[peebles]

I've recently gotten back into the painting contracting business after a few years of growing a couple of other businesses. I am noticing some changes in the business. One of them is Angie's List.

What do you think of Angie's List? Does it make sense to pay for the advertising? I have a friend doing roofs who is starting to get some activity from his Angie's List ads. Are you hearing success stories in painting.

 

[Workaholic]

I've recently gotten back into the painting contracting business after a few years of growing a couple of other businesses. I am noticing some changes in the business. One of them is Angie's List.

What do you think of Angie's List? Does it make sense to pay for the advertising? I have a friend doing roofs who is starting to get some activity from his Angie's List ads. Are you hearing success stories in painting.

Welcome to the forum.

I have no experience with them but if you use the search feature you will find quite a bit of conversation on them. Some love them some hate them. If you are serious about it and have realistic expectations it might be best to form your own opinion after doing your research.

 

[Wolfgang]

Have to agree with Work on this.

I'm not a fan of AL. When they first started out, I thought it could be something good. Then, in other forums, I noticed that contractors were not treated well by AL in "giving their side of the story", about any complaints made. Next it was AL and their "coupon" discounts, sort of like Groupon.

I guess it all depends on the type of customer you want and how much control you're willing to give up to achieve your business goals. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[RH]

AL is full of tire kicking PITAs, I would stay away.

 

[Wood511]

I'm on it but have very little work from them, despite having only a few great reviews and nothing bad. Part of the problem is that you can have 10 great reviews and then have a falling out with a difficult customer and they can trash you on there...and you're AL stuff is finished.

 

[RH]

Another fundamental problem is that one of the categories is cost. So to have an A+ rating you have to be the best and the cheapest.

I'll pass on those clients.....

 

[Steve Richards]

One of the best jobs I ever got came from AL.

Guy had moved out of the country before selling his house. The house sat vacant for a long time, then he decided to have the interior painted.

he got my name from AL.

Everything from the proposal to final invoice was done over the internet.

Never saw the guy or talked to the guy. I emailed him pictures as the job progressed, and he direct-deposited draws after each stage of completion.

Very smooth and sweet!

 

[Steve Richards]

Sorry...to the OP...No, I don't pay to advertise there.

Someone I'd worked for gave me an unsolicited review, that's all.

 

[PressurePros]

Another fundamental problem is that one of the categories is cost. So to have an A+ rating you have to be the best and the cheapest.

I'll pass on those clients.....

I dunno about the being cheapest part.

AL is a tool in the arsenal. It creates trust. I hate the BBB for the same reason people hate AL, but again, people may trust them. Closing sales is about trust. If people trust you, they hire you. I can tell you with 100% certainty that getting high ratings on Angie's List has nothing to do with how much you charge.

This job took us about two hours and was billed at $550. It depends upon your definition of cheap. That's a good hourly bill rate for my company. I screen shot and send these along with my proposals when i cannot meet with a customer. It helps to land work.

 

[sendit6]

Angieslist is a huge lead source for us. Anything that a customer can post as a review they can post on your website testimonial page also.

The main issue I have is this - with angieslist the member can post everything from how the job went and price, but then you have some members who are writing a sequel to war and peace in that they have to comment about your initial tone when answering their call to whether or not you and your crew greeted them each morning at the door or called them at the office to say good morning.

I just want my guys to shoot for perfection, and hopefully that's what the customer will see. Judge our company on that. Not anything other than that. Not did we say good morning to you and help you on with your coat, not did we play with your dog.

 

[PressurePros]

That stuff is, for people, a bigger part of being perfect than the painting is.

 

[RH]

I can tell you with 100% certainty that getting high ratings on Angie's List has nothing to do with how much you charge.

I'm talking about the price category specifically. I have gotten reviews before where everything was an A with an F for price because I wasn't the cheapest.

I'm not saying AL is worthless but in my experience it attracted the worst type of clients, picky AND cheap. I can please one or the other but not both :no:

 

[nEighter]

AL customers are told to beat the contractor down, bad economy.. blah blah blah.. and ALWAYS expect everything for nothing. NO THANKS.

Ask them if they would go to work for 20% less.. my guess is they will just thank you and call the next 24 contractors over...

 

[PressurePros]

I'm talking about the price category specifically. I have gotten reviews before where everything was an A with an F for price because I wasn't the cheapest.

I'm not saying AL is worthless but in my experience it attracted the worst type of clients, picky AND cheap. I can please one or the other but not both :no:

I see what you are saying now but my perspective has been different as I am often highest priced for my service. Every other customer asks for a discount. I would ask you for a discount if you were painting my house. Its just good business. This is just me, but if I were rating your pricing, it would be based upon value, not just being cheapest.

 

[nEighter]

Ken would it be a total different thing, your business compared to painting? Would/could you see a better sales ratio from AL because of what you sale?

Just curious.

 

[PressurePros]

Hard to say, Nate. I know you guys don't get nearly enough respect as craftsmen because of all the DIY shows and box stores making everyone believe that painting is no big deal. I still firmly believe its all about value no matter what you are selling. To some, a shoe leather sirloin at Sizzler is a great value at $9.99 and to others the $75 Porterhouse at a steak house is money better spent. Both offer two different selling features. Someone reviewing the steak house would just look like an azz writing a negative review about the cost unless the service or food quality didn't live up to expectations. The customer knew the cost going in.

Same premise with offering a service such as painting. You can command higher prices and people will feel like they received a great value, but you have to give the whole package to pull it off... superior customer service, cleanliness, easy to work with, high quality work, etc.

 

[RH]

This is just me, but if I were rating your pricing, it would be based upon value, not just being cheapest.

And that is how it should be, however many times AL users simply grade the price alone. You also do a fantastic job at grooming your clients to appreciate your top tier quality (perceived value) so it's actually no surprise to me to hear you don't have this problem. :thumbup:

 

[Dave Mac]

I find AL customers to be better then most other customers , they are willing to pay for a pro, and dont want to be bothered with hacks. Al is huge in this area and is a very good selling tool imo. Most AL customers become customers because they have had a very bad experience with some hack and when they meet a pro they become a client for life.