If you want to see the very best ways contractors can gain more business all in one place, then keep reading.
I have compiled a list of 107 lead generation sites for contractors.
Different methods that are proven to generate leads.
If you want more money in your pocket, use this list.
Feel free to jump around the different sections as needed, but before we begin a here's the quick 411 on me:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hey, I'm Ippei!
Until 2014, like many of the people I review, I was working in a corporate job from 9 to 5.
Not only was it soul-crushing, but it didn't give me any time to pursue my bigger goals.
That was until I discovered a method to rank sites organically, generating free leads for my clients.
That website you see above, for the tree care company, I created it in 2015, and since then I haven't had to touch or update it:
It has gained me a passive income of $2000 a month.
That's more than $100,000 for one site, in 5 years.
That's the magic of the Lead Generation business, it's by far the best model to generate passive income. If you want to know more, just hop over here!
Chapter 1
Lead Generation Companies
We have all heard about those companies on the internet.
You know-the one's that generate leads for business owners?
You sign up-pay for the leads you want and then hustle like crazy to land the gig.
While it is true there are a ton of these sites they are not all created equally.
Here we take a closer look at what each site offers and any and strings attached.
To get leads from Home Advisor, you would sign up within their pro network.
You must pay an annual subscription fee, as well as pay per lead.
Each lead is distributed among you and your other local contracting services, so be sure to act fast.
Craft Jack uses an automated system to qualify and verify a service request from a potential customer.
With no monthly or annual subscription fee, you will be paying for a qualified, shared lead in the area and field of work you select.
3. AngiesListBusinessCenter.com
Angie’s List has been a well established lead generation company for over two decades and was acquired by the parent company of HomeAdvisor in 2017.
Expect a similar setup from Angie's List and there are a couple of pros and cons to keep in mind with the platform like:
Pros
Cons
When money is tight sometimes every penny helps.
BuildZoom has a few perks for business owners looking to save a few bucks while still garner quality leads like:
No start-up fees.
No subscription fees or even lead fees.
Small referral fee if you win the bid but no obligations.
Worth noting, however, is that as long as you pay the referral fees, they will continue to send you potential customers.
Reading between the lines suggests-no referral fee pay-out-no leads.
5. Porch.com
To become a “vetted pro” on Porch, there is a $360/year membership fee.
This gives you access to all of their tools, which soon will include access to homeowners from Porch’s partners including Lowe’s, Walmart, Liberty Mutual, Consumer Reports, Facebook, and more.
You can either pay per lead, or set a monthly budget and receive leads automatically.
Modernize offers window, roofing, HVAC, and solar leads to contractors.
This very tech focused, lead generation company gives your business access to all of the tools to help organize and scale your business.
Their services start as low as $250 per month.
Web.com hasn’t just been sponsoring golf the past several years.
They actually build websites, and also offer an additional service of generating leads for businesses.
They claim to have a team in your local area, but I’m not buying it.
Thumbtack offers a free profile to be viewed by potential customers.
You will only pay once a potential customer contacts you for a specific quote.
Thumbtack does urge the person seeking a professional to send out multiple requests to different service providers in order to get the job completed more immediately.
9. Networx.com
Networx doesn’t seem to stand out much from the blur of other lead generation companies with the service that they offer:
- You sign up
- Pay a membership fee for a professional looking profile on their site
- Pay for your shared leads
- They send you and several other contractors leads via text and email
They’ve been around since 2004, and have narrowed in on home improvement specialties.
Home Improvement Leads specializes in window, HVAC, roofing, and solar leads.
You should anticipate having a 15-20% annual marketing cost with this service, while converting at 25%.
This site presents as dedicated to assisting business owners grow their reach and offers a few solid tips to get started:
Use diligence and analytical rigor to secure quality leads.
Seek ways to promote scalable and profitable partnerships with business owners.
Well informed and knowledgeable representatives with a consistent follow-up process.
Leads are instantly authenticated, and sent out to up to 4 qualified, local contractors.
Remodeling.com offers a variety of ways to receive your money.
You can pay per lead, per call, or per click.
They also allow you to offer free quotes to homeowners, and will monitor your sales calls to improve your performance.
But don't rely on them, check these tips for making better sales calls that include things like:
- Simplify options & clarify the value of the product
- Set the agenda & stay in control of the conversation
- Don't speak negatively with regards to the competition & adopt smart product positioning
12. InfoUSA.com
Let’s break up the humdrum by talking about Info USA real quick.
With them, you are able to purchase any kind of name, address, email address, or phone number for less than $1 per lead. (Pro-Tip: Buying in bulk saves $$$)
You could purchase homeowner info to send out mailers, an email campaign, or even cold call.
Plus, if you are a subcontractor, you could get the information of all of the general contractors or contracting companies within your area to connect with to bid on future jobs.
13. ProReferral.com
Pro Referral is a pretty cool service provided by Home Depot for simply shopping at the store.
