TCIA... Good advertising medium?

[MTCInc]

I was curious... do any of you find being a member of TCIA is a good way for advertisment? I am considering joining, and this is one of the reasons I am thinking about it. I see that they give you a section to fill in some zip codes on areas that you want to target, but I was just wondering how many consumers out there are using the TCIA site to find their tree care providers.

Thanks for any input.

 

[climbhightree]

I have mine in their database. I don't know how many customers I got through it though. But if you do a google search of "find tree service" they are at the top of the list. Even wth "tree service" they are on the right about 3 down under sponsored links. So I definately dont think it hurts, especially if they are searching the internet for qualified arborist.

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

It is worth being a member. But, not solely for the idea of advertising. I have had a handfull of phone calls in the past 4 years which a customer has told me they found me from TCIA.

It does give customers confidence to see you a member of a professional organization of your trade. I can think of a couple of times someone saying, "I called you because of that symbol." To them it was very important.

Do I think TCIA is bringing me tons of money? Absolutely not.

Slightly different subject: Personally, I would rather not be a member, but I feel pressured to. In addition, I think the ISA should be the only organization issuing out certifications. I don't like the fact that TCIA is popping out certifications out of their ar$e obligating us to go along with their "certification." To me, their certifacations have no merrit. It is too easy to get one. It is just a revenue maker for them.

That is my opinion.

 

[skew]

I agree with notahack about the "acreditation" offered now. I feel as though it isn't practical for a one man outfit and I don't like the fact that they hold up these accreditated companies as somehow better than the plain old member companies. One of the first accredited companies in Co. was totally sandbagging their gross revenues for dues paying purposes and the accreditaion audit picked that up. What a dirt bag.

 

[MTCInc]

Good input... I did not think that my phone would be ringing off the hook from TCIA, but I was curious.

I was also interested in the other aspects of becoming a member. There seems to be plenty of resources available to you once you are a member, but are they proving to you guys to be of good value?

I never liked the idea of the acreditation program either. That would not be a goal of mine. It seems that only the bigger companies go for that stuff. One big reason I do not like it is that one of the local big companies around here is an accredited company, but the quality of their work is no good. They are living off their name and how long they have been in the business.

Thanks for the input. Not really sure which way to go

 

[skew]

I got cited by osha and the help that Peter Gerstenberger gave me was worth the cost of dues. As well as I decided that I will always be a member because I believe (mostly) in what they are doing.