HelpHive.com Launches Disruptive Marketing Vehicle for Home Service Professionals

HelpHive.com Launches Disruptive Marketing Vehicle for Home Service Professionals

HelpHive.com, the free-to-consumer social referral marketplace connecting Homeowners and Home Service Professionals (http://www.helphive.com), launched today its "Referral Pro" Plans which leapfrog traditional lead generation and advertising programs by taking a performance based approach to online customer acquisition. HelpHive also announced today that it is partnering with TurnHere, the leading online video marketing services company. Through this partnership, HelpHive is able to offer businesses that have claimed their HelpHive business page FREE, custom-produced video profiles.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) October 21, 2009 -- HelpHive.com (http://www.helphive.com), the free-to-consumer social referral marketplace connecting Homeowners and Home Service Professionals, launched today its "Referral Pro" Plans which leapfrog traditional lead generation and advertising programs by taking a performance based approach to online customer acquisition. Just as search engine marketing disrupted traditional display advertising with the cost-per-click model, HelpHive takes aim at the traditional small business advertising and lead generation models of pay-per-lead and pay-per-call with a "pay-per-job" model.

"With service-based businesses, such as plumbers, landscapers, handymen and contractors, it's not about impressions and clicks, but quality phone calls and emails. Intent and engagement mean everything to these businesses. Why should they pay if the intent is questionable or engagement unlikely?" says HelpHive Co-founder, Karim Meghji. "We only get paid when there is intent -- a qualified customer, or engagement -- a booked job with a customer."

HelpHive's focus on high quality referrals, enable it to offer this disruptive performance based approach, at a low cost, in an easy to use package that's "small business friendly".

1. High quality referrals. By integrating social networks and online email address-books, HelpHive makes it easy for homeowners to find referrals from those they trust the most - friends, colleagues and neighbors. Trusted referrals = High quality referrals.

2. A disruptive, performance based business model. Given its high quality referrals, HelpHive can confidently offer a true performance based approach at a low cost. HelpHive gets paid when businesses are paid. For booked jobs, businesses pay a small commission based on the job revenue. For each qualified referral that doesn't result in a job, businesses pay a nominal referral fee. And if the referral isn't qualified, they pay nothing.

3. An easy to use package that's small business friendly. Additionally, high quality referrals enable HelpHive to take a unique approach to vetting qualified referrals and booked jobs. Businesses disclose this information using HelpHive's easy to use, online Customer Center. Gone are the days of lengthy phone calls and long email exchanges with customer support centers to deal with the issue of non-qualified leads and poor quality referrals.

Free Videos for Small Businesses

HelpHive also announced today that it is partnering with TurnHere, the leading online video marketing services company (http://www.turnhere.com). Through this partnership, HelpHive is able to offer businesses that have claimed their HelpHive business page FREE, custom-produced video profiles in order to engage potential customers and generate new business on the Internet. In research conducted by TurnHere and its partners, online video was shown to increase call volume by 16-20%. The video package includes a 60-second TurnHere-produced video, and access to TurnHere's strong network of independent, professional filmmakers.

"For service-based businesses, it's all about selling their expertise, their craft, themselves. What better tool to do this than video?" says HelpHive Co-founder, Dave Richards. "With videos typically costing businesses a $1000 or more to produce, we're thrilled to be partnering with TurnHere to offer HelpHive businesses a compelling sales tool at a great price - free. "

"Industry research shows without a doubt that online video is more successful than text or static images at engaging viewers, increasing purchase intent and improving brand awareness," said John McWeeny, COO of TurnHere. "Our low-cost model makes professional video affordable and feasible for the local and small business."

Referral Pro Plan Availability and Pricing

The HelpHive Referral Pro Gold Plan (http://www.helphive.com/plans) is available immediately at the special introductory price of $99 / year. This plan includes one year of premium promotion and sponsored placement, a $100 savings off the regular $199 / year price point. Businesses also pay a small 5% commission of each job's revenue OR a nominal $5 fee for each qualified referral that doesn't result in a job.

About HelpHive

HelpHive.com provides homeowners an easy and free way to find rated and reviewed Home Service Professionals, such as Plumbers, Landscapers, Handymen, Contractors, Cleaners and More (http://www.helphive.com). HelpHive integrates with popular social networks and email address-books to enable homeowners to quickly find reviews and recommendations from those they trust most - friends, colleagues and neighbors. HelpHive, Inc. was founded in 2008 by Dave Richards and Karim Meghji, experienced entrepreneurs who have together built multiple businesses from start to over $100MM in revenues. Dave & Karim mostly recently worked together at Real Networks pioneering the development and marketing of digital media products and services including RealPlayer, RealJukebox, SuperPass, RadioPass and Rhapsody. HelpHive is headquartered in the Seattle area. Read more about HelpHive. (http://www.helphive.com/company/about)

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Contact Information Karim Meghji

HelpHive, Inc.

http://www.helphive.com

425-367-9928

Dave Richards

HelpHive, Inc.

http://www.helphive.com

206-372-4494