We've all heard those home improvement horror stories.   While the majority of contractors maintain high standards and do great quality work, consumers are always advised to "do their homework" before signing on the dotted line.  Every homeowner's first stop should be the Better Business Bureau.   We were honored when our local Bureau agreed to work with the Blade on this project.   The public will also be grateful to know that every featured Company on My Home Improvement has the BBB's Code of Ethics before they can be listed.

Call the BBB and inquire about membership.   Remember - BBB accredited businesses must meet certain standards to qualify for accredited business status and to remain an accredited business.   Only accredited businesses are eligible to participate in The Blade's My Home Improvement program.

No.  As the BBB states clearly on its website...

"The basic policy of the BBB is to refrain from recommending or endorsing any business, product or service. This is done to ensure continued public trust in our fairness."   For more details on BBB policy and procedures, please click here.

An aggressive ad campaign will launch in The Blade beginning in early May.  We will promote our home improvement Pros and continuously encourage consumers to go online to toledoblade.com to learn more about the professional services they offer.  Additionally, we will publish a weekly column featuring home improvement questions from readers - and answers to those questions supplied by our local Pros.  Any Pro whose response to a consumer question is published will be given appropriate credit in The Blade.     

A link to the My Home Improvement directory will appear prominently in different strategic areas of toledobalde.com.    Some links may be in "fixed" positions, while others may float.  Our website designers are discussing a variety of ways to ensure our local Pros get maximum online exposure to promote their services. 

Here are just a few reasons why: 

• A pro page in the My Home Improvement program offers consumers an additional  way to find your business online and it gives search engines a second chance to list your company in their results.
• Toledoblade.com will offer links to our directory and Pro Pages - if you don't have a Pro page, you'll miss out on all that consumer traffic.
• Your My Home Improvement pro page can link to your own site.  This can have a positive effect on your own website's search ranking (often called a linking strategy).
• Updating your Pro Page is easy (we'll do it for you) and there's no cost for changes.
• You'll be in good company with other local home improvement businesses.
• Your competitors will be there - so why not you?

Companies participating in The Blade's My Home Improvement program get a Pro Page which includes information about services provided.   Up to 1000 words of "original copy points", up to 10 images, a special consumer offer and up to 60 seconds of video can be included.   All content needs to be supplied by you).  And of course, we will include a link directly to your own website if you have one and contact information.

No.  Search engines don't like to see the same copy appearing on two different domains.  One site will always win out over the other in search results - sometimes by a large margin.  This could end up being a lost opportunity for exposure.   On the other hand, original copy on your Pro Page gives you a second chance to be ranked high on the search engines.  In some cases, a participating company may find their Pro Page helps their own site rank higher!   My Home Improvement is a national domain - and a link from that domain to your own website can be a very valuable link.

Yes.   If you are interested in additional exposure for your company beyond the basic listing and Pro Page priced at $249, contact us right away.   A limited number of jumbo positions are available on the My Home Improvement website!