Page 36 - enLIGHTenment Magazine - December 2015

2015
A CONFERENCE
lessons from ala
HUNTINGTON BEACH

Houzz This

One of the most popular seminars at the ALA Conference was how lighting

showrooms can utilize the Web site Houzz.com to help promote their business.

M

any lighting showrooms have cus- The ImporTance of Badges
above:
Tad Alison and John tomers walk in weekly with a page Stern explained that there are “badges,” such as
David Finegan, of they’ve printed out from the Web “Best of Houzz” that businesses can earn. The
Carrollton, Tx.-based
site Houzz.com, asking where they “Best of Houzz” badge marks people who are ex-
rep rm Alison & Co.,
a ended the Houzz could buy a particular lighting x-
ceptional in regard to customer reviews plus their
seminar so they could ture for their home. At this year’s ALA Conference level of participation in the Houzz community. “For

coach their distributor in Huntington Beach, Calif., Mike Stern of Houzz. example, if you answer photo questions [regarding
customers on how to com, provided guidance for retailers wishing to cre- whose products are in a particular photo, etc.], that
use the Web site as a
business tool.
ate their own page on Houzz that could help drive type of activity will also help your ranking,” he said.

tra c into their stores.
The “Design” badge relates to the number of
Stern, who had worked for a general contractor times your photos are saved to other users’ Idea

before joining Houzz in its early stages, reassured Books (a virtual compilation of images the user has
the audience that it was quite simple to create a saved for future reference).

pro le on the site. However, details make the dif- The “In uencer” badge is new to Houzz and

ference. “The more information you put on your rewards those experts who put content into the
Houzz pro le, the more readers you’ll have,” Stern discussion areas of the site.
“Having that
said. “Basically, the more you put into it, the more Stern also advocated using “A liation” badges
you get out of it.”
(i.e. NKBA, NARI) on your page. “That way,
organization’s

A liation

badge on

TIPS FOR A GOOD HOUZZ PROFILE
your pro le

• Put a photo of you, not captions); there is no limit retailer), ask the person
allows you your logo
to the amount of photos who posted the photo

you can show
if you can have yourself
to be found • Show o your personality;
people want to be familiar • If you see a photo on tagged and have it linked
in a more to your pro le
with you
Houzz with either your
products (if you’re a • Create a detailed
targeted • Upload images (i.e.
manufacturer) or products description so that people
product photos &
directory.”
you sell (if you’re a
get to know you

34 enLIGHTenment magazine | December 2015
www.enlightenmentmag.com