Unmatched Quality - HGTV and HGTVPro

Issue Date: September 28, 2007, Posted On: 9/28/2007

By Marc Henderson

Unmatched Quality - HGTV and HGTVPro

The Internet has made information exceptionally accessible, however, this has not occurred without an attached compensatory price. For example, the publishing of a book or manual requires not only years, but a substantial financial investment as well. Now, in the current age of technology, information can be uploaded to the web in a matter of moments, and at virtually no cost. The consequence of spreading information in this manner concerns quality control. For a book to be published the information filling the pages must be of some value and it is likely that it was checked for accuracy. This is completed of course to protect the interests and investments of the publishing house. However, where the Internet is concerned, information and advice can be given without ever passing any measurable tests of accuracy or relevancy. This phenomenon has created an overabundance of websites that either present incorrect information, or that present relatively useless information. Unfortunately, viewers are left to discern, on their own, whether or not to trust a particular source and to determine if the source adds any value.

This hodgepodge of information is found in all industries, but there is one particular sector that we can all relate to - our homes. Magazine racks are filled with home improvement monthly's, book shelves are overflowing with design manuals, and television offers up a number of shows and networks geared entirely to home repair, design, or construction. Now, add to this the number of blogs, video clips and websites devoted to the same topic and it is easy to be overwhelmed by the quantity of resources available. But, quantity does not equal quality, and herein, lays the value of HGTV.com. Not only is the information on the site extremely relevant and useful, it is consolidated, which allows viewers to get all their home questions answered in one place. This may not sound like much, but when you are redecorating multiple rooms of your home, not to mention trying to redo landscaping, a lot of time can be wasted consulting multiple sites. HGTV.com is a one-stop shop for all things concerning the home. This site has so many features it would be impossible to highlight them all; however, whether you are a first time homeowner or a professional contractor, HGTV.com has something for you. For example, let’s say you are looking for advice on how to complete a particular do-it-yourself project, you can actually watch a video clip providing step-by-step instructions for getting the job done. Yet, the real benefit lies in that you can also, from the same site, buy the necessary tools and supplies to complete your repairs. Or, let’s say you are planning on selling your home in a few months and would like to know the current decorating trends. HGTV.com has plenty of articles to reference that will provide unique ideas, many of which are accessible and realistic for the everyday homeowner.

Of additional interest is the HGTV.com message board, which is a great resource to tap for advice on any number of things. Message boards are a wonderful place to meet other of the same interests, to generate new ideas for your home, and to find out what is working for others around the country and around the world. Or if you are looking for some fun and are feeling lucky, enter an HGTV.com sweepstake. Otherwise, if you are strictly focused on one particular topic, sign up for an HGTV.com newsletter to be delivered via email.

Perhaps though, you are a professional in the industry and you are looking for something with a little more meat. HGTVPro.com is your one-stop resource for products, design trends, and building information. Many of the same features that are available on HGTV.com are offered on HGTVPro.com, yet the content is clearly aimed at the professional audience. The site is very broad in resources, which allows professionals to utilize HGTVPro.com in numerous ways. One of which is to connect with other professionals in the industry via the message boards. Or, visit the product section where purchases can be made and product reviews can be read. Additionally, HGTVPro.com also offers sweepstakes, articles, and many other tools such as building calculators and building estimators.

HGTV.com and HGTVPro.com have brought together an enormous amount of information in a user-friendly manner. While this is what most people expect from a website, it is in fact unique to find such a site amongst the plethora of useless pages out there. But, given that the HGTV brand is well respected, it should not come as a surprise that the site is so well managed and that the information on it is found to be accurate. Whether you are a recreational decorator or a contractor by trade, the sites HGTV.com and HGTVPro.com are in fact the next best things since sliced bread.