Is anyone else using Homestars? What has your experience been like?
I have been using Homestars and I must say, it has generated me a lot of calls. I would say it's bringing in about 80% of my business right now. I took a lot of time to perfect my profile and always ask for reviews and that has really paid off. A lot of people have said the reason they requested or hired me was because of my profile and reviews. My only issue with them is tire kickers and dead leads. People who post a job then shortlist you and don't respond, shortlist multiple pros or people who are "just looking". I wish they had more of a guarantee or verification system. Also getting a refund used to be a lot easier, but they changed their system to make it harder. Is anyone else using Homestars? Any tips or tricks on how to succeed better on there? If anyone is interested in it but has questions, feel free to DM me or reply here for my advise also!
What’s Actually Working for Marketing in 2026? 🚜📈
Trying to figure out what actually works for marketing a small service business in 2026 feels like throwing darts blindfolded sometimes. 😅 Facebook boosts? Marketplace? Reels? Before & after photos? Community groups? Google Business? Word of mouth? Door hangers? I run a veteran-owned rural property management company in New Brunswick, Canada, and I’m curious what’s genuinely bringing people, real customers lately — not just likes and views. For the people actually getting calls and booked jobs: • What’s been your most successful marketing approach? • What gives the best ROI for a small budget? • What completely flopped for you? • Are you finding people respond more to personality/branding or straight-up service ads and pricing? Would love to hear real experiences from other small business owners and operators. 🚜🔥
Does your website focus on SEO keywords or a compelling hero message?
Hi all, I'm curious to hear from other business owners about the copy on their website. Are you strictly focused on having headers and titles on your webpages that are SEO strong/that relate to what people would be searching? For example, "Best plumber in Miami" Or are do you use hero messages about what you're actually solving / the outcome / trust For example, "Plumbing problems are stressful. We make fixing them easy." Has anyone A/B tested headlines like these? Which are more successful? My website is set up like the first bullet point, but I feel like I should lean more into the hero messages. Thoughts? Thanks in advance! Sarah
How to market a well known product for a not-so-well-known use?
We have a ceramic coating company and we are branching into Home Services, a relatively untapped market, but ceramic coating has been so well known for vehicles we're trying to change the popular opinion that it's actually fantastic for home care as well. Windows, pool glass, shower glass -- it performs SO WELL! How can we showcase this?Personal Phone Number Vs. Business Phone Number?
As I continue growing my cleaning business, I’ve been thinking more about whether it’s better to use my personal phone number or set up a separate business line. Right now, I handle most communication directly, which makes things simple—but I’m starting to see how it can blur boundaries between work and personal life, especially with calls and messages coming in at all hours. I’m curious how others have handled this as they’ve grown. Do you use your personal number for your business, or did you switch to a dedicated business line? If you made the switch, at what point did it feel necessary? Have you noticed a difference in professionalism or client trust with a business number? What systems or apps do you recommend for managing calls, texts, and voicemails efficiently? How do you set boundaries with clients regarding response times or after-hours communication? For those managing a team, how do you handle incoming calls—do you delegate or keep it centralized? I want to make sure I’m building systems that will grow with my business while still staying responsive and professional. Would love to hear what’s worked (and what hasn’t) for you!
What are the best marketing strategies beyond Thumbtack and Yelp?
Good day everyone, I am looking for feedback on better marketing ideas for my HVACR company. I tried the useless thumbtack, and am using Yelp with Google currently but not getting much for results on closures. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
