It is the question we get asked most about the Verified Vendor programme, usually by someone whose category is already full. It is worth explaining the reasoning.
The maths of a crowded directory
Imagine a directory with forty plumbers. A referral comes in. Your odds of getting it are one in forty, and the customer has to do the work of choosing.
Now imagine two. The referral goes to one of you, and it arrives as a recommendation rather than an option.
The listing is not more valuable because there are more members. It is less valuable.
It protects the recommendation
When we refer someone, our credibility is attached. That only works if we genuinely know the vendors we are recommending.
You cannot personally vouch for forty companies in one category. You can vouch for two. The cap is what makes the word verified mean something.
It protects the customer too
A small business owner looking for help does not want forty options. They want one good one from someone they trust. Narrowing the field is the service, not a limitation of it.
What this means if you want in
Categories fill, and when one fills in your area it stays closed until a position opens. There is no waiting-list fee and no way to buy your way past it.
It also means that if your category is open, that position is genuinely worth having.
What we look for
Demonstrated professionalism, a track record of business success, and a willingness to offer a complimentary consultation before any paid work begins. Patience with new and growing businesses is essential, because many of the people we refer are early on.
Check whether your category is open on the Verified Vendors page, or call 703-596-4033.