With a pro account (which is free to start), every $1 you spend at Home Depot, earns 2 points that turn into qualified job leads.
Once a customer in your area is looking for a professional that matches your profile, Home Depot will send you the lead at no additional cost.
Shopping at Home Depot with a Pro Account = Free Local Leads
14. Yodle.com
Yodle (Ay-Hee-Hoo) is another sub company of web.com.
They offer the website building component, but seem to specialize more in offering marketing services.
They also offer help with social media business pages and email marketing.
15. Bark.com
Bark, originally a UK company, has found great success across the pond in the United States.
You can create a free account, and from that point forward they send leads for free.
You will review the lead information, but if you wish to contact them, you will need to purchase some lead credits. Then, you can exchange those credits for access to the lead.
What? Did you think you almost got away with completely free leads there?
16. Goodzer.com
Goodzer offers exclusive, live call leads.
With complete transparency and the ability to listen to calls generated by their service, Goodzer has a reputation for over-delivering on quality leads.
Goodzer does the 'behind the scenes' marketing stuff so you can focus on providing quality service for your customer and offers some great assets if you are interested in growing your business.
Worth noting is that the price per call is largely dependent upon the service offered and the competition of the area for that industry.
It is advised that you have someone answer every single call, because even if someone leaves a message remotely pertaining to a potential service, it is considered a chargeable call.
17. HometownRoofingContractors.com
For all you roofing contractors out there, Hometown Roofing Contractors claims to be the #1 source for new roofing customers nationwide.
They offer a pay per lead, with a preview option of what the job is and where it is located before having to pay for it.
Lead costs vary by project, but estimates are anywhere between $14-$55 per lead.
18. ProMatcher.com
ProMatcher is another slightly different approach as opposed to the typical lead generation company.
It is free to sign up, plus you get helpful strategies to market your business within your specific industry/trade.
Plus, you will receive a complimentary directory listing.
19. TaskRabbit.com
This is a lead generating service for around the house categories like handyman, cleaning tasks, moving, landscaping, furniture assembly, etc.
You would set up an account, pay a one time $25 fee, and then a built in 15% per task fee would be applied.
Currently, this is only available in select cities with larger populations, so see if your city is in the area.
20. Construction.com/products/project-leads
The Dodge Lead Center is one of the largest databases for construction based projects in North America.
They offer a 3-tiered pricing plan at $59, $79.20, $99 per month, each with a varying degree of accessibility and function.
They also offer a wealth of data that could help streamline your bidding process in order to maintain your margins.
21. Construction.com/business-types/subcontractors
They are so nice, we’ve named them twice.
Not only do you receive industry relevant data, but as a subcontractor you can connect and bid on jobs through an extensive network.
According to their website, they are the most trusted tool for finding and winning work for subcontractors.
22. CMDGroup.com
CMD Group is a Construct Connect company that claims to offer the most extensive construction data for the United States and Canada.
With five-star reviews, current businesses utilizing this service advise the following aspects of the company:
Fills the pipeline with quality and niche-relevant opportunities.
Quick notification of projects, including updates and addendum's.
Superior customer service and tech support.
Provides current and complete information on each lead.
In order to access their data and utilize it for your business growth, you will need to request a demo of their platform, and then proceed on a subscription.
23. 800 Response
Ok, this one is kind of cheesy.
But, somewhere deep down, haven’t you always wanted one of those memorable 1-800 numbers?
This is a website to buy one of those.
24. Your Website
One avenue of generating leads for your business is through a website for your business.
It is possible to generate leads with a website, but the approach many contractors use is more accidental than by design.
One rule of thumb is to model your website after those companies who are succeeding within your field.
For example, websites that really do well highlight their top products or services (like this website highlights their top products of epoxy flooring).
25. Search Engine Optimization
This may or may not be a term that you have heard, but understanding what it is very important to the success or failure of having a website.
SEO, as it is more commonly known, basically describes the tactics you would apply to your website in order to found by people looking for what you are offering.
This could be as simple as writing descriptions for each web page on your website (known as meta text), or as complex as creating a chain of directional links from multiple sources pointing back to your website.
It can be overwhelming, but I will pick up on this later.
Chapter 2
Social Networking Platforms
The USA has one of the highest social network penetration rates in the world as per this post.
With over 246 million Americans using social media and networking platforms.
If you're serious about growing your business, you need to start leveraging these platforms to stay in the game.
Here we take a closer look at a few of the top contenders guaranteed to generate leads and help to build your brand.
26. Houzz
Houzz is one of the leading social media platforms for professionals with any relation to home remodeling.
With your free profile, you can create galleries of previous work, and ultimate gain new jobs by showing your stuff.
They do offer a Pro+ option to run paid advertising to get work faster than building an in depth social profile, but the ads would only direct people back to the profile.
Frankly, it’s going to take time and attention building out your profile to gain new leads on social networking platforms.
