Lead generating apps, is anyone using them?
I have recently been looking into the platforms that generate paid leads and I wondering if anyone has found one that is the best? It may matter the industry that I am in, which is pest control.
I have found that Homestars seems like a giant scam, they charge you a pretty high amount just to get a phone number for a potential client. It seems that they can charge a number of contractors for the same client contact and you have no way of knowing if they have already hired someone else. On the other hand I have been hired for a few jobs from them and at that point the lead fee isn't horrible but still really high. Bark.com also has the same issue. It is more of a bidding model that you spend credits to get a clients contact information, but again, the customer has to close the job themselves and if they don't (which seems like its more common than not), you are spending money on a lead that is already completed.
I want to hear from you guys if you have found a platform that works best and doesn't charge for a closed lead!
I guess its just an inherent problem with the model of the leads but it's really frustrating to basically throw money away at a dead lead.
You’re not wrong at all. What you’re experiencing isn’t a flaw in those platforms, it’s the business model itself. Most paid lead services like HomeStars, Bark, Thumbtack, etc. are designed to monetize contractors, not protect them, which is why the same lead gets sold to multiple companies with no accountability for whether the job is already closed. In pest control it’s even worse because customers are often in panic mode and hire the first decent option, so by the time you get the lead you’re already late. You might get a few wins that make it feel worth it, but long term the cost, dead leads, and price shoppers add up fast. What has worked far better for us is owning the demand through Google Business Profile optimization and reviews, Local Service Ads, local grassroots efforts like neighborhood Facebook groups or door hangers, and consistently marketing to past customers for recurring services. Paid lead platforms can work as a short-term filler, but as a foundation they’re frustrating and expensive. Owning your traffic and reputation locally beats renting leads every time.
