Photo courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens
On July 28, 2009, Meredith Corporation, publisher of Better Homes & Gardens announced a partnership with ServiceMagic, the nation’s leading online destination for finding pre-screened, local contractors, and will bring ServiceMagic’s free “find a pro” tool to BHG.com, DIYadvice.com, Kitchenbathideas.com, Remodelingcenter.com and other Meredith properties.
This new partnership gives millions of readers, who turn to some of the country’s most popular home improvement brands for home improvement ideas and inspiration, the instant ability to connect with professionals to get the job done.
Meredith Corporation is the leading media and marketing company serving American women. The Meredith Women’s Network–a Top 5 online female network of websites–draws 16 million unique visitors each month. ServiceMagic.com features a nationwide network of 60,000 pre-screened and customer-rated home service professionals–from maids to plumbers to remodelers.
“This agreement brings together the two major elements of any home improvement project–inspiration and the right professional to make it happen,” says Craig Smith, CEO of ServiceMagic.com. “The millions of homeowners who look to Meredith for design ideas now have a reliable source for finding the specialists to make their projects a reality. It takes a home project from inspiration to installation.”
ServiceMagic.com began operations in 1999 as a way to simplify the task of finding a reliable home service provider. To date, it has made more than 12 million matches between homeowners and members of its pre-screened and customer-rated network of service providers. ServiceMagic.com’s screening process includes licensing verification as well as general liability insurance and background checks.
In addition to adding the find-a-pro functionality to Meredith’s Web properties, the partnership also calls for the introduction of a 1-800 concierge telephone service to Meredith audiences. This service will provide homeowners with the one phone number they need for home services, whether it is lawn service, painting, or a full remodel. ServiceMagic.com’s team of experienced customer service representatives will help consumers find the right professional for their job and stay with them from planning to completion of the project.
“Our audiences come to us for project ideas and advice, wanting tips on style, functionality and how to save a precious resource: time,” says Gayle Butler, Editor-in-Chief of Better Homes and Gardens. “Blending Meredith’s content with ServiceMagic’s find-a-pro functionality allows us to guide consumers through the final step of a project, and makes it quicker and easier for them to reach the desired end result.”
