for advertising on Yelp, you get visibility on other platforms as well. \nMobile \n“near me” searches\n are increasing in popularity every day, with over 200% growth in recent years. And when you pay for premium advertising placement on Yelp, your ad can appear not only on relevant targeted local search pages on Yelp, but on your competitors’ Yelp business pages, as well as “other properties.” (Click \nhere\n to find Yelp’s master advertising terms and conditions.)\nAppearing on competitors’ Yelp business pages can be particularly valuable, since potential customers may not even be aware that there are other local options to consider in the category they’re browsing. If your Yelp ad shows up on a competitor’s page and you have a great star rating and reviews, customers might decide to visit you instead.\nNaturally, when you set up Yelp ads for your business, you get promoted across all Yelp platforms, including desktop, mobile website, and the mobile Yelp app.\nHow do I set up Yelp advertising for my business?\nThe first thing you need to do is \nclaim your business listing\n on Yelp. (Click for our easy how-to article.) This may sound obvious, but one study showed that less than half of online business listings have been claimed. Plus, research shows that businesses that claim their listings on multiple online business reviews sites make more money!\nAfter you’ve claimed your listing, you should optimize your profile by adding high-quality photos and other “next-level” info, as we discuss in our article, \n25 free local advertising ideas for small businesses\n.\n(Image)\n\nWhen your Yelp profile is as good as it can be, and you’ve confirmed the accuracy and completeness of your listing, then you can sign up for Yelp’s self service ads \nhere\n, or call Yelp’s business owner help line at (877) 767-9357 and ask them to walk you through the Yelp advertising signup process and send you a purchase order with information on on-Yelp and off-Yelp ad pricing.\nThen you can select your level of monthly spending and choose whether you want to participate in the Yelp Cost-Per-Click (“CPC”) Auto-bidding Program described briefly below.\nThere are lots of \nfree tools\n you can use to boost your Yelp success, but Yelp advertising is not one of them. It’s going to cost you. Let’s talk about expense.\nHow much does it cost to advertise on Yelp?\nThe cost for Yelp advertising is based on your budget, your preferences, and your local market, so we can only speculate about what it will cost for you. However, you can get an idea of how it works by reading Yelp’s master advertising terms.\nFor ads appearing on Yelp-owned pages, you’ll probably be using the Yelp Ads Cost-Per-Click (“CPC”) Auto-bidding Program. It’s complicated and variable based on many factors, but basically, when you sign up for Yelp advertising you can decide whether to participate in the auto-bidding program for ad impressions. \nIf another Yelp advertiser is competing for the same ad space based on multiple factors, then Yelp automatically bids up to your maximum monthly CPC budget, which you set and can modify at any time. If you win the “auction,” Yelp places your ad and you pay the final price per click based on the amount necessary to beat other advertisers.\nIf there are \nno\n competing advertisers in an auction, your ad is displayed and you pay the “minimum bid price per click,” up to your monthly maximum. \nFor advertising impressions \noutside\n of the Yelp-branded arena of ownership, Yelp “will deliver the Ad Impressions to enhance the quality and number of Clicks that Client receives from such properties. Yelp will not exceed the Client’s Maximum Monthly CPC Budget in any given month.”\nThis is important because depending on local competition and other factors, your CPC could easily be several dollars, and that can add up quickly. At a theoretical CPC of $5, if you get 500 clicks you’ll be spending $2500 a month.\nBut you can set a $500/month limit (or whatever works best for your budget) so if you get a ton of impressions and clicks rapidly, Yelp automatically will stop displaying your ad (and charging you for it), until the next month or whenever your max spending period rolls over.  \nIt’s important to remember that these are just “impressions” and clicks, not sales. But if you want to stand out in a crowded Yelp marketspace and increase your visibility to local customers, Yelp advertising could be well worth it for you.\nSources:\n
\nhttps://biz.yelp.com/advertise\n


