Thryv was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX. Thryv is no beginner when it comes to technology, software, and local business automation tools. The company was created through a 2017 merger of Dex Media and YP Holdings, two yellow pages publishers.
Thryv excels at customer relationship management and streamlines customer interaction by providing marketing products via online and text. Thryv has created partnerships with many of the key players in the marketing industry, combining advertising with local knowledge to provide a suite of technology, products, and tools.
Thryv Features
Thryv offers a host of products to better engage with clients. With Thryv, a small business owner can start a conversation online and then conveniently transition that conversation via text. Now, both parties are not tied to their laptop and the customer can still get engaging customer service.
Thryv has one convenient dashboard where a small business owner can send invoices and take payments.
On Thryv’s website, they break down what they do as; reach more customers, stay organized, get paid faster, and generate reviews.
Additional features:
- Software Onboarding
- Phone, Chat, Email
- Onboarding
- Professional Website Design
- Custom Videos
- Communication with Customers
- Marketing Automation
- Credit/Debit Card Processing
- Campaign Analytics
- Competitor Watch/Monitoring
While Podium will help customers gather Google and Facebook reviews, Thryv provides help with Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews, as well as a model for first-time reviewers.
Additionally, Thryv has a much deeper integration with google that helps small business owners never miss a beat. Thryv allows qualifying businesses to verify their business through Google. Scheduled appointments are now automatically updated to the business owner’s calendars so they never miss a beat thanks to Thryv.
Thryv also allows small business owners to schedule posts on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Podium doesn’t offer a module for scheduled social posting. This is essential for busy owners who might not have a social media team to schedule posts or keep up with their online presence.
Another unique feature that Thryv offers is customers can accept online appointments without having to wait for a reply from the business. Podium’s software is designed so customers have to wait for a reply before they can schedule an appointment. This feature is important for busy owners who don’t want to monitor and chase leads but want truly interested customers to be brought to them.
Who are Thryv’s customers?
Thryv has an extensive list of clients that are satisfied with their products. One happy customer who owned an elder care business gives Thryv 10/10. She states that Thryv helped her to send invoices, set reminders, and overall improve her communication with her clients. She also loved that Thryv sets automatic reminders and this assurance was a huge burden lifted off of her plate.
According to Thryv, when compared to Podium, “Thryv helps small businesses get the job, manage the job and get credit. Podium offers two of those three, but not the most labor-intensive: Managing the job.” Managing the job can come down to how Thryv interacts and supports each small business as issues and concerns arise day-to-day. This is truly where Thryv shines.
Podium helps businesses get Google and Facebook reviews but not Yelp. This is a unique benefit of choosing Thryv for a small business is the added help in getting reviews for Yelp. This can really be a benefit because some small business owners care about their Yelp reviews, especially older ones. Yelp has hurt and helped businesses in the past and continues to be a powerful source for customers voicing their opinion online.
Thryv Pricing & Packaging
Thryv has a quote-based pricing plan, similar to Podium. This means that Thryv will tailor each plan for each individual business. This results in a customized plan with only the features a business needs. Once you show interest in Thryv, they will walk you through the products and give you a price quote.
Thryv also has free and low-cost options for additional features. According to one source, adding a webchat option is very low-cost ($9 a month) versus paying $499 a month for Podium for the same added feature.
This marketplace of cheap add ons provided by Thryv is perfect for newer businesses that don’t know exactly what features they need. Also, some businesses might not know what they can afford and this feature is perfect for their changing budget.
Thryv doesn’t segregate all of their features and generally includes everything at blocked pricing structures, so owners who may be on a tight budget may be stuck with features they don’t use. This could also be a blessing in disguise, as some business owners could envision needing those additional features in the future.
3 Reasons we don’t prefer Thryv.
When compared to similar competitors, Thryv is one of the top competitors for CRM (customer relationship management). According to g2.com, Thryv is overall ranked second to the software provided by Podium, a similar small business management platform.
Thryv falls short in a few areas that hinder it from being the first choice for every small business. However, Thryv does shine in customer support and onboarding. Here are a few of the major ways Thryv falls short in the industry.
1. It’s not worth the cost.
The cost of using Thryv’s software is a cause for concern for many struggling small business owners. One business reported losing money from using Thryv and not having the funds to continue. Companies that are aimed at marketing to small businesses need to keep in mind the small pool of money these businesses usually have. Many small business owners are fronting the bill for their expenses and aren’t even turning a profit. However, if a business can afford Thryv’s services, it could be the difference in bringing in more business and driving sales.
When comparing Thryv and Podium, their prices are similar. Thryv does provide cheaper features that you can add on when compared to Podium. Both software platforms provide monthly charges that you can pay annually, to save a little bit more.
2. Integration can be difficult.
The integration of Thryv for some businesses was a negative experience. One business said that it took over a month to get Thryv working when they promised it would only take a week. This can be hard for small businesses that count on integrating this software they are paying for ASAP.
3. Leads are tough to track.
Another online review said that the way Thryv manages their leads isn’t always accurate. One business reported that they were being charged for false leads that weren’t actually interested customers. Another review said that leads weren’t going through their business’s home page but a proxy site.
Our Favorite Thryv Alternatives
Thryv is built to serve small business owners in their day-to-day operations including customer interactions and online reviews. Podium is one of Thryv’s main competitors. Podium and Thryv are neck and neck when it comes to management software for a small business owner.
Looking at this chart from getapp.com, you can see that Podium outranks Thryv in meeting requirements, ease of use, ease of setup, ease of admin, and product direction. However, Thryv is ranked higher for quality of support and ease of doing business with.
Managing the job is where Thryv users live the most. From managing customer information to sending out ongoing marketing messages to providing invoices to scheduling and customer communication through email or text, this is a vital piece of the customer journey that can’t be overlooked.
While Podium will help its customers gather Google and Facebook reviews, Thryv provides help with Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews, as well as a model for first-time reviewers.
Additionally, Thryv has a much deeper integration with google that helps small business owners never miss a beat. Thryv allows qualifying businesses such as spas and health & wellness centers to verify their business through Google. When customers make appointments with Reserve with Google, it automatically updates the business owner’s Thryv calendar, so they never miss an appointment. Other notable competitors are Womply, Birdeye, Salesforce, Swell, and Hubspot. Some of these competitors are cheaper alternatives but don’t offer the number of services Thryv does.
Do we recommend Thryv?
If your business is struggling to keep up with the day-to-day activity, Thryv might be a good solution. Although pricier than other competitors, Thryv has thousands of satisfied clients who would recommend their services. Thryv helps business owners take control of their business and create a better way to interact with their customers.
Thryv FAQs
If you can afford the expense, Thryv might be a great solution for your business. Compared to similar platforms like Podium, Thryv’s software ranks lower in the ease of use category. But, Thryv is still one of the top competitors in the industry. Where Thryv shines according to online reviews is customer service, video tutorials, and onboarding.
Thryv is a management software for small businesses. Thryv software is designed to help businesses manage their day-to-day operations, including customer interactions and online reviews. Thryv helps to make businesses more efficient and improve online ratings.
