Latest news with #homeServices
Associated Press
30-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
BeFindable Levels the Playing Field: Local SEO Agency Empowers Local Home Services Businesses to Outrank National Giants
Revolutionary Local Search Optimization Strategies Transform Small Contractors into Local Market Leaders, Proving Size Doesn't Matter in the Digital Age 'We're not just a Local SEO agency; we're community builders, every small business we help succeed strengthens the local economy and preserves the entrepreneurial spirit that makes communities thrive.'— Mark Reid LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, June 30, 2025 / / -- In a classic David versus Goliath story playing out across America's digital landscape, BeFindable, a specialized local SEO agency, is helping small home services businesses and contractors defeat corporate giants in local search results. Through strategic local search engine optimization, the agency has enabled countless small businesses to outrank national franchises and corporate competitors in their own communities. 'We're witnessing a fundamental shift in how consumers find local services,' said Mark Reid, Founder at BeFindable. 'While national brands have massive marketing budgets, they can't compete with a local business that's properly optimized for their specific community. We're giving small businesses the digital slingshot they need to take down the corporate Goliaths.' The Local Advantage Revolution BeFindable's comprehensive approach addresses the unique challenges faced by home services businesses and contractors who compete against well-funded national chains. Their multi-pronged strategy includes: Google Business Profile Optimization: Ensuring local businesses dominate map results and local search queries Automated Review Management: Building trust and credibility through strategic 5-star review collection Local Link Building: Creating authoritative local backlinks that national competitors can't replicate Geo-Targeted Content Creation: Developing location-specific content that resonates with local customers Citation Building: Establishing consistent local directory presence across key platforms Turning Geographic Intimacy into Competitive Advantage Recent industry data shows that 97% of consumers search online for local businesses, with 88% of local searches resulting in calls or visits within 24 hours. BeFindable capitalizes on this trend by transforming what many small businesses see as a disadvantage – limited geographic reach – into their greatest strength. 'A local plumber in Denver doesn't need to compete with every plumber in America,' explained Mark Reid. 'They need to be the first result when someone in their neighborhood has a leaky pipe at midnight. That's where local SEO becomes the great equalizer.' Measurable David vs. Goliath Victories The agency's impact extends beyond rankings to real business growth. Clients typically experience significant increases in local search visibility, customer inquiries, and revenue within 90 days of implementation. Unlike national marketing campaigns that cast wide nets, BeFindable's targeted approach ensures marketing dollars work harder by focusing on customers most likely to convert. The Small Business Renaissance BeFindable's success reflects a broader trend of small businesses leveraging technology to compete more effectively. By combining local market knowledge with sophisticated digital marketing techniques, small home services businesses can now achieve visibility that was previously exclusive to large corporations with substantial advertising budgets. 'We're not just a Local SEO agency; we're community builders, every small business we help succeed strengthens the local economy and preserves the entrepreneurial spirit that makes communities thrive.' explained Mark Reid. Technology Meets Community The agency's approach recognizes that local search is inherently different from traditional SEO. Local customers prioritize proximity, reputation, and community connection over brand recognition. BeFindable's strategies amplify these natural advantages, ensuring that local businesses appear prominently when their neighbors need their services. About BeFindable BeFindable specializes in local SEO services for home services businesses and contractors. The agency's comprehensive approach includes Google Business Profile optimization, automated review management, local link building, website optimization, and technical SEO services designed specifically for local market domination. Through strategic local search optimization, BeFindable helps small businesses compete effectively against national brands in their local markets. For more information about BeFindable's local SEO services, visit Media Contact: Mark Reid BeFindable Phone: 855 426 5855 Email: [email protected] Website: This press release contains forward-looking statements about local SEO performance. Individual results may vary based on market conditions, competition, and implementation factors. Mark Reid BeFindable email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southern Trust Home Services marks 30 years of serving Virginia homeowners
Owner Ted Puzio looks back on humble beginnings, hard times and the journey to become leading Roanoke home services company ROANOKE, Va., June 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Trust Home Services, a leading electrical, HVAC and plumbing company serving southwest Virginia, is celebrating 30 years of business — overcoming numerous challenges and landing big wins — on the path to success. Owner Ted Puzio says the road to Southern Trust's current iteration was bumpy at times, but he wouldn't have it any other way. "To say we started off small would be an understatement," Puzio said. "When I first opened shop, I was a single dad with two boys, and I was running the business out of our home. We lived on one floor, and the business was on the other. It was challenging, and it was tough keeping that balance between family life and the shop, but we made it work." Southern Trust Home Services has gone through a few changes since the days of working out of the Puzio home on its path to becoming the southern Virginia powerhouse it is today: Initially called TP Electric and focused on new construction, it wasn't long before Puzio realized the business needed to go a different route and focus on residential work, becoming Southern State Electric in 1997. In 2011, Puzio added plumbing services, and just three years later, he added an HVAC division. The new divisions made the company the first in its market to offer service across multiple trades. In 2015, the company rebranded as Southern Trust Home Services and moved to a large, commercial location in Roanoke. Southern Trust began to receive national acclaim when Puzio was named Contractor of the Year by Contractor Magazine in 2017. Additional recognitions include becoming a 2021 Contractor of Excellence by Contracting Business, multiple other honors such as "Truck of the Month" spotlights and placement on the Inc. 5000, a list of fastest-growing private companies in