HaystackHelp.com is tool we've built to give you, the consumer, a one-stop shopping Web site to find reliable businesses and services from everything from home and car repair to doctors and financial experts. This article takes you inside Haystack Help to find out how it works and what we're doing to give you peace of mind.
HaystackHelp.com is a consumer referral Web site designed to bring consumers the best services with no hassle. Every day life can easily take up a large chuck of time, meaning when we need something fixed, we just call any business listed in the phone book or online.
But when you choose an Official Haystack Registered Company, you're not just choosing any business.
"We spent a considerable amount of time looking through the history and the records of each company that's a member of HaystackHelp.com to ensure that they have a great reputation and a clean background," said Scott Whatley, Haystack Help Vice President.
People can call a company on the Web site secure in the knowledge that we've done all the leg work for you. Each Haystack company has been screened to make sure they are reliable, do quality work, offer fair pricing, and provide outstanding customer service. We also run criminal and regulatory background checks, review court records and check licenses to weed-out businesses with problems. (Learn more)
"No one wants to work with a business that's been reported to the Better Business Bureau or if the business owner has been arrested or maybe even taken to court," said Melissa Reiss. "So at Haystack, we do all the research for you. So you can feel that the company you choose has a good business record and they have good work ethics."
HaystackHelp.com is broken into seven basic industries: Contractors, Legal, Automotive, Medical, Financial, Real Estate and Retail. Under those seven main headings, there are potentially dozens of sub-categories to help you narrow the search for the service or business you're looking for.
The Web site was built by New Media Denver. The Web development company started 13 years ago in the Mile High City and continues to grow with offices across the country.
"Our primary focus is database driven sites," said Steve Morris, New Media director of business development. "So sites that are more than just brochures. They have interactivity behind the scenes. We deliver content, catalogue kind of sites. Publishing Web sites. Things that are a little bit more involved that the standard Web site might be."
At their Lower Downtown office in Denver, designers and programmers worked hand in hand to leverage the latest technology and software while keeping the Web site simple and easy-to-use.
"We used a very elaborate content management system that allows the owner of the site to manage large amounts of individually categorized content very easily," Morris said. "It is a very complex system in the backend, but from a management perspective and from a user perspective for the visitor it is very very simple."
People who visit the site don't have to know what category the service you need might be listed under. They can just use the search function near the top of every page on HaystackHelp.com. All they have to do is simply answer the question: "What do you need?"
"Each vendor based on the service that they offer has certain keywords associated," Morris said. "So for example, a contractor who does work in roofing and maybe additional construction would have roof, or roofing or roofer attached to their listing as a keyword. Therefore, when you search for that keyword, all the vendors that have that keyword on their listings page will come up and you can choose the one that is best for you."
Some of the listed businesses may have more than one location, so be sure to take a closer look at all of the available options.
Clicking on a single business from this listing will take you to that company's unique information page. That's where more about the business is available. Users can see any related videos, learn about special deals and get specifics on all of its locations.
"Each vendor with a location has a Google map integrated page on their vendor listing page," Morris said. "And you can see their individual location or multiple locations if they have more than one. You can find the one nearest to you. You can get driving directions if you like them. It just makes it a lot easier to visually understand where the person you are working with is located and makes it easier for you as a consumer."
There's also a place to read other consumers' feedback about the company. All of these tools are designed to help you make an informed decision about who to contact for the service you need.
If you don't want to use the search function, browsing for a specific category is simple and easy from the main industry buttons right on the homepage.
"You can browse through different levels of categories," said Morris. "Let's say you're searching for an automobile mechanic. And then within that category you can find an oil change expert. And within that area you can find the one that is best in your area which may be downtown Denver."
Simply move your mouse over the industry button for automotive and click on it. Then a list of the more specialized categories will appear. Find the type of business you're looking for and click on it!
When you pick an industry, you'll then need to choose which area you live in. We've broken the Front Range of Colorad into three main regions: Denver, Boulder/Longmont and Northern Colorado.
When you select a specialized category, Haystack gives you a list of businesses that provide that type of service in your area. Again, you'll be able to then go to each businesses unique page to learn more details.
HaystackHelp.com is also a resource for consumers as they seek answers to their home, car, legal, medical, financial and other questions. Right on the Web site homepage is the "Help" box. This is where we want you to send us your complaints about any business or questions for our experts.
"How many times have you been wondering how to fix that leaky faucet or caulk those tiles around your bathtub," Whatley said.
Official Haystack Registered Companies with experts on the issue you've asked about will provide answers and advice as you work to make a decision on what's best for your situation. And Haystack Help will look into your complaints about any business. If appropriate, we'll forward your information to state regulators.
Haystack Help visitors can also learn about a wide range of issues by reading the available articles.
And if you missed an episode of Haystack TV, make sure to visit the video player on the homepage. All of the segments from Haystack TV will be available for you anytime and on demand.
No matter where you go on HaystackHelp.com, you'll always be able to browse or search for whatever you need. The industry menu buttons and search bar are right there at the top of every single page on our site.