27. Facebook
As social networking platforms go, you know about Facebook.
Create a business page from your personal page, and post about your work.
Invite your friends to like and share your company’s page.
Oh yeah, you can pay to run ads too.
28. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the social network for professionals, but every professional could also benefit from your services.
So, it is worth creating a LinkedIn page, and giving it the same attention that you do to your Facebook as it offers the following opportunities:
By creating valuable connections within this sphere, you have direct contact with people who may need your services, or who know others who do.
Take the time and be diligent with this platform and you are sure to generate leads you did not even know existed as per this publication.
29. Twitter
Utilizing Twitter to gain new leads requires a little forethought and strategy.
Your main goal should be to help people with useful tips or advice you have from being a professional contractor.
Then, you have to be able to communicate that in 280 characters or less.
Plus, Twitter has several helpful tools to further define your successes and refine your shortcomings.
30. Pinterest
Pinterest is a platform that allows you to create and share collaborations of images, to a statistical majority female audience.
If your craftsmanship is good and you can take pictures of your work, then you can start growing a Pinterest board.
The goal isn’t to bash people in the face with your services, but to provide quality ideas that would draw people into contacting you.
31. Reddit
Reddit is a network of communities based upon people’s interests, and there seems to be a Reddit conversation thread/community for absolutely everything.
Having an interest based, conversationally focused blog site at your disposal could be really beneficial.
Not only are you able to connect with professionals and individuals around your industry, but you can also ask questions or find answers to questions you’ve had.
The sub-Reddit- reddit.com/r/Construction-has over 46,300 members!
32. YouTube
YouTube is a free video sharing platform that is owned by Google, and apparently is the second largest search engine behind Google.
By creating a free account, you can begin posting videos about your services.
In doing so, you can boost your contracting business’s authority to provide quality services for your future clients.
Additional methods to drive traffic and land contractor leads are covered in this article and include things like:
33. Instagram
Instagram is the second most popular social media platform, with a tremendous amount of users.
You can build your audience by providing quality photos of your work, tips for your potential customers, etc.
Instagram also has paid advertising options.
34. Industry Related Blog Sites / Message Boards
This option is similar to the Reddit option viewed earlier, it’s just a bit dated.
There is still a lot of potential relationships to be cultivated out there on other blogs or message boards, which could turn into potential leads.
The goal with all of these online communities is to engage in discussions about your profession, and grow your connections with other tradesman.
35. SmartInsight
This is a great tool for subcontractors looking to get connected with more GC’s.
By creating a free profile (online resume) you are able to easily search and connect with contractors.
Plus, all of the hassle associated with proving your qualifications, certifications, or other important information is contained within your profile.
Easily viewable by anyone looking to sub out some work to you this platform is a great place to generate contractor leads in 2021.
36. Reonomy
This is a way to think outside the box when it comes to generating leads.
Reonomy is a tech platform that is revolutionizing the world of commercial real estate, and in doing so is used by brokers, investors, and lenders to find deals.
Many of these deals are going to need partial or complete renovations.
Are you picking up what I am putting down?
37. Become a Blogger
This one won’t be the best way to generate new leads quickly, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have success.
In the future, you will not only have to be able to prove your skills by actually doing a good job in your craft, but you should also become good at communicating to others what you do.
One way of doing this is by blogging about it.
Maybe you will be the next Bob Vila?
Chapter 3
Old School Methods
Granted, nearly 80% of Americans are using the internet or social media for a host of reasons-some of which are searching for business owners.
However, the other 20% or so that refuse to conform to technological advances are still finding service providers to take care of work for them the old-fashioned way.
That is a lot of leads being left on the table.
Old school methodology and lead generation don't need to break the bank.
Consider implementing one of these low-cost yet effective lead generation sites for contractors suggestions to scale profitability.
38. Yellow Pages
Believe it or not, phone books actually do still exist.
Mostly in lower populated or rural areas, Yellow Pages is still a go to for local business listings.
You can get a listing for free, or paid spots are available (yet not recommended by this author).
39. Word of Mouth (Referral)
Arguably still one of the best ways to generate new business leads of all time.
Why does it work?
Because you have provided a quality service to someone who then leverages his/her trust with one of their friends or family members who are now having the same need.
You simply cannot buy the power of a referral.
But subpar craftsmanship, poor communication, or a bad attitude will lock you out of this gold mine every single time.
Here’s a great article for an effective approach in today's culture that includes the advantages of word of mouth advertising.
Think about things like:
Brand Loyalty & Growing Sales Without The Ad Spend
Brand Trust & Customer Retention
Creating A Buzz & Building A Community
40. Referral Incentives
Ever heard the phrase, “Money talks, and bullsh*t walks?”
Turn up the heat on your friends and family by offering them cold, hard cash for new business referrals.
41. Testimonials
Beyond having a satisfied customer tell his/her friends and family, and they can tell complete strangers about your amazing company through testimonials.
