Thryv

The only real beeps we've had is the estimate writing is really limited. I get one template and there's not a lot of flexibility in that. I've been in constant communication with support to try to modify it or put in suggestions. I also see that other contractors have the same issue. One of my big gripes is we often put just text items and some of the line items are not really products or services. They're just information that is pertinent to the project and it's something that needs a signature. So it's important to be able to have text that doesn't have a cost associated with it.

Also, I was using headers before and the template was allowing me to stack a bunch of headers at the bottom which I liked because it was highlighted. So, it stood out and I could tell it was different. But just last week, it changed. I have to put products underneath the header or it will not let me save or send the estimate. My guys are also having trouble signing on with the mobile app. It works fine for me but for one of the guys, it asks for his sign-on information and then he would hit enter but it would loop around and ask for him to sign on again. I filed a ticket for that and Thryv was working on it but I never heard anything after that. Additionally, our logo is blurry on our estimates and invoices. Thryv can't figure out why. I sent them a high-res image but as soon as it uploads, their system pixelates it. They can't figure out why.

Thryv's reps are usually helpful when I'm trying to navigate through something. But when it comes to feature requests, it's the same thing, "Go put in a feature request." Other than that, Thryv's cost is great and it's practical. We get a lot for what we pay for and I'm happy with the price. I would like to see signatures that and they have started allowing those but it would be at an additional charge.

I like them doing all of the social media for me. Even though I might not like the post 100%, it's like a template. When some of them were good to go, I'll leave them. I wanna keep my branding the same. So, if they put in a post with an image that doesn't seem on brand for me, then I'll go and edit the image or supply my own image. They've walked me all through that. It's very easy for me to do. Thryv trained me on all that. So, I like having that but them pre-making the post for me keeps me involved in that. Otherwise, I wouldn't think to do it. So, I just can make some adjustments to what they've created for me. That way, I've got a stronger social media presence.

Thryv's service has been very valuable because they've helped me with my website. I haven't done the search engine optimization with them yet, but just getting the website and cleaning up some of the connections with the search engines, just with creating the website has been helpful to drive business to me. I do my calendar bookings. We have meeting rooms that we book, so I use their scheduling appointment platform as well.

Nobody knew what was going on. Everyone that I spoke to said there was nothing that was in my account to say, "This is why it happened.” When they looked into my account, they were told that it was because my account was deemed high-risk. And no one could figure out why I was high risk. Because all I do is collect payments for a service, which is non-refundable.

A handful of times, I was told that it was rectified but it wasn't. Eventually, we finally got it updated. According to who we finally got in touch with that could figure it out, they said, "We can't have payments and donations, so you have to take the donation portion off of your website." I said, "Okay. If I had known this, it was an easy fix.”

We had to take the stuff off, and then they had to submit it for review and it was during my busy season. I said, "Do whatever you need to do to my pay. Take off whatever you need to take off.” But I was still using Square. I don't even know when it was that I went back to ThryvPay. 'Cause I was afraid to use Thryv because I didn't want my customers going on there and not be able to make payments. But they have great customer service. They were very helpful and eager to make themselves better.

One of the biggest things I needed was a website that was more easily usable by potential customers, and that is definitely what I got. The way that I'm doing my ads is I want people to go to the website, then there are links on there, "Schedule an appointment. To get more information, call me." The website works very nicely and exactly the way it's supposed to. The customers go into the website, schedule an appointment, then I get an immediate email saying, "You have a requested appointment. Please respond and confirm." I go in, and within minutes, I can confirm the appointment, or if I can't confirm it, I can offer to reschedule to a different time.

I have a PayPal account, and I originally linked things to PayPal, and my customers had trouble paying through PayPal. It was very strange, because they would get a message that they still had an outstanding invoice, but I would get a message that it was paid. Thryv needs to be aware that PayPal does not work well with them, and that is on PayPal's end. At any rate, that only has to happen once when one has that kind of a headache with a customer. After that experience, I immediately contacted Thryv and signed up for ThryvPay.

All I do is digital advertising and all of a sudden, I went to send a review to go on to Google to one of my customers through Thryv and they set things up for me so I could easily do it. The link is right there and it comes back saying, “Your Google account has been suspended.” It's a big ordeal and I'm trying to get it back. They suspended the account for a security reason. I was using my UPS box as my address, which they don't like. So, I immediately went on but I didn't know how to do it. It was all set up from the first advertising company that I had. I went in and I changed the address to my home address and just listed it so that customers can't see the address and did it that way. I had to fill out this form and send it to them. And they said it has been submitted. I had to try 10 times before it was submitted correctly, but it was submitted. And I've been waiting two weeks, and I'm still not on Google. I'm still suspended.

I have had some customers that have been able to get ahold of me. A lot of them, when they search in Dade County, they come up with my friend in Broward County who is the franchisee there. And as soon as they call him, he tells them to call me so, I've gotten a few there. But this time last year, I was booked four weeks out. And I'm only booked two weeks out. And most of the bookings I've got are from commercial customers that I've serviced in the past and references. It's not been very much from people searching. And that's the brunt of our business. Because once we do service for people, they don't need us for many years after that.

Thryv is coming on Monday, sending a videographer, which isn't costing me anything, to do some 60-second things to put on to YouTube and different kinds of social media. Nobody's ever offered anything like that before. They also had somebody go over my website. I told the old company who set up the website that I wanted to add a gallery and they said they would be glad to help me with that for $150 an hour. I told them to forget it and to just show me how to do it. But they never did. Thryv came in and said they would help me with that for free. And they've made some excellent changes. All Thryv has done is try to help me every step of the way.

I spoke to my franchisor and told them how much Thryv is giving me and what kind of service they're giving me at what price and that they've been doing everything very well. So, I even expressed on our quarterly conference call amongst the other franchisees that I found this new company if anybody's looking. I've been happy with Thryv so far. I just want my phone to be ringing a lot more.