It’s not enough to just have a presence on Houzz, AngiesList and Porch. You have to do it right and always stay up-to-date.

A couple of years back, you created accounts for your business on Houzz, AngiesList, or Porch. Now what? It’s not enough to display a bunch of pretty pictures on these sites, then sit back and wait for business. Both sites take work and a some finessing to make them pay high dividends. Here are a number of tips you can use to ensure that these referral sites are yielding the best results possible for them.

1. Post professional photosTop-quality project photos, and lots of them, are a must. The more photos you post with your profile and the more interesting the projects they show, the more exposure, attention, and homeowner interaction your company will get. Upload as many photos as you can as often as possible.If you include “before” photos, make sure that they are clearly labeled as such. You can position them to appear following the “after” shots to avoid confusion. Hire a professional architectural photographer to shoot the completed projects, and stage the rooms if necessary.

2. Be assertive in getting reviews

   Today’s consumers heavily rely on customer reviews when making buying decisions; so don’t be shy about requesting them. Satisfied clients generally are happy to help you by posting positive feedback. Most referral sites like Houzz and AngiesList contain features that help professionals send requests for reviews to clients. The responses go back to the website, within your profile area. The more reviews you get the better.

   A stone and porch contractor, DM Outdoor Living Spaces in Westerns Springs, IL, has impressive  reviews posted on his website, from referral websites such as Houzz and Angies List. To obtain reviews, he requests them early and often. When the contract is signed and at job completion he asks clients to review the company.  At project completion, DM Outdoor Living Spaces sends clients an e-mail explaining the importance of customer feedback in the company’s online marketing and provides links they can use to submit reviews.

   By managing client satisfaction throughout the project, DM Outdoor is confident that the reviews will be positive. Houzz has a reputation management guide for professionals to help them respond to negative reviews in a polite, constructive manner.

3. Stay active, update often

   Keep your company presence fresh and dynamic, uploading new project photos, arranging photos and displays for variety and interest, and revising company and project narratives. Even though it may take several hours a month to update their profiles, it is time well spent when the leads come rolling in.

4. Communicate with consumers on the site

   Participate in online discussions, even if the homeowners are not in your market. You will be increasing exposure for your company and showcasing your creativity, knowledge, and industry engagement.

   And if consumers ask about something in a photo—what did you design for this customer, for instance—always respond, even if you don’t know the answer. A quick sentence or two showing friendliness, professionalism, and willingness to help can be as beneficial as actually providing the answer.

Peggy Hiemer is one of the content team managers at Apple Pie Design. Follow her team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.