Rheem Offers Internet Leads to Contractors

Rheem Manufacturing Co.’s Air Conditioning Division in Fort Smith announced in March that it had partnered with ServiceMagic Inc. to provide Rheem and Ruud top contractors with real-time Internet leads from local customers seeking heating and cooling systems and services, according to a news release. Rheem’s Air Conditioning Division makes Rheem and Ruud heating and cooling products.

Top contractors are heating, ventilating and air conditioning contractors who recommend Rheem and Ruud products to their customers but also sell other brands.

ServiceMagic, based in Golden, Colo., offers a free online resource for customers to use search engines to match them with residential contractors in their area. In 2005, the company processed more than 35,500 service requests to 40,000 member businesses.

A potential customer can type in the services they are looking for in any search engine on the Internet. The enrolled contractors’ link is placed as one of the first links seen by the customer. Then ServiceMagic has the customer fill out a three-page interview with project details and passes on the information to the contractors.

For $99, contractors can enroll in the online lead generation program. ServiceMagic also charges a “nominal fee” for each lead it generates for contractors. However, the enrollment fee has been waived for Rheem and Ruud top contractors.

Businesses that have used ServiceMagic’s resources for at least a year reported a 28 percent growth in business, the press release stated.