Yelp advertising: an intro for small business owners

In this article:\nWhat is Talkwalker?\nFree tools that you can use with Talkwalker\nHow to set up Talkwalker for your business and use the free tools\nWith the online world continually growing each day, it can be difficult to keep track of all the platforms that your brand should be on and where people are talking about your business. From social media channels to hundreds of online business directories, there’s a lot to manage.\nThe beauty of the ever-increasing digital world is that technology capabilities are improving with it. Solutions have been created to help you manage your online reputation and keep track of your brand so you don’t become buried in spreadsheets. \nOne such solution is a social media analytics and monitoring platform called Talkwalker. \nWhat is Talkwalker?\nTalkwalker is a tool that tracks your brand across all media sources: social media channels, websites, print, TV, and even radio. \nThis comprehensive platform monitors all of these media sources on a global level and covers 187 languages. Through this coverage, you can learn what customers and competitors are saying about your campaigns, events, brands, and more. \nYou can also see how your brand is perceived on a global and local scale and what kind of an impact it has through the numerous products Talkwalker offers. \nTalkwalker product options include:\nAnalytics tracking with image recognition technology\nConversation Clusters for tracking trending topics\nCustomer Data+ to gain a complete picture of your customers\nVideo recognition\nQuick search\nCommand center\nAI engine\nInfluencer One to help you get in touch with relevant brand ambassadors\nTalkwalker also offers free tools that your business should start using right now\nTalkwalker alerts\nSocial search\nHow can Talkwalker benefit your business?\nEven if all you use from Talkwalker is their free tools, it can have a huge impact on your marketing campaigns. \nThrough brand mention alerts and social media monitoring, you can easily stay on top of the conversation about your business. This helps you keep your public image in check and ensure that your online reputation is well-received. \nHow to set up Talkwalker for your business\nLet’s go over how you set up a Talkwalker account for your business and how you can utilize these awesome free resources. \nSetting up free Talkwalker alerts\nFirst, we’ll walk you through setting up a Talkwalker alert. \nStep 1: Go to talkwalker.com\nGo to \ntalkwalker.com/free-social-media-monitoring-analytics-tools\n. From this page, you can try the different free tools that Talkwalker offers. Click “Try It Now” under Talkwalker Alerts. \n(Image)\n\nStep 2: Create an alert\nOn the next page, you should see a text box where you can type in what you want to create an alert about. This can be anything from competitors to your brand to your favorite topics. Type in what you want to track. \n(Image)\n\nOnce you type something in, you will need to provide some additional information, including:\nYour email\nResult type\nLanguage\nHow often you want results\nHow many results you want\n(Image)\n\nWhen you are done, click “Create Alert.”\nStep 3: Verify your email and create your account\nAfter you create an alert, Talkwalker will ask you to verify the email that you provided. You’ll get an email asking you to click a link and set up the password for your new account. \n(Image)\n\nClick the link, enter your password, hit the reCaptcha, and click “Save.”\n(Image)\n\n(Image)\n\nStep 4: Check out the dashboard\nWhen you finish setting up your account, you’ll be brought to your Talkwalker dashboard where you can set up more alerts and keep track of your brand mentions. Anytime a new alert comes in, you will get an email notification (unless you disable this), and you can even export your alerts when you have several of them. \n(Image)\n\nSet up your free social search with Talkwalker\nNow let’s show you the awesome capabilities that you can have with Talkwalker’s social search. \nStep 1: Go to talkwalker.com\nGo to \ntalkwalker.com/free-social-media-monitoring-analytics-tools\n and click “Try It Now” under Talkwalker Social Search. \nStep 2: Create a search\nEnter your brand, company name, or a certain hashtag you want to track. Click “Search.”\n(Image)\n\nFrom there, you’ll be directed to a window to provide your name, email, and company name. Check the box to agree to the terms and click “Get My Results Now!”\n(Image)\n\nStep 3: Check your email\nTalkwalker will send you an email to finish setting up your account. If you already have an account, follow the prompts in the email and when you get to the new password reset window, click “back to login” to go to the dashboard for the social search tool. \nIf you don’t already have an account, follow the prompts to set up your password and then click “Save” to be brought to the dashboard. \n(Image)\n\n(Image)\n\n(Image)\n\nStep 4: Check out the dashboard\nWhen you arrive at the dashboard you can start tracking your brand, competitors, and topics across all social channels. Enter the phrase you want to track, and if desired, even compare it to another phrase. \n(Image)\n\nFrom within this dashboard, you’ll have the ability to receives tons of different analytical insights through various filters, including:\nMedia types\nCountry/region\nLanguage\nDevice\nSentiment (positive, neutral, negative)\nDemographics\nWith the free version, you can also filter the results over the last day or the last 7 days. If you want a larger look than that, you can \nset up a free demo with Talkwalker\n to test this out before upgrading to their paid plan. \nBe sure to engage with your customers online\nTracking and monitoring your online reputation and mentions of your brand is important. You need to know what others are saying about your business. But you also need to do more than just monitor the conversation. You need to contribute to it. \nBe sure to respond to comments and reviews (yes, even the bad ones) and ensure your current and potential customers know that you're committed to creating an excellent experience for them.