Simply record a good quality video of a happy customer praising your services, and have an editor give it the finishing touches.
If you need to, outline a few simple questions that you wish the customer would communicate, and then ask them.
42. Online Reviews and Ratings
97% of people read reviews for local businesses. (BIA/Kelsey)
93% of consumers say online reviews impact their purchasing decisions. (Podium)
89% of consumers read businesses’ responses to reviews. (Brightlocal)
94% say an online review has convinced them to avoid a business. (ReviewTrackers)
Need I say more?
43. Dumb Luck
Not to be confused with word of mouth, this is a lot more vague to define.
It’s some parts of the ROI of some of the following ways listed below, and other parts straight up miracle.
It does still happen to businesses every day.
However, the access to limitless knowledge at our fingertips is driving this to extinction.
44. Good Name
Good names never come with a price tag, but usually have entire lifetimes on the sales receipt.
You simply cannot place a value on being known in a community as THE guy or gal to go to with the issue you can solve.
People like dealing with honest people, who they feel are on their team.
45. Brand Recognition
This is equivalent to a good name, but typically in larger communities.
They may not know who the CEO is, but I bet you know exactly which name brand shoe company has the trademark swoosh.
Brand is the identity of the company, and it reflects absolutely everything about the company-good or bad.
You want customers to think of your brand when they need something done or when they are asked to refer a business.
Without brand recognition, you don't have much to stand on.
Here are a few suggestions on how to build your brand and outrank your competition:
Provide superior customer service with a 'heart-felt' story as to why you are in business.
Exceed expectations: over-deliver and keep your name on the tip of people's tongue with a stellar reputation for providing a fantastic customer experience.
Stay connected (newsletters, client appreciation emails, or blog posts).
Work diligently and patiently to make sure your brand is communicating appropriately about your business.
Do not cut corners on this one.
Brand loyalty is huge in the United States with 9 out of 10 consumers reporting brand commitment as per this post.
Need some additional tips for increasing your brand recognition?
Check them out here.
46. Logo and Tagline
Swoosh + “Just Do It”
People are becoming increasingly more visual, so it is very important to invest in a logo that uniquely reflects your brand/business.
Taglines are potentially the that special something that locks your company into the memories of others.
47. Mailing Lists
You can have success generating leads with mailing lists if you follow some basic protocols.
First, really pinpoint who you are trying to communicate with.
Second, spend a good amount of time crafting a compelling offer.
Finally, you absolutely must follow up.
48. Email Newsletter
The formula to win at email newsletters is relatively simply:
Correct Audience + Quality Content = Higher Open Rates ~ More Leads
Did you realize that high school football teams compete on the same size field as NFL teams do?
Yeah, so you should definitely work on the art/science of writing a newsletter.
This post offers some tips on how to increase sales with newsletters like:
Provide Value Right Away
Start With One Newsletter A Month to Drive Traffic
Create Urgency Using Time-Sensitive Discounts & Flash Sales
49. Posters Around Town
Do you remember the last time you went into a local grocery store or convenience store?
Did you notice any posters on the windows, walls, or community boards for local businesses?
Hire a graphic designer off of Fiverr, Upwork, or another similar site to create you one.
50. Newspaper Inserts
Even in the age of digital, newspapers are hanging around, especially with “Sunday shoppers.”
Investing in a free standing ad page for your local, regional, or state newspaper would spread your business out there.
But, you better make sure that the message and design of the ad is made for your target audience.
51. Newspaper Classifieds
Review Other Ads!
Write Compelling Content!
Answer Calls!
Leads Generated!
Or something like that…
52. Add a Promotional to Invoices
You would be surprised to find out how many potential new leads or recurring business you could generate with one satisfied customer.
You just have to be willing to ask.
You can add referral incentives, valued customer discount, % off your next service (within a normal time frame), or many other ideas outlined in more detail in this article.
53. Local Sponsorship
This is a really neat way to gain exposure and trust for your business, and meet a need within your local community.
You could sponsor youth sports, offer to complete a job as a community service, or support community based events.
All of which are just a few great ideas to generate leads.
54. Community Involvement
If you live in a small enough area, you can become an active participant in the activities of your community.
City council meetings, school board meetings, and local fundraising events are all great places to start.
55. Religious or Social Organizations
Whenever a group of people find common ground in other areas of life, the good will tends to spill over into other areas too.
Habitat for Humanity, Rotary International, Kiwanis, Lions Club International, The Salvation Army, United Way, Boys and Girls Club of America, and so many more.
Get involved helping people in your community.
Maybe, some will want your professional help too.
56. Chamber of Commerce
Your local Chamber of Commerce is an association of local business owners whose sole purpose of joining is to further their business endeavors.
It’s a trusted organization within the local community for established businesses.
If you have the ability to join, you will be able to generate leads from doing so.
57. Free Workshop or Classes
There is something within your expertise that you can teach others how to do.
