This document outlines how to create a profile and optimize it on Houzz to get leads for your home improvement business. It recommends filling out all profile sections, uploading high-quality project photos to ideabooks with keywords, engaging with users to build reputation, asking for reviews, tracking analytics, and optionally creating a Houzz website. The goal is to connect with local homeowners actively working on projects.

1. How to Win with Houzz
&
Get Leads for Your Business
March 26th, 2014 Webinar
Presented by: Chris Marentis

2. Overview
1. Getting Started
2. Showcasing Your Work
3. Engaging with Users
4. Taking Advantage of the Reviews Feature
5. Increasing your Visibility on Houzz
6. Charting Your Success
7. Introducing Houzz’s Newest Feature: Site Designer
8. Review

3. ------Common Question------
How do I find prospective clients
in my local area on Houzz?

4. ------Common Question------
How can Houzz add to my
online marketing efforts?

5. Why Houzz Matters to You:
Houzz is great at reaching U.S. homeowners who are
actively working on Home Improvement projects.
“Find a Pro” Section:
Connects homeowners with local
Pros.
Essential Equation:
Images + Indexibility =
Homeowners can find
your photos & profile in
Google Search!

6. The Time is Ripe to...
Create a Houzz profile
&
Optimize it for local leads

7. Renovation in America, Findings from the 2013 Houzz & Home survey

8. Most Projects Exceed Homeowners Initial Budget:
Renovation in America, Findings from the 2013 Houzz & Home survey

9. Renovation in America, Findings from the 2013 Houzz & Home survey

10. Renovation in America, Findings from the 2013 Houzz & Home survey

11. Claim your Listing
Chances are you're
already on Houzz -
Claim your profile.

12. Getting Started:
Setting up a business profile
Sign up for a professional profile & fill it out completely.
1. Location & Address fields: use an address that matches your targeted geographic
area.
2. Photo: Upload a high resolution photo that fills the entire frame provided (square or
portrait work best, not landscape). Tip: Use a photo of you or the whole staff to help
you build personal relationships with other users, 2nd best choice is to use your
company logo.
3. Description Area: Write a quality business overview & list all of your services and/or
product categories. Be sure to incorporate keywords.
Contacts can
message you
directly

13. Showcase your work: Ideabooks
Tip: Gain more
exposure by having your
work featured in other
houzz user ideabooks.
Food for Thought: Think of your
ideabooks as online portfolios that
you use to highlight your
completed projects – use your
best photos and stage your
photos when possible.

14. Optimize Your Images!
Optimize Images for Search:
• Fill the keyword section with multiple keywords that describe each image
ex. dentil molding, cherry red paint, stucco ceiling
• Add backlinks to your website, group by best category & style
• Include the city name a project was completed in to rank locally
• Keywords help you appear in Google search results to drive
even more traffic to your Houzz profile
Optimize Images for Sales:
• Include detailed notes about each product and project you post
View of a
business from
Google

15. Ideas for Ideabooks
Example Ideabook
Goal: To sell new line of windows
Solution: Create an ideabook around "sunny kitchens" with cheerful colors and
patterns to complement your windows + blinds/ curtains, furniture, and
home accessories. Don’t forget to tag your windows in the images!
Remember
that credit for
your photos
always goes
back to you
Other ideas…
 Show off a series of images of a completed project
 Create an Ideabook around a color palette (ex. Tuscan Tiles)
 Center an Ideabook around 1 of your businesses’ products (Decorative Carved
Door)

16. Photo Checklist
 1st and foremost: Upload quality high-res images that homeowners will
want to add to their personal ideabooks (their collections of images of
projects they like, want to replicate, and that inspire them to create
their dream house.)
 All images should be a minimum of 1000 pixels wide
 Make sure you ask clients before posting photos of their homes
 Only upload images for which have the copyright or are licensed to use

17. Tag & Make it Count
Tag elements in photos with a product description and link
back to your website so users can request quotes.
Tags are an essential part of
building your presence & ranking!