How to set up a Talkwalker account for your small business

In this article:\nHow Alignable helps your small business\nHow to create and claim your Alignable account\nWhat should you do next?\nAlignable is the ultimate business-to-business (B2B) network for local, small businesses. By creating an account on Alignable, you can connect with other businesses, ask and answer questions, and learn more about what your competitors are doing. We created a step-by-step tutorial for adding your business to Alignable.\nAdding your business to Alignable’s directory will also help drive more customers to your business in general, whether you primarily sell to other businesses or direct to consumers. \nHow can Alignable help my small business?\nFirst, we want to emphasize how important online business listings are, even for small, brick-and-mortar shops. Any reputable listing site can help your business whether you utilize its full capabilities or not. Adding your business to multiple online directories, commonly called citation building, is a huge step toward improving your local SEO (search engine optimization). \nGo deeper: \n15 free tips for better local search rankings\nBeyond that, here are a few awesome perks that Alignable can offer your business:\nOpportunities to connect and collaborate with other businesses in your industry\nGet (and provide) valuable insights on Alignable’s Q&A forums\nCreate promotions for products and services\nIf that all sounds good, continue on to create your free business account on Alignable!\nHow to create and claim your Alignable business profile\nLet’s get to it. \nStep 1: Sign up for an Alignable account \nFirst, go to \nalignable.com\n and click “Sign up.” Enter your email on the next screen and click “Sign Up, It’s Free.”\nStep 2: Add your business to Alignable\nOn the next screen, be sure to enter your first and last name and the name of your business. If your business is already in Alignable’s directory, it will generate a dropdown item for you to click your business. If your business isn’t there, then you can just type the name of your business here. Click “Continue.”\n(Image)\n\nThen, add your business address. If your business was already in Alignable’s directory, this information will generate for you. Double-check that your business name and address are correct, make any necessary changes, and click “Complete Profile.”\nNote: There are two options you can check if applicable. \n“Don’t make my address public.” Only check this option if your business is a service area business and the address you listed is not a place where customers can visit you. \n“I have multiple business locations.” If you have more than one location, take advantage of this option. Alignable will allow you to add multiple locations into one account, rather than having to create a new account for each location.\n(Image)\n\nStep 3: Verify your Alignable business listing\nAfter clicking “Complete Profile” you will be taken to a page to verify your business listing. Click “Verify with SMS.” \n(Image)\n\nIn the next window, enter a good cell phone number for yourself or your business (it won’t keep this number recorded on the listing). Click “Text me now,” and you should receive a verification code within a few seconds. \n(Image)\n\nEnter the 6-digit code you received. Click “Verify my account.”\nStep 4: Complete your Alignable business profile\nThe next steps will walk you through some additional information you can add to your profile. It’s always a good idea to fill these out as completely as possible for any customers that may find your business here. \nFirst, search for and select the most relevant category for your business. Click “Next.”\n(Image)\n\n(Image)\n\nAre your customers primarily businesses or consumers? Select the best option on the next screen. \n(Image)\n\nThen select where your customers are primarily found: locally, regionally, or nationally. \n(Image)\n\nOptional: Next, you can import your address book from your email account to connect with your contacts who are already on Alignable. This just helps you build up your Alignable network. Click “Continue” to import your contacts or “Skip” to pass this option over for now.\n(Image)\n\nAfter that, you’re in! You can technically stop here, but to get the maximum benefits from your Alignable profile, complete the following recommendations in Step 5. \n(Image)\n\nStep 5: Add even more information to your Alignable profile\nOnce your profile is complete, you can visit your page and add a few more items to really round out your profile. Click the “My Business” dropdown arrow at the top right of your screen under your profile icon and then click “Visit My Business Profile.”\n(Image)\n\nWhen you get to your page, there will be several prompts at the top of the page. Follow these and fill them out. \n(Image)\n\n1. Introduce yourself by adding a company description and uploading your logo. Click “Save.”\n(Image)\n\n2. Add a product or service by clicking “Add a service.” Enter the name of your product or service, a photo, and a description. Click “Create” to add it to your page. \n(Image)\n\n3. Upload a banner graphic. Click “Save.”\n(Image)\n\n4. Update your phone number and website. You can find these on the right side of your profile. Just click “Edit” on each item to update them. \n(Image)\n\n5. Link to your Facebook account. This option is on the right side of your profile page as well. \n(Image)\n\nNow you’ve created and claimed your Alignable profile. What’s next?\nAlignable is only one small piece of the ever-changing puzzle that we call local SEO. So, what are the other pieces?\nLike Alignable, there are tons of online directories out there that can help drive customers toward your business and help you rank better in the search engines. \nWe have a great guide that can help you get listed on more free directories: check out \n25 free business listing websites every small or local business should be on\n.