For painters, it may be how to properly cut in paint, or maybe how to prolong the life of your A/C unit from HVAC technicians.
When you offer these free workshops or classes, be sure to collect contact information for those in attendance. Maybe do a raffle?
58. Business Cards
When you meet someone who might be interested in your work, you give them a business card.
Your business card speaks volumes about your brand and is the ideal opportunity to make a lasting impression on a potential customer.
Here are a few reasons why even in the digital age of 2021, business cards remain a lead generating staple:
Provides a personal touch that cannot be duplicated online or through social platforms.
An opportunity to put tangible and personalized brand awareness directly into the hands of potential customers.
Direct and shareable marketing tool that demonstrates your preparedness and professionalism.
For additional information on why business cards are an essential component of your business check out this article
The personal touch in a digital age, business cards are a sure-fire way to hustle up some more leads.
Word to the wise-if you are going to invest in business cards-spend money on a quality card rather than 50k cards that don’t pop.
59. Business Brochure
Who doesn’t like a high quality, well informative pamphlet?
Tri-fold brochures are the classic way of easily communicating a depth of information without being taking up people’s time.
Be sure to include contact information (or an attached business card).
60. Vehicle Ads
Are you already using your personal vehicle for work related tasks?
Why not slap a well designed magnet or wrap to advertise your business?
As a tax non-professional (this in absolutely no way constitutes legal tax advice), there could be additional benefits for utilizing these besides generating new leads.
61. Creative Marketing Material
You’ve seen it. I’ve seen it. We’ve all seen the MASSIVE amount of promotional merchandise out there.
Bags, phone cases, pens, earbuds, water bottles, key chains, thumb drives, lip balm, stress balls, coffee mugs, journals, lanyards, coolers, flashlights, sunglasses, magnets, and the list could go on.
Where is your company’s swag at?
62. Cold Calling
Don’t cold call for sales or new business.
Instead, use cold calling to establish contacts and relationships with prospective customers, and then secure a follow up time to get into your services.
Just be yourself, be up front with why you are calling, and smile while you’re on the phone.
63. Become a Radio Guest
Not paid radio advertising (which is mentioned later) this is to be an actual guest.
Look for local or regional stations that may have a weekly program that would be a good place to highlight your expertise.
Contact the station manager to see if you could possibly come on the air.
64. Trade Shows
Industry relevant trade shows are tremendous opportunities to network.
There are national and regional shows throughout the year depending on your trade.
Plus, you will stay up to date on the best industry practices, tools, and techniques.
65. Association Membership
Most industries offer a professional association to belong to.
These provide extensive networking opportunities, as well as events you can attend.
Check out this article on how your career can benefit from a professional association that includes advantages such as:
- Opportunities to network & advertise
- Educational & industry news
- Influence & opportunity to showcase your expertise
Chapter 4
Bidding Sites
Contractors are focused on one thing-getting the work done and generating a profit.
To work, however, contractors need to secure leads.
Finding leads can be an arduous and time-consuming task for any business owner, but the level of competition in this field adds fuel to frustration.
That's why lead generation is such an ideal fit for construction-niche businesses.
This simple rank and rent method not only provides leads to contractors hungry for more business but offers immeasurable value-saving them time and potential headaches.
There are also several bidding sites geared to contractors
looking to bid on commercial projects.
Here are a few of the top lead generation sites for contractors in 2021 specific to the construction industry worth checking out.
66. ConstructConnect
The software under this umbrella company is astounding.
This platform has tools for a general contractor, a subcontractor, supplier or distributor, a building products manufacturer, or any other service providers.
This site alone would be enough, but some of the next few are under this umbrella company.
67. BidClerk
BidClerk is a construction bidding software that also has an in depth search feature.
You will be able to gain insights on available projects, companies and contacts in the industry.
The search feature, and many others, are all available for a monthly subscription price.
68. iSqft
For subs, you can search through private and public commercial projects, from planning to bidding.
For GCs, the online bid management software allows for you to grow your database of subs and vendors.
Software like this typically costs between $50 and $150 per month.
69. ConstructionWire
With online access to projects, companies, and people, ConstrutionWire offers leads on new construction jobs - mostly private commercial.
They also offer a Salesforce integration in order to streamline your data.
Access for up to 3 states, 3 users, and 500 downloads per month begins at around $250 per month.
70. BidNet
BidNet gathers federal, state, and local government RFPs from across the United States, and delivers new contract opportunities to you every day.
This platform covers industries such as:
- Construction
- Maintenance/repair/installation
- Business & industrial supplies
- Information technology
This is a subscription based service.
71. SmartBid
SmartBid is the leading construction bid management software for general contractors worldwide.
It allows all of the standards which include:
Send and receive bid proposals and pertinent information and stay current with your subcontractors' bids.
Efficiently manage your subcontractor database.
Share project documents in an 'online plan room.'
Prequalify subcontractors.
