Searching for Windows

No, not Microsoft but actual windows.

Like the BBQ anecdote I’ve decided to do a little real-world experiment with local search. When we moved into our house in 2002 there was some dry rot in two of the window frames in the living room. Like all good homeowners we pretended the problem didn’t exist. Now we’re forced to deal with it.

Just a few minutes ago I posted a request for a contractor referral on InsiderPages through their new “Insider Advice” feature. I did so on Judysbook too. We’ll see what happens.

I also went to the Berkeley Parents Network website and got three names. There’s lots of very specific, structured content though it’s fairly old. I already emailed one of the recommended local businesses (Sinan’s Windows) and will report on what happens.

I also conducted searches on:

• YellowPages.com (lots of listings but little help in comparing)
• SuperPages (same issue, though there are a couple of reviewed businesses)
• Google Maps (nice, clear presentation of information but no help at the results page with making vendor selection, but I sent an email to the top organic result, Wooden Windows)
• Yahoo! Local (here I get reviews and I sorted for vendors with only 5 star ratings; problem is that there are only 1 or 2 ratings for most. I was familiar with one of the “five star” vendors and so decided to contact them — other than this listing the business has no website.)
• Windows Live Local (here the results are similar in number and presentation to Google Maps. A nice feature is the “call for free,” which I used [I was connected within about 2 seconds and talked to a sales guy and told him how I found him].)

I also visited Service Magic and went through their diagnostic process (about five screens) asking questions about my project (turns a click into a lead). Within a minute after submitting the form I got four contractor responses (automated via Service Magic). All were well rated and one of the four was Sears, which I immediately threw out. Another was too geographically remote and another was called “Vinyl Insulated Product Builders” (threw that out because of the “vinyl” in the name). I contacted the remaining business via an email form on the ServiceMagic site.

I’ve got two local print yellow pages directories about 50 feet from me but wouldn’t consider using them – simply because it’s easier to search and email multiple vendors at this stage of the process than it is to pick up the phone book, look for the heading and start calling.

Stay tuned.

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Update: I’ve now been contacted, approximately 3 hours later by all the companies I contacted, including the CEO of Wooden Window, a company I actually emailed and then later called via WLL’s “call for free” option. Given that data suggest small businesses don’t respond to email this is a very impressive response rate.