How to create and claim your Alignable business listing

In this post:\nWhy it’s so important for you to claim your business listing on Google\nHow to claim your business on Google\nHow to verify your Google my Business listing\nWhat to do if someone else has already claimed your business on Google\nHow reputation management software can help you save time and money\nAs we’ve written before, the first step in getting control of your online business reputation and responding to reviews is to \nclaim your Google business listing\n as well as your pages on all the relevant sites like Facebook, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Foursquare, etc. \nListings on these sites are basically your “digital storefront,” or the way most consumers discover you before they come to your place of business. \nPlus, research shows that businesses that claim their listings on multiple review sites make more money! Let’s start with discussing how to claim your business on Google.\nClaim your Google business listing as one of your most important marketing tools\nWhen it comes to finding and attracting new customers to your business, the right marketing plan make all the difference. And for many small and local businesses, tight budgets and tighter schedules can make a solid marketing plan feel constantly out of reach.\nRaquelle Dickerson, \nDirector of Marketing at SEO.com\n, recommends the following to small business owners looking to marketing their business on a budget. \n“Every business, regardless of size, needs to have some sort of digital marketing strategy in order to succeed. While big companies can experiment with all the latest and greatest digital marketing tools and services, this isn’t an option for the limited budgets of small, local businesses. That’s why I strongly recommend every small and local business get set up with a Google my Business page.\n“Google my Business is essentially a free marketing listing for any business. Once you’ve claimed your listing, you can add pictures, menus, products, hours of operation, contact information . . . Everything you’d want a prospective customer to know about your business. All for free. And remember, it’s Google. It’s where your customers are searching for your product.\n“If your Google listing is unclaimed or uninteresting, you’re going to struggle to get people in the door.”\nUnfortunately, far too many businesses aren’t following Raquelle’s advice. In fact, 56% of local business haven’t claimed their Google my Business listing. This is \ncrazy\n.\nThe good news is that claiming your Google Business listing is quick and easy. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through the simple process of how to claim and verify your business listing on Google so you can take control of your online reputation and attract more customers.\nHow to claim your business on Google\nStart by going to the Google page for business owners: \nbusiness.google.com\nStep 1: Identify your Google account\nIf you are already signed into a Google Email account, you will see the screen below. \nIf you are not signed into a Google Email account, proceed to Step 2.\ngoogle my business login screen\n\nYou can hover your mouse over the icon in the top right hand corner of this screen to view the account holder’s information. \nIs this the Google email account you wish to use to manage your Google Business account?\nYes? Skip to Step 4.\nNo? Log out and proceed to Step 2.\nStep 2: SIGN IN or START NOW\nClick on the “Sign In” button in the top-right corner.\ngoogle business login screen\n\nIf you are not currently registered with a Google email account, click the “Start Now” link to create a Google account with any existing email address (ex: @hotmail.com, @yahoo.com, @businessname.com) or create a new “FirstNameLastName@gmail.com” email account that’s available.\nPlease note: The email address, recovery phone number and other profile information you provide when creating your Google account will NOT be visible to your customers. List the best recovery email and phone number in the event you forget your login password.\nStep 3: Log in to your Google account\ngoogle my business listing sign in screen\n\nSign in with the Google email account you wish to use to claim and manage your Google Business account.\nStep 4: Search for your business\ngoogle my business listing login business name search screen\n\n \nType the name of your business the field provided. If your business name along with the last part of the business address auto-populates your business listing in the dropdown list below, select it and click Next. If not, you’ll need to add your business.