As one of the leaders of construction bid management software, SmartBid, allows GCs to access web-based and mobile platforms to streamline project data, documents, and communications.
Integrations include Procore, Autodesk BIM 360, Dropbox, and ConstructConnect.
Find new jobs.
Find new sub contractors.
For contractors looking for new leads in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.
You can search and view projects, advertise your company, and even add projects to your favorites list for free.
Plus, starting at $39.95 per month, you can also search the daily email notifications and view owner contact info.
73. Bid Ocean
Bid Ocean’s subsidiary, the North America Procurement Council (NAPC), is a public benefit corporation that offers a wide range of free bid lead sites.
Check out this website for a link to free bid sites.
You’re welcome, America.
74. GovernmentBids
Another subscription based bidding site.
It promotes daily notifications for new bids matching your business needs.
Prices and features range from $44 per month to $131 per month.
75. USA.Gov
This site and feature is still in testing, but it is functional at the time this was written.
Looking for all of the information without having to pay the monthly fees?
This service is offered in order to help small and/or disadvantaged businesses to find open contract opportunities.
76. Dodge Projects - Construction
You can always count on one of the industry leading data centers to have some leads on job bids.
From this site, you can search and access thousands of bidding projects around the country.
Per project access is $59, or a monthly subscription starts at $79.20.
77. Bidjobber.com
BidJobber offers a no-commitment opportunity for GCs to facilitate the bid management process.
This breakthrough site allows GCs and subcontractors to search for jobs, post ads, network, and secure leads with a few pretty sweet features including:
There’s a free up to $59 per month membership pricing, but this site is definitely worth checking out.
78. planHub
Here is a cloud based application that allows GCs to share project files and information with subs.
Also, you can search for projects within your skill set and state.
Did I mention that this service is 100% free?
Chapter 5
Job Boards
Job boards are the ideal place to search for potential customers, leads, or qualified employees.
With the ability to navigate through online platforms, a job board is a fantastic resource for contractors seeking project proposals.
Not all job boards are created equally, however, and after extensive research, here are our choice lead generation sites for contractors selections for your review.
79. Craigslist
Check out the gig, jobs, and services sections.
Browse around and search for the terms that are relevant to your niche.
You might be surprised what connections you actually create.
80. Simply Hired
There are job postings for subcontract work in a variety of industries.
Painters, welders, makeup artists, accountants, etc.
Who knows, you may find a long term arrangement by showing an employer the benefits of hiring a contractor.
Since 2000, Construction Jobs has been providing services for construction companies to find the right candidates.
Their platform offers a database of job postings, predominantly from direct employers, as well as an active resume database full of job seekers ready for hire.
If you don't want to apply to any of the postings, you could directly contact the company who posted the job.
82. Indeed
One of the most prominent job boards online.
You can find multiple postings within your area, and could reverse search for the companies who posted.
Then it is simply a matter of connecting with them for any contracting work.
Chapter 6
Paid Advertising
We've all heard the saying, "you need to spend money to make money," and paid advertising epitomizes this concept.
With paid advertising, you can pinpoint your ads to reach a specific and relevant target market over several online platforms.
Results are quick and reasonably affordable with measurable and trackable results.
Here are a few of the top paid advertising options for contractors in 2021.
83. Google Ads
Google makes advertising online (seem) really easy, and in a lot of ways it is.
You simply tell Google what your goals are, where you want to run ads, create your ad message, and determine what your budget will be.
According to this Higher Visibility article, Google's paid ads have a 27% grab on total internet traffic so the juice might be worth the squeeze as far as contractor leads in 2021.
84. Facebook Ads
Facebook Ads is another big one with an incredibly high user number, it is quite possible to target your customers when they begin searching for your services.
In the beginning, you will want to figure out how to get your ads in front of your audience and establish your overall business goals.
With over 1.6 billion people connected to small businesses worldwide, this could be profitable if you can fine tune your target audience and advertising message.
85. Instagram Ads
Facebook also owns Instagram, with over 700 million active accounts daily.
You have to have a business Facebook page, but then you can create a business profile on Instagram.
There are a number of benefits of advertising on Instagram which are listed below but feel free to check out this article for additional info.
Instagram also offers things like:
Facebook and Instagram are connected, making budgeting, scheduling, setup, and ad creation easy and convenient.
Effective and less time consuming than other online marketing platforms, Instagram offers a high ROI for minimal cost.
Measurable and scalable reach capability.
Instagram is a non-intrusive platform, so you won't be pissing off your target market with pop-ups and affiliate links.
Here is a free tool to help plan and format your Instagram ads.
With the amount of traffic and perks of advertising on this platform, Instagram is one of the top contenders as far as paid adverts go-without question.
86. Yahoo Local
Yahoo local offers an interesting service for businesses.
For either $23.25 or $33.25 per month, Yahoo will compare, complete, or correct your company's NAP (name address phone number) listing on 70+ websites.
It is a little different from other paid ads, but your company information will be listed all over the internet to be found by people and search engines.