America. Puzio says the company faced hard times as well, but the challenges helped him learn, fortify his processes and services, and remain determined to become the best home service company in the area. "I've got multiple employees who have been with me for more than a decade, and in this industry, that kind of loyalty and dedication is hard to come by so we must be doing something right," Puzio said. "My team has put their faith in me through thick and thin, and together we've built a name and a place in this community that's welcomed us into their homes for more than 30 years. It wasn't always easy, but I couldn't be prouder of what we've accomplished." For more information, contact Southern Trust Home Services at (540) 343-4348 or visit About Southern Trust Home ServicesFounded in 1995 as TP Electric, Southern Trust Home Services provides residential plumbing, electrical and HVAC services and drain cleaning to homeowners in more than 60 cities throughout southwest Virginia. Trucks are ready and on stand-by for emergency services 24/7, and financing options and lifetime guarantees are also available. As Roanoke's first home services company to offer a lifetime guarantee on all recommended repairs, Southern Trust Home Services staffs dedicated, certified, licensed and insured, drug and criminal background checked technicians who provide timely, same-day services for a variety of home repairs, installations, and maintenance. An A+ Better Business Bureau accredited company since 2006, Southern Trust Home Services has financing available including 0% for 18 months, and Lifetime Repair Guarantee on stated repairs. To find out more, call 540-343-4348 or visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Southern Trust Home Services Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
15-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Most Overlooked Opportunity In AI Isn't What You Think
HVAC AI: coming to a VC team near you. It's no secret that generative AI has been dominating the venture capital discourse. But while many investors continue to chase co-pilots for coders and GPT plug-ins for enterprise software, a quieter AI revolution is taking place in industries often overlooked by tech: plumbing, HVAC, and skilled trades. Netic, a San Francisco-based startup, recently raised $20 million from Greylock and Founders Fund to bring AI to the home services sector. Its platform automates client outreach, schedules technicians, and even predicts emergency service needs. This is not just a flash in the pan. McKinsey estiamtes that global invstment in construction and engineering technology doubled to $50 billion in the period between 2020 and 2022 vs. 2017 and 2019. Silicon Valley is often perceived to favor abstract problems over physical ones; more than half of venture dollars have flooded into AI infrastructure and enterprise productivity. Critical sectors like home servicesre main reliant on manual processes, word-of-mouth referrals, and outdated systems. These represent the next frontier in AI and fintech innovation. Pricing transparency is one are where AI can influence the construction industry. In this context, the emergence of 'HVAC AI" feels both timely and overdue. Despite their unglamorous nature, these sectors represent essential services. Demand is surging due to aging infrastructure, climate extremes, and a shrinking labor pool. But the software layer supporting these workers remains fragile at best. Much of the attention so far has focused on scheduling automation. But the challenges in home services extend far beyond the calendar. Homeowners frequently receive drastically different quotes for the same repair job with no clear standard for comparison. Plumbing estimates can range from $300 to $1,200, depending on who you call. This inconsistency erodes trust and drives inefficiency. Standardized pricing frameworks powered by AI could help address this. Using regional data and historical estimates, platforms could benchmark average costs, enabling providers to differentiate based on quality rather than opacity. This would not only improve the customer experience. Furthermore, it would reward contractors who operate transparently and efficiently. Project visibility is another critical gap. Delays are common in repair and renovation projects, but homeowners often do not find out until it is too late. Commercial builders have long used project management software to reduce rework and miscommunication; some report a 20% reduction in delays due to better coordination. A similar tool for residential projects could dramatically improve outcomes for consumers and contracots aliek. Imagine a world where real-time updates, timelines, and permit tracking are avialable in one click. This is the true power of 'HVAC AI.' Single women are a rising percentage of first-time home buyers. Homeowners often lose track of service intervals or warranty expiration dates. AI could streamline this process, acting as a digital maintenance assistant: logging repair history, tracking service schedules, and surfacing proactive alerts before things break. For providers, this creates opportunities to build long-term relationships rather than one-off transactions. Predictive modeling offers even more promise. Given a home's age, square footage, location, and renovation history, machine learning models could forecast when major systems might require maintenance or replacement. If a prospective home buyer, for instance, knows at the time of purchase that she will need replace a roof in 5 years, she can begin to plan financially. These insights would empower consumers to budget more effectively and make informed decisions at the point of purchase, not in moments of crisis. These gaps are not theoretical. They are felt most acutely by the growing segment of homeowners navigating maintenance without deep expertise or trusted referrals. Women now make up the majority of first-time homebuyers in the U.S., despite earning less than their male counterparts. Yet the service landscape remains opaque, inconsistent, and in many cases, dismissive. This represents both a market inefficiency and an equity issue. Tech solutions that address these problems holistically will not only modernize the industry, but also make it more iclusive, trusworthy, and efficient. Pricing transparency, proactive maintenance, and real-time updates are merely the tip of the spear. The venture community often talks about 'picks and shovels' investing, which refers to building foundational tools rather than flashy end-user apps. Yet some of the most powerful picks and shovels may be those helping legacy industries work smarter, not harder. In an era where AI is too often reduced to chatbots and copilots, the bigger opportunity might be in making sure someone shows up on time to fix your boiler—and knows exactly what it will cost. The next generation of AI breakthroughs may not look like another unicorn SaaS platform. They may look like the smart layer sitting on top of physical labor, infrastructure, and home services that have kept cities running for decades. Investors would be wise to pay attention.
