Dear Friends,
Sarah Susanka here, writing to let you know that the Not So Big Home Professionals Directory has been updated and the new version is now active and accessible through both notsobighouse.com and susanka.com. If you're not already listed and you are interested in helping prospective clients and customers to find you, I encourage you to take a look, and to register. The people who search here are big Not So Big House fans, and they look to this directory for professionals who already understand what Not So Big design and construction is all about.
A Little History
When I first wrote The Not So Big House, it occurred to me that though I was suggesting that readers find an architect, designer, builder or remodeler to help them realize their Not So Big dreams of home, I also knew that it was quite a challenge to find professionals that practiced what I was writing about in my books. So to remedy this, I launched the Home Professionals Directory. I invited those wanting to design and build Not So Big houses and remodelings to register there, and in short order I had a substantial listing of professionals on the website to which I could refer eager readers.
Over the years, the Directory has grown from a simple list into a searchable, subscription-style online resource that is organized according to country, state and category of professional service. In response to requests from users of the Directory, we've been working on improvements to its ease of use, while keeping its look and feel very much as it has been since its inception.
Directory Updates
The updated Home Professionals Directory is more user-friendly for both those who search and those who register. Professionals can still choose between a Featured listing and a Basic listing, and can register in as many states as they are licensed or approved to practice in. They can also now edit, format, and upgrade their own listings whenever they choose. The renewal process is smoother, and communications are more easily recognized as Directory e-mails.
The Directory also now offers space for professionals to link to their Facebook, Twitter, or Houzz profiles. (If you haven't heard about Houzz, check out their Professionals page, where you can list your business for free. There's also a terrific Houzz app.)
Marketing Bang for the Buck
Since the Directory began, I have received many rave reviews from both registrants and their clients. When I speak to audiences of professionals, I'm frequently told what an asset the Directory has been in allowing clients to find them. If your work is aligned with the aims of Not So Big, the Directory is among the best ways you can spend your marketing dollars. It's still just $50 per year for a featured listing, which includes higher placement on the directory, a company description, and hyperlinks to your website, social media, and Houzz profiles; or $25 per year for a basic listing, which includes your business name and contact information, without the hyperlinks and description.
Publish or Perish
A less obvious, but equally valuable feature of the Home Professionals Directory is that many of the journalists and reporters that interview me use it to find examples of Not So Big projects in the area they are covering. This Old House, The Washington Post, and USA Today have all told me in recent weeks that they used the Directory as a resource for stories they were working on. And once they discover its existence, they often use it for other stories as well. This makes it an excellent way to get noticed and featured by both local and national media -- something that is worth more than any amount of advertising.