\nStep 5: Business address\n(Image)\n\nIf the address in the step above is inaccurate, now is your chance to update your business address to the current information and click Next\nIf the address is accurate with current information, click Next\nOnly select the check box next to the “truck” image shown at the bottom of this page if you do NOT have a storefront for customers visit to render services/products.\nStep 6: Business phone number & website link\n(Image)\n\nMake sure your business phone number and website address are correct and up-to-date on this next page. Again, if any of this information is inaccurate, update as needed then click Next.\nCongratulations! You have now successfully claimed your Google Business listing! \nHow to verify your business on Google\nNow that you’ve claimed your business, you might ask, “Do I need to verify my business with Google?” The answer is yes, and it’s the next important step in claiming your Google business listing. This step proves to Google that you own the business and gives you the ability to manage the information on your page, respond to customer reviews, upload photos, get your business found in search results, and more.\n(Image)\n\nPlease note: If you are claiming an “Unclaimed” Google Business listing, you will see the page shown above. Click Continue to choose from the verification options.\nIf you are claiming a Google Business listing that is currently Claimed and Managed by someone else, (for example; marketing manager, webmaster, previous employee, etc.) please scroll down to “What to do if someone has already claimed your Google business listing.”\nOption 1: Verify by postcard\ngoogle my business verification by postcard screen\n\nIf you wish to receive a postcard containing a verification code sent from Google to your business address, please click on the Mail button on the right hand side. \nPostcard: Look out for a Google-branded postcard to arrive by mail. This postcard will contain the verification code needed to verify your listing. Sign into your Google Business Account (\nbusiness.google.com\n), click on the Verify Now button next to your listing, and enter the verification code. Your business listing is now claimed and verified!  \nIf you wish to verify another way, click on the shield icon next to “Try a different method.”\nOption 2: Verify with a different method\ngoogle my business verification by phone screen\n\nA faster way to verify your business listing is to have Google call or text your business phone number. Please note: This option is not recommend if you are not at the business location at the time you request the verification phone call and/or if your business number cannot receive text messages. \nWork-around: If you choose to have Google call your place of business, ask an employee in advance to pick up the Google verification phone call once you send the request, then have your employee call you back with the verification code.\nVerify later: This option will allow you to verify your business listing at a later time. \nWhat to do if someone else claimed your Google Business listing\nHas someone else claimed your business on Google? Click on Request Access to notify the current listing owner that you wish to claim and manage this business listing. \nStep 1: Submit requester information\ngoogle my business verification request access screen\n\nShare your info with the current owner to continue: Check this box. This is a security measure to prevent any Google user from claiming a business that is not theirs.\nWhat level of access would you like?: If you are the owner and want to fully manage your business listing, select Ownership. You can add other authorized users to manage your account with limited features later on. Click on Learn More for more information. \nWhat’s your relationship to the business?: Select your role for the business, enter your name and phone number so the owner currently managing the listing has the option to contact you to inquire about the Ownership Request.\nStep 2: Await confirmation by current owner\n(Image)\n\nIf the current owner does not respond within 7 days, Google will usually grant your Ownership Request.\nIf the the Ownership Request is rejected by the current owner, log into your account to appeal the rejection and/or contact Google at: 1-844-491-9665.\nManage your online presence\nClaiming and verifying your Google my Business listing is a vital step for any local business, but it’s only the first step. Next steps involve \nresponding to reviews\n, building a strategy consistently \nget more reviews\n, and managing your reviews on all the important review sites for your business type. Make sure you stay on top of it, because online reviews can have a huge impact on your business.\nSee our additional guides: \n\nHow to claim your business on Yelp\n\n\nHow to claim your business listing on TripAdvisor\n\n