18. Participate in Discussions
Basic Social Tips:
 Follow other Houzz users including vendors you use, partners, and professionals whose
work complements your own (ex. You do exterior remodeling  follow landscapers,
awning vendors, pool installers, etc.)
 Maintain your account & respond promptly to any questions you are asked directly
 Keep an eye out for discussion questions you can answer & write a response immediately
Start Discussions:
 Post before and after pictures from a project (but do not include these in your own profile)
 Write a summary of your latest blog and include a link to it
Keep Improving your profile:
 Do competitive research: Follow other pros in your industry to see what they’re posting
Use the phone app on
the go so you can keep
up with discussions
and answer questions
when you are away
from your desk
Tip: Be sure to include
images from other Houzzers
in your ideabooks

19. Advice Section: Connect with homeowners by
responding to their project questions.
Pro-to-Pro (inside Advice Section):
Ask other Pros project questions, share
knowledge, & collaborate.
Must-Use Area of Houzz

20. The Power of Personal Recommendations
Send Review Requests directly from Houzz
Here's how:
1. From your profile, Click the Request Reviews
button.
2. Enter an email address & write a custom
message (avoid using the default message).
Social proof is one of the most
influential deciding factors for
prospective clients looking for home
improvement professionals.
TIP: Encourage past customers to post
reviews (ideally right after a job is
completed)

21. Drive Traffic to Your Houzz Profile
Social
 Post links to your Houzz photos on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter
 Add a Houzz app tab page to your website
Print
 Add your Houzz Profile name to your business card and other print collateral
Email
 E-mail your Ideabooks to clients, prospects, and staff directly from Houzz
Website:
 Embed Ideabooks into your website
 Host a Houzz badge on your website
 Include a link to your Houzz account on your website
App Tab

22. Chart Your Success
Houzz analytics (Pro+ Program feature):
Houzz’s metrics dashboard gives real-time insight into how your
photos on Houzz are performing
Specific Data Tracked:
 Total number of photo impressions
 Number of photo clicks
 Click-through rates
 Add rates (how many houzzers have saved a photo to their Houzz
‘ideabooks’)
What you get: Data insights on how homeowners are responding to your profile and content
How it helps: Enables you to make adjustments and improve your Houzz presence so you
can increase your local exposure and draw in homeowners looking for your services

23. Marketing Opportunities & Houzz’s Algorithm
 The number & quality of photos in your profile
 The number of questions you've answered
 If you have a Houzz badge on your website
 If you have reviews from past clients or professionals you’ve worked
with
 How active you are on the site
Factors that determine your Houzz ranking:
Badges:

24. Houzz Ads & Marketing Tactics
Paid Marketing:
 Ads appear in the "feed" as every even listing (2,4,6)
 Local exposure under “Find a Pro”
Unpaid Marketing Opportunities:
 Best of Houzz Badge: Business users with 1+ client reviews posted within the last year
are in the running. A “Best of Houzz” on your profile serves as testament to your
reputation.
 Increase your profile ranking by being active on Houzz
Takeaway: make sure you are constantly active posting photos, Ideabooks, suggestions,
etc. But if you find that one of your competitors is above you in the feed, you might want to
consider jumping into the ads
means
paid

25. Site Designer
 Site Designer: free website design and publishing tool for home
professionals
 Home professionals can now use their own custom domain for their
Site Designer-created website
 Site Designer automatically pulls and updates content, including project
photos, your business description, reviews and awards, directly from a
professional's Houzz profile, creating a ready-made website in minutes.
 Enables you to simultaneously manage both your Houzz profile and
Houzz website

26. Summing it Up!
1. Create a profile, fill out every section, and optimize it for
your services and location
2. Upload and organize your best project photos into
Ideabooks
3. Connect with users to find prospects and grow your
Houzz reputation
4. Ask past clients to post reviews to your Houzz profile
5. Optimize your account according to Houzz’s algorithm
6. Optional: Track analytics (Houzz Pro+ User feature)
7. Optional: Create a Houzz Website

27. Talk to Us
Chris Marentis is the Founder and
CEO of Surefire Social. With over 25
years of experience leading traditional
and interactive marketing businesses,
Chris is a leader in helping businesses
use new technology to enable
dramatic growth.
Need help or want to find out more?
Come see us to get your FREE Online
Visibility Checkup now at
www.surefiresocial.com
or call 888-804-8685

28. Who is Surefire Social?
Surefire Social delivers personal, comprehensive strategies
for effective local Internet marketing. www.surefiresocial.com
To learn more about our Houzz,
visit us @www.surefiresocial.com/marketing-solutions