Zawya
02-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
From start-up to standout: Why investing in techpreneurs is investing in the future?
In May 2025, GoodApp, a South African-born home services platform, was named Start-Up of the Year at the prestigious Intelligent ICT Awards, an honour that not only recognises technical achievement but also affirms the growing momentum behind purpose-driven African innovation. Founded with a bold vision to reimagine how communities' access essential services, GoodApp is quickly becoming a case study in what's possible when local talent meets global ambition. More than just a service marketplace, it is a digital infrastructure layer that connects customers with vetted professionals ranging from electricians and plumbers to beauticians, handymen, massage therapists, and more, all at the tap of a button. At the helm of the company's technological evolution is Prakhar Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer, whose product leadership has enabled the platform to scale rapidly across South Africa's urban hubs. 'We believe technology should be transformational, not just functional,' says Srivastava. 'GoodApp was created to remove friction from everyday life and unlock opportunity for both users and service providers.' The team's journey from a bootstrapped concept to an award-winning platform underscores the broader need for more investment in African tech ecosystems. While recognition is valuable, Srivastava emphasises that startups need more than applause, they need capital, infrastructure, mentorship, and regulatory environments that allow innovation to thrive. Across the continent, a new generation of techpreneurs is building solutions that are locally grounded yet globally scalable. From fintech and agritech to healthtech and edtech, African founders are no longer just responding to problems, they're anticipating them. 'It takes an ecosystem,' notes Srivastava. 'Investors, regulators, customers, and collaborators must come together with a shared belief that tech is not just an industry, but a vehicle for inclusive growth.' GoodApp's rise is a testament to that philosophy. Its platform prioritises trust, quality, and community upliftment, with every service provider undergoing rigorous vetting, background checks, and performance monitoring. Customer ratings and reviews ensure transparency, while technology enables seamless access for users across income levels and geographies. Srivastava concludes: 'As African digital economies continue to expand, platforms like GoodApp show what's possible when ambition meets support – and when startups are given the resources to scale. To policymakers: build frameworks that encourage innovation. To investors: look beyond the spreadsheet – see the vision. To founders: build with purpose, and build for people. Because the next global tech success story won't just come from Silicon Valley. It will come from Soweto, Nairobi, Lagos, or Khayelitsha. And when it does, it will be because someone chose to back an idea that mattered.'
Entrepreneur
29-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Snabbit Raises USD 19 Mn Series B to Transform On-Demand Home Services
The Series B round was led by Lightspeed, with continued participation from Elevation Capital and Nexus Venture Partners. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Snabbit, the Mumbai-based on-demand home services startup, has raised USD 19 million in its Series B round, led by Lightspeed, with continued participation from Elevation Capital and Nexus Venture Partners. This fresh infusion comes just four months after Snabbit's USD 5.5 million Series A, underscoring strong investor conviction in the startup's breakout potential and its vision to revolutionize how Indian households access everyday services. The newly raised capital will be strategically deployed to expand Snabbit's operations from 10 to over 200 micro-markets in the next nine months. The company also plans to scale its workforce, investing heavily in team building and training, as it ramps up operations to meet rising demand. "At Snabbit, we're leading the biggest disruption in Indian consumer internet today, fundamentally changing how households access regular services," said Aayush Agarwal, Founder and CEO. "While ride-hailing transformed mobility and e-commerce reshaped fashion, regular home services remained largely undigitised. With Snabbit, we're solving for trust, quality, and speed — all at the tap of a button." Founded in 2024 by Aayush Agarwal, Snabbit is a quick-service app for home services, offering on-demand assistance for tasks like cleaning, dishwashing, and laundry. Users can book trained professionals by the hour, who arrive within 10–15 minutes, enabled by Snabbit's hyperlocal, tech-enabled infrastructure. Snabbit operates on a full-stack model, managing everything from sourcing and training experts to quality assurance and pricing. Its innovative time-based pricing and commitment to speed make it a daily utility for urban families. Snabbit is also reshaping the lives of service providers, many of whom are women from informal employment backgrounds. "They now have Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, insurance, and steady incomes," said Aayush. "Once invisible and underpaid, they're now trained, trusted, and celebrated professionals." Rahul Taneja, Partner at Lightspeed, remarked, "Aayush and the team are building a platform that brings structure and dignity to a sector long ignored. We're proud to support this transformation." Suvir Sujan of Nexus Venture Partners and Manish Advani of Elevation Capital echoed similar optimism, praising Snabbit's scalable model and its ability to crack a complex, underserved market. With this new funding, Snabbit is well on its way to making trusted, high-quality home services a mainstream part of urban Indian life.