How to claim your Google Business listing

In this article:\nWhy get listed on MerchantCircle\nHow to create and claim MerchantCircle business listings\nWhat you should do next\nMerchantCircle is a network of people dedicated to connecting busy consumers with top-quality local merchants. \nMerchantCircle wants to help small businesses like yours improve their online visibility, so they give you everything you need to do just that. That’s why we want to show you how to add your business to their platform. \nWhy should I add my business to MerchantCircle?\nMerchantCircle is the perfect platform for connecting with new, local consumers, and it also helps improve your local search rankings. The more online directories you can list your business on, the better chance you have to rank high in the local search results. \nCheck this out: \n25 free business listing websites every small or local business should be on\nSome other cool features and benefits that MerchantCircle can offer your business include:\nOnline advertising on their platform\nOnline reputation management services\nTop-rated customer support\nRead on to learn how to add your business to MerchantCircle.\nHow to create and claim your business account on MerchantCircle\nLet’s get started. \nStep 1: Create a MerchantCircle account\nIn order to add a business to or claim a business on MerchantCircle, you need to sign up for an account. \nGo to \nmerchantcircle.com\n and click “Sign up.”\n(Image)\n\nOn the next screen, fill out the form with the following information:\nFirst and last name\nEmail address\nPassword\nPassword confirmation\nZip code\nBusiness name\nBusiness phone number\nBe sure that the “I’m a merchant” box is checked at the top of the form, check the reCaptcha (“I’m not a robot”), and click “Create my account.”\n(Image)\n\nStep 2: Add or update your business on MerchantCircle and claim it\nWhen you add in your business name and phone number in the signup form, it allows MerchantCircle to check their database to see if your business is already there. If it is, it will show up on the following screen once you click “Create my account.”\nYou’ll be brought to a page that has your business listed. Click “Claim this business.”\n(Image)\n\nIf you don’t see your business listed, click “Add your business to MerchantCircle.”\n(Image)\n\nNo matter which option you choose, you will then be brought to the same form. If your business was already on MerchantCircle, some of your business information will be filled out for you. Just complete the form and click “Next.”\nIf your business wasn’t listed on MerchantCircle, and you clicked “Add your business…” then your form will be blank. Fill out all of your information and click “Next.”\nMake sure to include all of the following information in the form:\nBusiness name\nAddress\nPhone number\nBusiness category\nBusiness description\nBusiness website\nAccepted payment types\n(Image)\n\nYou will then be brought to a page to select the plan you would like to be on for your MerchantCircle account. To avoid paying any fees, select “Try It Free.”\n(Image)\n\nNext, MerchantCircle will prompt you to purchase “Hero Ads.” Feel free to skip this or click “Next” to stick with the free listing. \n(Image)\n\nOn the next screen, MerchantCircle will direct you to verify your email. Do this to gain full access to your business listing. \nCheck your email (this often comes into the spam/junk folder) and click “Verify your account.” \n(Image)\n\nNow you have a verified MerchantCircle account!\nYou added your business to MerchantCircle… what’s next?\nOnce you’ve added your business to this online directory, there’s still a lot more you can do to improve your online visibility and improve your opportunities to get more customers. \nAdding your business to this directory is one small piece of improving your local SEO (search engine optimization), and we have some other great resources to help you improve this even further. \nCheck out our guides:\n25 free business listing websites every small or local business should be on\nLocal SEO: 15 free tips for better search rankings\n\nHow to get more reviews\n\n

121 articles found in “Customer relations”

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How to claim your Google Business listing

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