As I sat down with a prospective client recently, she asked me a question I had not heard before which caught me a little off guard. "Can I share my idea book with you?" I said sure, but didn't really know what she was actually talking about specifically.
She proceeded to open her laptop and go to a website I was unfamiliar with called Houzz.
www.houzz.com
She then proceeded to show me her pool idea book, which can consist of builders, architects, designers, etc from across the country who have posted pictures of their finished work. Each one of these finished projects, spaces or designs can be categorized into design styles and into metro areas, in which the user can create an account and begin saving these ideas and compiling them into their own personalized idea book. She told me which pools she liked the color of, which types of decking materials she liked better and even shared shape/size photos in which she wanted her pool designed after.
After meeting with her I went home and immediately began to research the website and found myself stuck for hours browsing through the photos. I soon found that several of our members were posting here, and thought to myself, "I wish I would have known about this sooner."
Two basic tenets to consider.
1. Houzz.com can drastically increase your visibility on the web because it ties back into SEO (search engine optimization). It will help to drive traffic to your website, if you create a profile and link it back. You can also link it to your Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook accounts for people to follow you through those sites.
It also gives you a free and extremely useful outlet to publicize your work by allowing both end user consumers as well as builders, designers, architects to view your work. You can also "follow" other vendors (architects, builders, etc) in the same way Twitter and Facebook allow you to follow, which will lead them to see your work as well.
2. I've been telling my clients about Houzz, and asking them to take a look and compile their own idea books, so when we meet some of their favorite design ideas and tenets have been not only developed, but have visuals for both of us to discuss. They can also share their idea book with you as well via email.
Since joining, we have had two prospective clients contact me through Houzz, and one of which we have closed and will start building soon.
Take a look at www.houzz.com, and read below to see what they describe themselves as.
About Houzz
Houzz is a leading destination site for home design enthusiasts-- professionals and homeowners. The Houzz site and mobile apps feature over 250,000 high quality interior and exterior photos, thousands of highly-engaging articles written by design experts, product recommendations and social tools to manage the remodeling and decorating process.
On the Houzz platform:
Design professionals showcase their portfolios, sharing their work with a community dedicated to home and landscape design. 40,000+ professionals have uploaded more than 250,000 inspiring photographs, making Houzz the Internet's largest database of design and decorating ideas.
Homeowners collect their favorite photos, find design professionals in their areas, upload photos of their homes and gardens, and swap tips and questions with other members. More than a million ideabooks have been created by Houzz members, and new ones are added every minute.
