How to Connect With Other Pros on Houzz
Reap the rewards of a large professional network with these top tips for connecting on Houzz
Make the most of the networking opportunities on Houzz by taking the time to connect with other home renovation professionals who use the community. Check out these tops tips for forming valuable connections with other designers, architects and tradespeople.
Make some connections
The internet makes it pretty easy to connect with people without even leaving the house. The key is to join online conversations and offer comments, advice or even ask for the expertise of fellow tradesmen, designers and architects. You can do this easily on Houzz by checking out the discussion section, and either responding to queries, or starting your own conversation. If you notice a fellow professional has replied to a discussion, see if there’s a way you can join in, make some positive comments about their input and perhaps even ask them a question yourself. Also, check out the Comments sections at the end of articles on the website, and if you like a particular project feel free to tell the designer or tradesperson that’s featured in the piece.
It’s useful to connect with professionals on other social media platforms too. Join Linkedin groups, or reply to tweets you find interesting. If you’re feeling confident enough, try sending a direct message to someone you’d like to introduce yourself to at an event.
The internet makes it pretty easy to connect with people without even leaving the house. The key is to join online conversations and offer comments, advice or even ask for the expertise of fellow tradesmen, designers and architects. You can do this easily on Houzz by checking out the discussion section, and either responding to queries, or starting your own conversation. If you notice a fellow professional has replied to a discussion, see if there’s a way you can join in, make some positive comments about their input and perhaps even ask them a question yourself. Also, check out the Comments sections at the end of articles on the website, and if you like a particular project feel free to tell the designer or tradesperson that’s featured in the piece.
It’s useful to connect with professionals on other social media platforms too. Join Linkedin groups, or reply to tweets you find interesting. If you’re feeling confident enough, try sending a direct message to someone you’d like to introduce yourself to at an event.
Get out and about
There are many local Houzz events that offer great opportunities for professional networking, and it’s easy to find out what’s on. Houzz Australia’s Partnership Manager, Olivia Tuivaga says, “You can visit our events page to find out what events are coming up in your area, or get in touch with the team any time, at au-events@houzz.com.”
Once you’re at the event, go in with an open attitude and treat everyone with the same approach. Even if you can’t see the obvious benefit of meeting certain professionals, you never know how valuable that connection might be later.
Tuivaga advises, “Houzz events are such a great opportunity to not only keep on top of the latest trends and marketing tips but also for networking. So make sure you bring along your business cards, or details, and swap with everyone you speak to.”
And if you’re feeling slightly bewildered, Tuivaga recommends, “Don’t be shy! Ask the Houzz team at events to introduce you to other pros. If you’ve come alone then just grab a Houzz representative and we’ll happily introduce you to other attendees.”
There are many local Houzz events that offer great opportunities for professional networking, and it’s easy to find out what’s on. Houzz Australia’s Partnership Manager, Olivia Tuivaga says, “You can visit our events page to find out what events are coming up in your area, or get in touch with the team any time, at au-events@houzz.com.”
Once you’re at the event, go in with an open attitude and treat everyone with the same approach. Even if you can’t see the obvious benefit of meeting certain professionals, you never know how valuable that connection might be later.
Tuivaga advises, “Houzz events are such a great opportunity to not only keep on top of the latest trends and marketing tips but also for networking. So make sure you bring along your business cards, or details, and swap with everyone you speak to.”
And if you’re feeling slightly bewildered, Tuivaga recommends, “Don’t be shy! Ask the Houzz team at events to introduce you to other pros. If you’ve come alone then just grab a Houzz representative and we’ll happily introduce you to other attendees.”
Make listening a priority
It can be nerve wracking trying to think of something scintillating to say to someone you don’t know, but in fact you can take the pressure off yourself – it’s actually more important to listen than talk. Ask a few questions and let your counterpart share information about themselves first. You’ll come across better if you seem genuinely interested in your counterpart, and your questions will help kickstart the conversation. Also, if the other person is allowed to talk first, they’ll be less preoccupied about what they’re going to say while you’re talking.
By listening to the other person, you’ll also discover opportunities to add value. One of the best ways to form a professional connection is to find out what you can do to help, whether that’s through advice, offering your services or even putting them in touch with other people from your network.
It can be nerve wracking trying to think of something scintillating to say to someone you don’t know, but in fact you can take the pressure off yourself – it’s actually more important to listen than talk. Ask a few questions and let your counterpart share information about themselves first. You’ll come across better if you seem genuinely interested in your counterpart, and your questions will help kickstart the conversation. Also, if the other person is allowed to talk first, they’ll be less preoccupied about what they’re going to say while you’re talking.
By listening to the other person, you’ll also discover opportunities to add value. One of the best ways to form a professional connection is to find out what you can do to help, whether that’s through advice, offering your services or even putting them in touch with other people from your network.
Leave reviews
Each time you work with another professional on Houzz, don’t forget to take the time to leave a review on their profile. They’ll appreciate the effort, and feel positive about the project you did together. This is also a great way to make you visible to their existing customers and followers, as your review will be on show and give homeowners the chance to click through to your profile.
Each time you work with another professional on Houzz, don’t forget to take the time to leave a review on their profile. They’ll appreciate the effort, and feel positive about the project you did together. This is also a great way to make you visible to their existing customers and followers, as your review will be on show and give homeowners the chance to click through to your profile.
Put in the legwork
It’s well worth scheduling time to connect with other professionals on Houzz and elsewhere, as it will pay dividends in the long run. Think of it as an ongoing project and you’ll slowly but surely build up a large network that you can tap into for advice, services, work opportunities and a way to increase your client base.
Tell us
Have you had a good experience of connecting with other pros on Houzz? Share your experiences in the Comments section.
It’s well worth scheduling time to connect with other professionals on Houzz and elsewhere, as it will pay dividends in the long run. Think of it as an ongoing project and you’ll slowly but surely build up a large network that you can tap into for advice, services, work opportunities and a way to increase your client base.
Tell us
Have you had a good experience of connecting with other pros on Houzz? Share your experiences in the Comments section.
It pays to get to know the people you want to connect with and learn about them and their work. Set some time aside every week to see what’s happening on the Houzz site, so you can stay up to date with what your fellow home renovation professionals are up to. Read editorial to see whose work is being featured, either in an ideas-focused piece or more specifically in a Houzz Tour, Stickybeak or Room of the Week, and search through the images to find any interesting projects that catch your eye. When you find a project that interests you, check out the user’s profile and follow them.
Georgie Akin-Smith, Houzz’s online Marketing Manager says “By following other professionals on Houzz you’ll be able to stay up to date with their activities. It’s also likely they’ll follow you back, adding to the credibility of your profile.”