87. Bing Ads
Bing, the search engine powered by Microsoft, offers paid advertising that is similar to other search engines.
You only pay every time your ad is clicked, and you can set up daily budget limits.
Running ads on Bing would allow you to capture all of the users who aren't using Google.
It might be worth a try.
88. BBB Ads
Even the highly trusted Better Business Bureau is getting in the lead generation game.
At the time of this writing, it appears that the BBB is rolling this option out in the Pacific Northwest first.
With exclusive advertising for BBB accredited businesses, will this cast a shadow on its ability to be an unbiased, trusted ratings platform?
89. Yelp Ads
Yelp advertising offers advertisers premium page positions across their web and mobile platforms.
Targeted specifically for local customers, a paid ad with Yelp will display in positions that would garner the most attention.
Depending on the industry, many consumers choose Yelp for their ratings and reviews on businesses.
YellowPages.com has really re-imagined what they could offer local businesses in today's culture.
One of the more traditional ways is paid advertising.
The paid advertising option is a modern take on the old phone book classic ad space.
91. Radio Ads
Local, regional, or national radio advertising is available.
You would want to think about the message you want conveyed about your business based upon your radio station choice.
Some industries have a better ROI than others and there are a few pros and cons to keep in mind as per this post which include:
92. TV Ads
According to one source, Businesses pay $5 to $34 per 1,000 viewers for a local TV ad and an average of $115,000 for national 30-second ad airings.
With that kind of investment, it is important that you create a quality commercial that will deliver results.
In case you aren't a script writer/videographer, this is a good resource to review before investing in making a commercial.
93. Newspaper Ads
Many communities still have local papers, as well as regional daily/weekly newspapers.
Running an effective ad spot can be a good way to generate local business leads.
Try running a coupon type ad so that you can track your ROI.
94. Billboards
Billboard advertising appears to have withstood the test of time.
Despite technological advancements and a world primarily comprised of digital and online marketing techniques, there is something to be said about this method of generating leads for GCs.
Given the ability to be innovative with your marketing campaign, pick your specific date and time, and choose the ideal location, billboard advertising offers several advantages including:
Some quick tips would be to make your ad six words or less, but be noticeable without distracting.
Great as a secondary advertising method and worth investigating further.
This article offers additional information on how billboard advertising drives up sales.
95. Other Signage
This could include yard signs (think of campaign signs), store front signage, business signs, etc.
Expenses could range, but tracking of leads through these methods are difficult to near impossible.
96. Public Transit Advertising
In larger cities, advertising on city buses, in passenger train cars, and sometimes on cabs.
Be mindful of your target audience and ad content because it will most likely be zooming by.
Read some great articles, like this one, before advertising.
97. Advertising in Trade Publications
There are tens of thousands of publications covering all the various contracting trades.
You probably know of several within industries that you work with, and may even subscribe to some.
Create an engaging ad to generate potential leads.
98. Advertising in Movie Theaters
There are new opportunities to advertise in a theater near you.
Why not pitch your home improvement services to the home owners out in the theater early?
Popcorn and new porch painting?
Chapter 7
Online Local Directories
We have discussed the number of Americans using the internet every. single. day.
We have also covered how loyal Americans are to brands and how trust and reviews will often be the sway vote when determining which GC to call.
Online local directories are a go-to staple for many individuals-especially when there is a ton of competition in a particular niche.
Using online local directories to list your site and allow people to leave reviews, you are creating trust and will see an increase in leads for your efforts.
Here are a few local directories worth getting your contractor website listed on in 2021.
Having a Google My Business listing is free, and is one of the leading ways to position your business to be discovered by local searches.
It is important to complete your listing with accurate information about your business, services, and service area.
Upload pictures to help your future customers discover what you do, and really encourage your customers to give you reviews.
According to Forbes, Google My Business listings are no longer just an option-they're a necessity.
If you don't have one-you need one and this post will walk you through the steps on how to get one.
100. Yelp
Yelp, a place for local businesses to be listed and reviewed for free.
Millions of customers review Yelp listings in order to decide whether or not to use a service.
Don't forget that you can also pay for premium ad spots on Yelp too.
Another free profile listing for your business is with Bing Places for Business.
Simply claim your listing, complete your listing profile, and verify you're the owner via a secret pin.
Then, you can also pay for ads.
102. YellowPages.com
A directory listing with YellowPages.com is the online equivalent of a listing in the phone book, with a modern twist.
With a Yellow Pages listing, you will be listed on popular search engines and maps, such as Apple maps.
103. Contractor Home Pros
A directory devoted to providing home improvement service businesses a free listing.
Services include cabinets, carpentry, drywall, fences, flooring, HVAC, landscape, painting, plumbing, roofing, and many more.
Click here to view a complete list of the service categories.
104. BBB
The Better Business Bureau is a trusted organization that many people trust for business ratings, reviews, or to lodge complaints.
