Value Card Alliance using social media to build business awareness

Did you all see this news on a recent survey by Merchant Circle on how social media can help your business. We are excited about the future of using social media for Value Card Alliance.

At Value Card Alliance in Arizona, we've taken barter to a new level. Sign up to join our member ranks, then work within our network of 56,000 members and you're sure to find a partner to fit your needs. That's what Value Card Alliance is all about - matching business through our network for mutual benefit.

Here are our social media sites for you to learn more and join us!
- Find us at Twitter
- Like us on Facebook
- Read our blog

[Click here to read this full release]:

"MerchantCircle, the largest online network of local business owners in the nation, today shared results of its quarterly Merchant Confidence Index survey of over 8,500 small and local business owners across the U.S. The data reveals that local merchants, who have very limited time and money for marketing, are gravitating towards simple, low-cost online marketing methods such as Facebook and other social media, as well as towards tried-and-true methods such as search and email marketing. The research also demonstrates that while new marketing services such as mobile marketing and group buying are generating significant buzz in the media, local merchants have yet to tap these unproven marketing methods.

"Online marketing continues to be a challenge for most local businesses, and many merchants are working with very small budgets and almost no marketing resources," said Darren Waddell, Vice President of marketing at MerchantCircle. "The marketing methods we see gaining the most traction are therefore the ones that offer merchants simplicity, low costs and immediate results."

Using Value Card Alliance barter for everyday items

The more than 400,000 small businesses in Arizona today are looking to creative ways to hedge against the recession, and one way is looking into the buying power of barter trade.

And one of those creative ways is barter. Did you know that being part of the Value Card Alliance barter exchange allows you to pay for things that you would normally have to pay cash for?

VCA members can take advantage of using their barter dollars to obtain everyday items like specialty physician visits (dentists, chiropractors), meals out (restaurants, diners), services (dry cleaning, printing, car washes, etc), clothing, home improvements and more. Additionally, professional services, such as attorneys, accountants, and medical services, are also available on barter.

Barter has become a viable tool for small businesses unable to provide medical and dental insurance to their valued employees due to budget cuts. Using barter dollar allows businesses to offer quality medical and dental plans to key employees without having to spend precious cash.

"It amazes me how few people are even aware that this service is available," says Christie Acevedo of Value Card Alliance. "It solves so many problems that plague the small-business owner today. Once small business owners who have never used a professional bartering service understand the value of barter business, they learn how to incorporate it into their lifestyle permanently. It does require a tad bit of creativity and out of the box thinking, however."

Using Barter to Grow Your Business

More now than ever, it's important for you to consider barter as a business model form. With your unique goods and services, it's only a matter to time to find others who need you to boost their business and vice-versa. Barter offers that to both parties.

At Value Card Alliance in Arizona, we've taken barter to a new level. Sign up to join our member ranks, then work within our network of 56,000 members and you're sure to find a partner to fit your needs. That's what Value Card Alliance is all about - matching business through our network for mutual benefit.

In the coming weeks, we'll be profiling various members of Value Card Alliance ad noting the success that they are having in the Value Card Alliance network of barter companies in Phoenix.

Read more at our recent press release.