10 09 2024 05:14
reading time: 5 min
It's been a busy three weeks since our last update, and we've made significant progress at Countertops Contractors. We've had so much on our plate that we didn't have a chance to share our accomplishments until now.
Here’s a quick overview of what we’ve been up to over the past few weeks:
In the new Countertops Contractors design, reviews will be visible to users like in the picture below
We’ve learned that when it comes to choosing a contractor, customers base their decisions on several factors, with reviews playing a crucial role. Initially, we thought that pulling reviews from Google alone would be enough. However, after discussing it with some contractors, we realized that Facebook reviews are also highly trusted by users.
That’s why we’ve now integrated Facebook reviews directly into our platform. Users will now have access to a wealth of information about contractors, all in one place. We already feature Google reviews, and soon, Yelp reviews will be added, giving users an even more comprehensive overview when making decisions.
Additionally, we’ve introduced an “Author” page on our website to highlight the experts behind our articles. Over the last development sprint, we focused on creating personalized pages for each contributor, including myself as the founder and our head of SEO. These pages will give updates on how we’re continuously improving the performance of the site.
Soon, we’ll also be adding pages for our analysts—who are absolute professionals in their fields—so users can better understand who’s responsible for creating the high-quality content they’re reading.
Our social media strategy has seen steady growth as we expand our reach and content. Our SMM specialist has been hard at work growing our Pinterest account, where we showcase the standout work of top contractors from across the U.S. Visual content is crucial for grabbing attention, and we’re placing a larger emphasis on this platform.
This week, however, we noticed a dip in traffic on Pinterest, so we’re collaborating with their support team to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. Meanwhile, we’ve also revised our approach to Instagram and have started focusing more on Reels. Given how popular short-form video content is among Instagram users, we’re designing sleek, modern videos to engage our audience more effectively.
Through Instagram Reels, we aim to showcase top contractors from different cities, helping clients find the best fit for their projects. Connecting clients with contractors is a key goal for us, and we’re working hard to make that process even smoother through our social channels.
New design of the contractor page
We’ve hit a major milestone by completing the design for our contractor listing and profile pages. Our frontend development team is now working to bring this design to life on the site.
This is a crucial step, as we aim to ensure that our website is as user-friendly and informative as possible, and the current version doesn’t quite reflect the essence of our project. This update will be pivotal in making sure the site looks polished and is optimized for the user experience by the time we announce the top U.S. companies and state-by-state rankings in November.
One of the cornerstones of our research process is the use of secret shoppers. We continue to validate the data collected by our team to maintain accuracy and transparency in our rankings. We’re constantly reviewing and updating prices, making corrections to ensure our users can trust the information they find on our platform.
Our lead analyst, Ann, has been working diligently to evaluate new markets. She’s already handed over some findings to our copywriting team, who will create content based on the data.
We’re continuously improving our secret shopper program to ensure our research is as thorough and precise as possible.
We’ve brought a copywriter onto our internal team, and it’s been a great decision. By having an in-house writer, we’ve been able to improve quality control and increase the speed at which we produce content. Alice has streamlined our content creation process, making it easier to tailor materials to the company’s evolving needs. Over the last week alone, we’ve completed 10 articles focused on price analysis in various cities.
In addition, we’re planning to launch our own blog where we can share our experiences and insights. In the future, we may even contribute expert interviews to the media, providing valuable industry knowledge based on our research and results.
Each week brings new challenges and opportunities, but we’re working tirelessly to be fully prepared for the big reveal of our U.S. rankings in November. Our teams of designers, developers, and analysts are all pulling together to make sure the website is ready for this major milestone. We can’t wait to share the fruits of our labor and showcase the top contractors.
