Two Weeks Before Announcing the Best Companies in the U.S.: Final Touches and Weekly Progress Review

Hello to everyone who enjoys reading my progress reports!

This week, our COCO team made significant strides. We are moving forward on our path to creating a truly high-quality and user-friendly ranking system for those seeking the best countertop installation contractors. Every area of our work—from designing and developing the new site to engaging with users on social media—has contributed to this packed week.

Get comfortable and enjoy our weekly report. Here we go!

API and New Listing Page Design: Enhancing Usability and Speed!

This week, the development team made great progress by completing the API for the listing page. This API includes all necessary filters by states, cities, material types, and room usage. We also added convenient sorting options, allowing users to quickly find companies by ratings, reviews, and other important factors.

While working on this task, an idea came up to implement it in a unique way, improving not only security but also speed and code readability, making the API even more reliable and stable. I’m proud we were able to combine intuitive design with high performance in one solution!

Our designer completed the layout of the new listing pages and contractor profiles, but during the process, our frontend developer noticed missing elements, such as "states" for various blocks. This led us to refine the design, and our designer quickly added all the necessary state elements and blocks. Now, everything is ready, and the frontend developer is pleased to have the complete set of components to build attractive pages.

Work on updating the homepage design is also actively underway. The homepage plays several key roles. In addition to offering smooth navigation, it needs to immediately convey the value of our project to users and show how our team makes the selection process safe and easy. We’re making the page intuitive and informative so that users understand right away that here, they will find reliable contractors and up-to-date information on countertops.

Our updates are in full swing, and each step brings us closer to announcing the top companies in just two weeks!

Content Optimization and Blog Expansion

This week, our SEO specialist Vlad refreshed our semantic core—a list of search queries and frequently asked questions that users type in when looking for countertop companies. This updated set of queries will help us target listing page content to the real interests and needs of users, making it as relevant and helpful as possible.

Vlad also published a series of new articles on countertop installation costs in various cities: Dallas, New York, Boston, Chicago, and more. These articles are available on our blog and will help users understand pricing and choose contractors that fit their budgets and expectations.

Thorough Company Verification and Data Quality

This week, analyst Ann collected and organized pricing data for 11 cities, with 10 of them already passed on to the copywriter for new articles. However, one city was sent back for further review. It’s important for us to ensure that all companies included in our rankings provide the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Such meticulous checks help maintain the high quality of our information and the trustworthiness of our rankings. Yes, it may sometimes seem like we’re spending too much time on rechecks, but it’s better to verify multiple times than to release unconfirmed data that could damage our platform’s reputation.

Every detail, from phone calls to emails, matters in creating an accurate ranking. At COCO, we prioritize the quality of our information so that each user can trust our rankings and access information they can rely on.

Social Media on a New Level: First Likes from Companies

Our SMM specialist Vikki shares great news! The new social media design I previously mentioned is now fully implemented, completely transforming our accounts. They now look stylish and professional, drawing attention to our brand and project.

Vikki’s workload has increased, with regular Pinterest posts now accompanied by Instagram posts and Reels. Part of our content is now based on articles written by our copywriter Alice, allowing us to share useful information while keeping a cohesive style. Now, Reels and posts are appearing not only on Pinterest but also on Instagram and Facebook, expanding our reach and increasing our audience.

We already have a small but very positive win! Recently, we published a Reel featuring one of our contractors, and not only did they like it, but they also reshared it. This is the first time we’ve seen this level of engagement, showing that our new social media strategy and polished design are paying off. This support inspires us to keep pushing forward and to take our social media strategy to new heights!

An Active Week for Copywriting: New Articles and Future Plans

Our copywriting team made great strides this week. Eight articles were written for different cities, and we also prepared and published the Substack article “How to Expose a Bad Countertop Company. Why We Use the Mystery Shopper Method at COCO.” This method not only helps us collect data but also enables us to delve deeper into the quality of services. The article gives our users a clear understanding of the importance of this approach.

Unfortunately, the issue with publishing on Medium remains unresolved after our support request, so we’ve temporarily postponed it. However, a new large-scale task has emerged—preparing texts for the FAQ sections, ranking system descriptions, and listing page on our new site. This task is scheduled over three weeks to accommodate feedback and comments from our SEO specialist, helping us create the best content for our users!

Another week has shown how well-coordinated the COCO team is! Through teamwork and dedication, we not only make progress but also strengthen our reputation, earning the trust of our users. We’ll continue to grow and reach new goals, making our project not just a service, but a real tool for informed contractor selection. Your comments and support motivate and inspire us to succeed!

Max Kuchma, Founder and CEO, Countertops Contractors