Are You a Houzzer?

[Allan Edwards]

I just learned that a "Houzzer" is someone who participates heavily in Houzz. It seems to me the Houzz is expanding their website, they now have a "Pro to Pro" forum, a very nice App, and many other added features. I am surprised how many clients who custom build have Houzz Ideabooks in place. It is a great way for a client to communicate what they want in house to the design team, in fact I know one Architect who starts his design process with having client build an Ideabook on Houzz. I am also seeing a Houzz link on builder's websites, similar to Twitter, Facebook, and other social media.

It will be interesting to see how they monitize Houzz, I saw a photo of their company and it appears they have 30-40 employees.

[Andrew R.]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

Dont you have your houses on that site Allan?

[dgbldr]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

It will be interesting to see how they monitize Houzz

You mean monetize? Just like everyone else. Try to sell some form of advertising to someone. Nobody's ever found another viable way. Remember cable TV? You pay a monthly fee and you get TV without commercials. I don't think so. Remember Angie's list, you pay a monthly fee and no ads or conflicts of interest. I don't think so.

[Allan Edwards]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

You mean monetize? Just like everyone else. Try to sell some form of advertising to someone. Nobody's ever found another viable way. Remember cable TV? You pay a monthly fee and you get TV without commercials. I don't think so. Remember Angie's list, you pay a monthly fee and no ads or conflicts of interest. I don't think so.

They could sell subscriptions to people like me, or have a "Pro Status" membership. In fact I saw that idea discussed on their forum.

Dont you have your houses on that site Allan?

Yes, I have uploaded some photos there, and created some "Ideabooks". I have received emails from them on how to increase my visibility. They also do webinars on how to use the site. If you answer questions from viewers, you increase your status.

http://www.houzz.com/pro/allan/allan-edwards

[Ohiobuilder]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

I am on Houzz - they have a local directory that we come up in as well.

it's been a great resource for our clients to communicate their ideas or vision of what they are wanting.

I have google analytics and get quite a few referrals from Houzz as well.

My wife is addicted - has the app on her phone.

[dgbldr]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

They could sell subscriptions to people like me, or have a "Pro Status" membership. In fact I saw that idea discussed on their forum.

Yes, that's the subscription part I mentioned. Not enough.

I have received emails from them on how to increase my visibility.

Bingo. Just like Angie's and Google and everyone else. Pay for advertising/ranking.

[MarkMc]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

Yes, that's the subscription part I mentioned. Not enough.

Bingo. Just like Angie's and Google and everyone else. Pay for advertising/ranking.

Be fair, sometimes it's just about organ harvesting, and as we all have two livers...

[jstoddard]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

It's not true that 'advertising" is the only viable way to monetize a website. It's probably the most direct way, but don't forget that data about who you are, where you go and what you buy is a real brass ring to a site - IF you can generate enough traffic to create enough data to be valuable.

For example- if you belong to Facebook, your last log-in makes you visible and therefore track-able to every single website with a one of those "Like" Facebook buttons - which includes practically every consumer-related website today. It doesn't matter if you're still logged in or not (although live metrics are also valuable) - but you are you and every visit to a page with a "like" button leaves a breadcrumb trail of where you went on the web. Houzz is positioned to generate enough traffic where that data alone would be very valuable to all the people making products for the building industry.

And that's only one of _many_ other ways to monetize a website/service.

And PS - The Houzz people are incredibly aggressive. They approached NAHB wanting to be part of my IBS talk. Not just included/mentioned in the talk with a slide or two (which I was planning on doing anyway) - they wanted to take actual time away from my presentation with their own presenter. Worse yet, they didn't bother to ask me - they went to NAHB with an attempted end-run around me.

Ten years ago I would have been offended by that - but today I'll take it as a compliment and move on. But in any case, that move took balls. They're not fooling around - they intend to be a factor in this industry.
JLS

[dgbldr]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

Hahaha...Joe, you missed one fine little point. All that tracking data is just indirect advertising. What do you think the tracking data is sold for? So they can make an anonymous donation to my favorite charity?

Here is an interesting thought. I'm seeing the IT revolution getting into a mature stage. People are finally wising up to the fact that almost everything they read and see online is likely to be put up there for gain, economic or otherwise. In the old days, kids were told that what they read in a textbook is the objective truth. Now I found they're told that what they read online is just as likely to be false or misleading as it is to be true or honest.

You'd be surprised how many people had a Eureka moment when they realized BBB was an advertising service :)

[Allan Edwards]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

My remark asking how they make money was a bit rhetorical and not really asking how Houzz actually makes money, I really don’t care and not the point of the thread. It’s no secret all websites want as many eyeballs as possible on their site. My point is this is a powerhouse site, another social media specifically geared to custom builders and remodelers and the design community. Do you have a Houzz page? If not you are missing a big opportunity for exposure.

As I drill down into it I see there is a lot more to it than just a site with pretty pictures, there are more creative and subtle ways for contractors to use the site than is obvious. I've counted 8-9 marketing benefits for the builder that uses it.

[johnny watt]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

I have spent hours on end combing through the site looking for inspiration over the last two years.
"Inspiration" being "code for"..."stealing your ideas".

For the most part, I got sick of it and went back to Google images, which I feel has better more accurate tags to search on. But Google takes me their often.

My business would not be the type that could use their services.

[JohnCR]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

I opened a page after reading this thread. I wasn't aware of it. I searched our little area and over 120 contractors were listed, names they had just gotten from some data base and many didn't apply to the site. Oilfield contractors, auto repairmen, road builders, etc. and a few general contractors. None had Houzz accounts. I didn't bother going through that mess to find my name. I'm hoping by having an account my name will go to the top, but that is unclear.

It also appears that you can only use photos that are already on Houzz to create an Ideabook. That seems pretty limiting even if there are a million of them. I'd like to use some that I have saved on my computer but there doesn't seem to be a way.

My observations, John

[Mlandry]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

I have a Houzz page myself with just a few items on it so far.

Mike

[Allan Edwards]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

I'm hoping by having an account my name will go to the top, but that is unclear.

Your position in your market is a function of several things, such as the following:

Completing your profile
Upload a profile photo
Upload large high quality photos
Receive recommendations
Tag photos with sources
Answer questions from community

It also appears that you can only use photos that are already on Houzz to create an Ideabook. That seems pretty limiting even if there are a million of them. I'd like to use some that I have saved on my computer but there doesn't seem to be a way.

My observations, John

You can absolutely use your own photos, you are not limited to those on Houzz. However, you 1st must upload your photos to Houzz.

[Rick Hoge]

Re: Are You a Houzzer?

I've been on Houzz for about 3 years now. I have all my new clients go to the site and create ideabooks which is helpful some of the time.

I only have two of my homes on Houzz and have not gotten any leads for new homes as of yet. I do get a LOT of questions about interior decorating pertaining to the furniture, colors, etc.

One such question was "what color is the ceiling?" see attached photo. I was tempted to say "same color as the walls" but didn't.Goodman2_1019.jpg

Alan, have you gotten any solid leads for new construction?