Angies List?

[NickfromWI]

The thing I don't like about it is that one review and I'm done. It's an odd system, but you look on yelp and you get a good idea of what our company is about. Look on Angies list and you'd assume we suck .

We don't even have a chance on Angies list.

 

[theXman]

Angies list customers are a tough crowd. The majority of them are definitely similar.

and that is... Very needy and they are sensitive. A lot of times it's the smallest jobs they write about too.

it's a bit odd.

 

[rfwoodvt]

Though I haven't dealt with any customers from AL I am not at all surprised by your comment X: needy & sensitive.

There is a very select market made up of folks just like that. I think in marketing parlance they are called "timid" buyers, often called "touchy-feely" as well.

It simply means that one of their primary "buying" triggers/barriers is fear of being ripped-off.

They require tons of reassurance and lots of hand-holding.

I suppose then, that it makes perfect sense that they would be part of AL as AL alleviates a lot of the buyers' fears through member reviews.


So what might that all mean to us as marketers?

First we need to ask ourselves how much of that market segment we can successfully service. More to the point, is our personal and corporate personality compatible with such a market?

With that answered we then must ask whether we wish to target that market specifically.

In my case, I am naturally a bull in a china shop. I do my level best to maintain the highest level of integrity and honesty but, as that bull in the china shop I am not the best at making a nervous person feel at ease.

So, that particular type of client is one I cannot naturally serve well without a lot of overhead on my side of the interaction.

In time I learned to not intentioally market to the timid/feely type of client.

When I do encounter one it invariable comes down to how can I best serve them, if at all. If it is a one shot job, usually no problem, but if it will be longer term I'm not afraid to refer them to other providers more suited to the customer's personality.

All this to say that perhaps it is a good thing I haven't gotten any referrals from AL.

 

[Arbor_Enhance]

Angie's List is a farking sham that gives fickle homeowners another conduit to voice their long winded diatribes based on their "assumptions and opinions"(not facts) to the internet world. No. Thanks.

 

[treehumper]

Rick said it well. We are in one of our roles, marketers. They are just another demographic, much alike to lowballers, shoppers, tirekickers, high rollers and the rest. If you're not pursuing this market then pass.

Nick, did you not have a chance to address the complaints in the review?

I used AL to get a landscape contractor to rebuild a stone wall and then replace our steps. Since I was new to the area I didn't have any experience or know anyone who could recommend someone. Out of the three that I called in I was able to pick a competent company. Two played the game and lost. I wonder if they look at AL in the same light as some of the comments here?

There are no facts when it comes to giving an assessment of someone's performance, whether it's online or face to face. That's the nature of business.

Being professional extends to how we act towards our customers not just in how we do tree work.

 

[tennarbor]

Well said "Angies list is quickly becoming the new Yellow Pages"...

I keep getting calls to advertise even though companies are not supposed to be able to pay to advertise there.

I thought the original idea for the company was great but if I can pay to move my ad to the top, then the system is a fraud.

Also, from what they told me, the ads are fairly expensive in themselves AND when you put an ad in, you MUST offer discounts to members.

Word to the wise...be diligent in dealing with Angies list members. On the positive side, they are usually motivated to work with quality contractors more than the low bidder and they come 'referred' which makes them more likely to work with you. On the negative side, they are (or at least FEEL) obligated to post a review good, bad or indifferent.