S & E TRUSTED ONLINE DIRECTORIES INC & FIX IT UP -JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
For Release - January 26th, 2021 at 10 am SASKATOON, SK
TRUSTED DIRECTORIES ANNOUNCE A PARTNERSHIP WITH FIX IT UP!
S & E Trusted Online Directories is a multi-award-winning Saskatchewan marketing company headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Founded in 2011 by local award-winning entrepreneur Sara Wheelwright, it has a local online directory division, that includes Trustedsaskatoon.com and Trustedregina.com. In addition, there is a full-service marketing agency, Our company focus is supporting local businesses operated with integrity as a priority.
FIX IT UP is owned by Brad Fekula and Dwayne Melcher. Brad has over a decade of marketing expertise at Cubbon Advertising, primarily dealing with Saskatchewan businesses. Dwayne is the owner of Melcher Media, a previously Trusted Regina website company and a highly respected Saskatchewan tech agency specializing in software and virtual reality (VR) development. The Fix-It Up software allows consumers a convenient and reliable way to save time and money when looking for a local quote. The FIX IT UP quote software was created by the developers at Melcher Media to revolutionize the way quotes are provided.
SASKATCHEWAN TECH COLLABORATING TO CREATE ADDITIONAL VALUE FOR SMALL SASK BUSINESSES
In 2020 Trusted and FIX IT Up entered into a mutually beneficial legal partnership agreement with the view to providing more support to local businesses in Saskatchewan. On the surface the 2 companies may seem to be in competition as local web-based directories; but in fact, on closer inspection, it became obvious that they instead complement each other's activities. They share a common goal, to provide the best solutions and advertising value to their clients in the Saskatchewan services industry.
The Trusted Directories partner with a select and restricted number of locally owned businesses. These businesses fall into 40 specific categories and most are based in and around Saskatoon and Regina. These businesses are mostly service providers, and to become partners they must meet a unique set of standards, pass a Trusted qualification process, and sign a contract to commit to upholding specific standards of service ‘ The Trusted Guarantees’. Trusted then promotes the partners individually and as part of the ‘Trusted Community’. Essentially, we sell the Trusted Partners as our only ‘product‘ to the local marketplace via a comprehensive marketing campaign - including, but not limited to, billboards, radio, social media, CPC campaigns, event marketing, sponsorship, and more. This gives the partners significant exposure in their local marketplace, drives quality leads, and helps their SEO. Trusted also contributes time and money to help the partner's community support efforts, and the Trusted community holds each other accountable as a group of like-minded, quality-driven, locally owned businesses.
FIX IT UP directories on the other hand, primarily provides a comprehensive quoting platform for local service providers in over 220+ categories. A detailed and industry-specific online quoting system saves service providers significant time. In addition, to build such a platform/feature on their own websites would be a significant cost that most service providers would not invest in. FIX IT UP businesses pay a very small lead fee, which they only pay if they are selected for a job they quote. The benefits for consumers and corporations is that they can provide all their information in one easy-to-use platform and await quotes from local service providers. This is a managed process and also saves consumers time shopping around and the frustration of businesses not getting back to enquiries in a timely manner.
The Trusted/FIX IT UP partnership involves the following elements:
1. Integration of the FIX IT UP quote software into the Trusted Directories clouded database platform.
This means that Trusted Partners will be able to receive detailed quotes from local consumers who want a Trusted local service provider. This saves the consumer time and as the partners have to respond in a timely fashion customers are not left ‘ hanging ‘ waiting for a reply. In addition, they can request a quote at their convenience as our platform is open for business 24/ 7!
A bonus for the Trusted partners, is that the quote link and landing page is unique to each business. This means they will not be competing with other businesses in their category that are signed up as a FIX IT UP provider.
See a listing example here: https://www.trustedsaskatoon.com/listing.aspx?lid=334 
2. Trusted Saskatoon & Regina Partners who are listed on Fix It Up will be highlighted as Trusted on Fix It Up.
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This differentiates Trusted Partners and recognizes the steps they have taken to invest in their integrity.
It also shines a spotlight on their consistently high standards of quality work and customer service and gives them an advantage in the selection process.
3. FIX IT UP operates on a ‘ typical online directory model’.
They aim to sign up as many businesses as possible and charge a very small fee per lead. After staffing and development costs this does not allow for much capital to invest in local marketing to drive consumers to use the platform, especially when it comes to mass media like print, broadcast or billboard.
The Trusted Directories model is different, they charge more for an annual fee and severely restrict the number of businesses in each category to offer much more individual promotion, marketing value, and personalized service for their partners. They appreciate the quality of the FIX IT UP quoting software and in return for integration they are committed to promoting the feature and their FIX IT UP Partnership as part of their ongoing marketing strategy in the cities they serve.
The owners of Trusted and FIX IT UP believe that local businesses like themselves should actively seek out collaboration opportunities in order to become more successful. We appreciate each other’s strengths, and we are proud to enter into a partnership as two established and recognized leaders in the Saskatchewan marketing industry. A community whose tech sector collaborates is a valuable asset to the province and we believe is crucial for the success of Sask tech as a whole.
Support local and we all win!
