It’s 2018, and social media is no longer just beneficial for a business’ online marketing strategy and overall web presence, it’s absolutely necessary. Regardless of industry. But it is true that certain platforms are more fitting for particular companies. Facebook and Twitter may not cut it for remodelers.

For businesses in photo-centric industries—such as remodeling, home building, and landscape design—Houzz and Instagram are better for engaging with prospective clients, building your brand and authority, and potentially resulting in more leads and sales. It all starts with exposure and getting followers. And that requires using the platform the right way. We’ll talk about Houzz specifically in this post.

Using Houzz Effectively for Online Marketing

You may be wondering, “Is Houzz a social media?” (especially after reading the first sentence of this blog post). Chris Marentis puts it well in a Marketing Land article: “Houzz is a sales-driven platform. However, Houzz also encourages user engagement on a number of different levels.” And that’s one of the best ways to use social media as part of your overall marketing strategy. It should be used not primarily to get leads but rather to boost your online authority and build brand awareness.

How Do You Get More Followers on Houzz?

If you want to know how to get more followers on Houzz, understand that there are a lot of different ways!

• Show off your amazing work via good photos. The more, the better—but quality over quantity! Five large, high-quality images are better than 15 smaller photos that are grainy or otherwise unprofessional looking. If you only have a few good ones, upload them. Posting projects is a great strategy for not only making your profile more appealing and professional but also increasing your visibility within the Houzz community and getting found by more users. And it doesn’t cost you a penny.

• Follow other professionals. May sound stupid-simple, but think about it this way—it can’t hurt. It will only do good to follow other professionals on Houzz. Including other businesses in your industry (yep, even your competitors…you can keep an eye on what they’re doing) as well as manufacturers and associations, such as NARI.
• Engage with the community. Answer questions promptly. Show homeowners on Houzz you’re available and want to help them achieve their goals. You’ll be hard pressed to find somewhere else online where more remodel-ready homeowners are in one place. Houzz has millions of users who are in the “home design” mindset. If you aren’t engaging these prospective customers, you’re missing a massive opportunity.

• Use ideabooks. There are two ways to use ideabooks on Houzz. You can use them for communicating with a prospect or client (many Houzz pros do this). You can also use them to help build your authority and answer questions/post information people are potentially looking for. Use them as short, repurposed blog post from your website (even include a link back to your site).
• Get reviews. Good reviews and recommendations are the number one thing Houzz users think is most important when it comes to hiring a professional. Not lowest cost options, not beautiful photos, not number of completed projects—positive reviews. Plus, the more reviews you have, the more authoritative your profile is in Houzz’ eyes and the more exposure it can get.

Learn more about getting reviews on Houzz.

What Does a Good Houzz Page Look Like?

A company using Houzz the right way will have:

• Numerous projects with large, high-quality images
• Project descriptions with geo modifiers
• Multiple positive reviews
• Awards and badges to help with the company’s authority

Here is an example of a fantastic Houzz profile:

Although you can’t tell from looking at the screenshot, this company also has almost 20 ideabooks and does a good job answering users’ questions (and thanking them for their interest).

Start Using Houzz More Effectively, Getting More Followers & Improving Your Visibility

When done correctly, Houzz can be a very effective marketing tool and should be implemented into your overall strategy if you’re in the design build or landscaping industry. No more waiting to see what will happen. Your competitors are definitely on Houzz, and it’s time you started using it better! If you need Houzz help, contact our team today.

You may also be interested in:

• How to Create a Professional Profile on Houzz
• 10+ Houzz Statistics Remodelers Should Know
• Houzz Best Practices