Why not have your contracting business listed with the BBB in order to gain good customer reviews and ratings?
Besides, if the BBB is going to start rolling out paid advertising, it only makes sense to get your profile setup.
105. MerchantCircle
MerchantCircle is an online network of local business owners that combines social networking features with customization web listings.
This digital company helps small and midsize business owners network and market their brands reaching hundreds of local customers with free marketing tools and social media perks.
Combining traditional forums with social media sites, MerchantCircle has over 5 million merchants listed worldwide and boasts the following features:
With MechantCircle, you can start with a free profile and increase your account to include full service marketing solutions as needed.
106. Manta
Manta is a site that gets over 22 million global visitors per month.
The majority of those visitors are consumers looking to research, connect, or buy from local companies that are part of the Manta community.
Membership starts at $99 per month.
Chapter 8
Lead Generation
The Number One Way-IMO-To Generate Leads for Contractors
Lead generation is without question my number one choice to generate leads for contractors hungry to grow their business.
This online teaching platform shows you step-by-step how to build-rank and rent digital property for any number of business owners, but really turns up the heat for telephone driven companies like contractors in search of quality-live leads.
With the ability to go into over 400 diverse niches in any city in any country in the world, there are no borders or limitations on how large you scale or how many GCs you help grow their enterprise.
More than a just a little different from the strategies outlined in this post.
Why Lead Generation Is Better Than Third-Party Sites For Contractor Leads:
The thing with leads from third-party sites is that you're just one fish in a big pond.
Most of these platforms divvy out their leads to multiple GCs, and it's a matter of 'may the best man win'.
With lead generation, you own the site and the leads.
You're not competing with other business owners for leads-they're coming to you.
You don't need to low-ball or offer discounted rates.
When you rank in Google, your business is in demand and being contacted with people armed and ready to buy what you're selling.
Other Complaints About Third-Party Sites
The options mentioned in this post are all viable solutions to generating more leads but one thing you need to remember.
- Many of them are leads on tab.
- As long as you keep paying
- New leads will keep coming.
- True, some of them (if not most) are garbage leads...
- Or tire kickers...
- Or from the wrong zip code...
- Or asking you about services you don't offer...
- And on and on and on.
So, how would it feel to have your business listed in Google's winners section?
Whenever people are looking for a plumber, roofer, painter, or anyone else to come work on their house...
They Google search to find the best in their area.
Most of the time, they pick one of the 3 in the map pack to call.
"Can being in the map pack REALLY generate that much new business?"
After getting Lansing Tree Service to #1 in 3 months...
It's been generating 250+ calls per month...
Every month.
Since 2015.
The call volume is specific to your industry and area,
It could be more or less...
But the process to catching most of that business is the same.
How Leveraging Google Can Get You More Leads:
When you rank at the top of the SERPs, you own digital real estate.
Think of your lead gen sites like billboards-advertising your service in front of thousands of online visitors every day.
But you need the skills to get there.
This program is so simple we have retirees that are killing it.
When you understand the process lead generation is so simple and can be broken down into six easy steps:
Why Having The Right System Will Increase Your Bottom Line:
Sure there are a few requirements that need to be met when you sign up for third-party sites, but for the most part, any business qualifies.
One reason why it's so competitive.
With lead generation, it's not rocket science.
But it is a skill that requires work and some hustle.
The beauty is that this training is so detailed that even with no prior SEO or internet experience, you can get your site to the top of the Google search engines.
You need to trust the process and invest in this business model, but the payouts will be monumental.
That's Dan and me-he's one of my mentors-best friends-and the mastermind behind this one of a kind program.
We've trained over 7,000 students to get into the Map Pack (and sooooo much more).
From those who could barely open an email...
To those who could program a computer...
Both the business owner who was about to close up shop...
And the business owner who wanted more territory.
You Can Do Lead Generation Even If You’re Not A Business Owner:
You don't need to be a GC or own a business to be successful with lead generation.
The program teaches you how to perform due diligence.
What to look for and how to choose the ideal niches.
Learn how to build and rank websites for local business owners.
And when your site starts bringing in leads, sell those leads exclusively to a company (making your site a more attractive option than third-party platforms).
You can sell your leads any way you want-commission, rev share, flat fee, whatever and wait for the mailbox money to show up every month.
And the best part?
You can build as many sites as you want anywhere in the world.
This rank and rent method is bringing me in over $52K/month in semi-passive income.
All from home with a laptop and a commitment to hustle.
If you can trust the process and follow the detailed training offered with this program, you will see financial success with lead generation like you never dreamed possible.
Nothing can compare to this opportunity for financial freedom.
If you're serious about learning more click on the link below and hop on a call today.
Well, there you have it folks.
107 lead generation sites for contractors in 2021.
Of course there are bound to be suggestions left off the list.
If you have an idea that has not been shared here, please feel free to leave it in the comment section below, and thanks for reading.
