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!

Before we get to the meat and potatoes.

And share what the competition has to offer.

Let's give you the quick 411 on HomeAdvisor.

You need to know if you're comparing apples to apples.

And getting the best value from your lead generation pick.

They started as ServiceMagic.

And acquired Angie's List in 2017.

HomeAdvisor connects trade professionals to potential customers.

Getting listed on HomeAdvisor is going to cost you around $350/year.

But you also have to pass their screening which includes:

You're one of over 10,000 professional service providers on this site.

And leads are going to run you anywhere from $15-$50+.

Check out their True Cost Guide to get a better idea of prices.

Leads get sent to your inbox weekly or monthly.

But there are a couple of pros and cons to consider:

HomeAdvisor can be beneficial.

Especially for startups.

This article shares some additional information about the platform.

But remember they're not the only option.

If HomeAdvisor is the patriarch of lead generation sites.

Then Angie's List is the matriarch.

A smaller-scale platform.

Angie's List has been around for twenty years.

And after being acquired by HomeAdvisor became referred to as Angie.

But the two remain separate platforms.

Angie reaches about 6 million homeowners.

And is a HomeAdvisor alternative worth considering.

You still need to meet their criminal/background check and screening requirements.

And as a service-based platform, there are pros and cons like:

An app designed for cleaning, handyman, and lawn care professionals.

HUX is an excellent option for companies looking for leads in region-based areas.

Specifically Charlotte, Atlanta, and Dallas.

Hosting an online directory.

HUX has a few requirements for would-be hopefuls.

Some found in this article include things like:

It's a smaller scale model than HomeAdvisor or Angie's List.

And it comes with its share of pros and cons.

Things worth considering include:

For home-based service businesses.

HUX is as good a pick as any.

And if you're interested in signing up for HUX.

Check out this link to apply.

An e-commerce style process for home improvement projects.

Customized quotes in real-time.

And the chance to set binding quotes upfront.

Or review details of a job and negotiate a deal with the customer.

ServiceWhale is free to join.

And its automated lead-generating technology means a streamlined and efficient process.

Contractors in big-ticket service niches. 

Like HVAC, kitchen and bathroom remodels.

Or exterior home services need to take a closer look at this pick.

But there is some red tape to address before you're in the clear.

Things like: 

Founded in 2013 and located in Philadelphia.

There are a few more things worth mentioning.

Including some pros and cons like:

They also offer a white label version of their quoting technology.

Take out the guesswork. 

And jack up business owners' profiles that you can read more about in this post.

If you're liking the sound of this HomeAdvisor alternative.

You can sign up for Servicewhale here.

And start generating leads today.

Thumbtack is the behemoth of home service professionals.

And they offer 1100 different categories across the United States.

Making this online service a HomeAdvisor alternative worth checking out.

It's free to join.

Contractors list information about their business on the site.

And can include things found in this post like:

You're paying for leads.

Anything between $25-$100.

But you get online exposure. 

And a chance to connect with customers.

People that might not have contacted you without your site listing.

A few pros and cons we should mention include:

It's a race to the finish with this option.

Leads are sent to five contractors.

So you need to be on your A-game.

Get back to potential customers quickly to make it worth your while.

But if you're a small business-just starting out.

Or looking to grow your network.

Thumbtack is a great place to start.

Set a budget.

Create a killer profile.

And make some money with this recommendation.

Founded in 2008, 1800Remodel is located in Los Angeles.

But serves the entire United States.

And are proclaimed to be one of the best sites for contractors.

It's all about residential construction and remodeling with this HomeAdvisor alternative.

1800Remodel offers two different lead-generating plans.

Contractors have the choice to pay $50 or $150 for lead options.

And platforms are broken down as follows:

Contactors have to be pre-vetted and pre-approved.

Licensed and insured.

And be able to provide reviews and images of past projects.

Less competitive than some of the more prominent players.

If you're in the remodeling niche 1800Remodel is worth investigating.

One of the new kids on the block. 

Porch is a mobile app directory.

And is geared to home renovations, landscaping, and other service niches.

Because they're fresh out of the gate, they're not as competitive as sites like HomeAdvisor.

But less competition means potentially fewer leads.

What we do know is that they're pulling out all the stops.

And offer contractors two service models.

One puts the customer at the wheel.

The other is for the contractor as per this article.

It's free to join.

And contractors have two options when it comes to associated costs.

A pay-as-you-go model.

Or a subscription fee.

Leads average $5-$60 depending on the size of the project.

So how does it work?

According to this post, you create your free profile.

Upload your business logo, photos, and details.

Get reviews and endorsements from customers to generate more business.

Porch offers some attractive incentives too like:

They might not be a household name yet.

But as a lead generation service, they're making waves.

And if you're interested in beating the rush.

Think about signing up now.

This one is for niche-specific business owners.

People in the service industry.

Think wedding planners, wellbeing, home, and garden, etc.

Bark has been around since 2014.

And while popular in the UK.

They're still gaining traction in the USA.

But they have over 20 million users.

And they're one of the few lead generation services that don't take a piece of your profits.

Here's how it works:

Contractors purchase credits.

And use their credits to bid on jobs.

Credits are around $2.

And projects differ on the number of credits required to 'unlock' potential customers' contact information.

There are a few pros and cons to using Bark.

Including things like:

If you're a business owner in one of the services areas they offer.

Are just starting out.

Or need to grow your client base.

It's may be worth giving Bark a shot.

Gen Task is like a mini version of Thumbtack.

But a smaller scale on-demand service marketplace.

That offers lead generation for business owners. 

Gen Task covers multiple service providers in several niches. 

From photography and personal training to HVAC and appliance repair.

They have over 5 million users and offer services in all 50 states.

And boast some pretty cool features as per this article.

Including things like:

Customers provide information outlining the job.

And professionals bid on them.

The app is interactive and highly competitive.

If you're interested in learning more, check out this post.

Sharing additional information about the platform.

A Home Depot-powered app.

Pro Referral is an option for contractors in the renovation and remodeling space.

But it comes with a price.

And costs $69/year, which covers the costs of background checks.

There's also the little piece around needing to be a category service Home Depot services.

And the only way to get points for their point system is to spend at Home Depot.

There are a few benefits to using Pro Referral however.

And include things like:

If you already shop at Home Depot.

Or are looking to build a client base.

Pro Referral is an option to think about.

A lead-generating platform geared to the trades.

CraftJack has over 50 service options listed on its website and app.

Located in Chicago, they've been around since 2011.

And pride themselves on their stellar customer service and dedicated account managers.

It's free to join.

And professionals can contact leads directly.

CraftJack promises high-quality leads in real-time in addition to a few perks like:

So how do you sign up?

Fill out their form and create a profile.

One of their account managers will contact you.

And you're good to go.

They don't charge monthly or cancellation fees.

And offer discounts and credits for bad leads.

If you're looking to grow and want decent ROIs.

CraftJack is a HomeAdvisor alternative to consider.

What happens when Pinterest meets lead management software?

You get a social media-like platform.

One connecting potential customers with contractors.

Consumers flipping through images and planning new projects.

Geared to business owners in the remodeling, construction, and renovation niches.

Houzz is definitely one of the top contenders when looking for HomeAdvisor alternatives.

And like Pinterest.

Houzz is where the customers are.

With over 40 million users, it's free to join.

But if you want to achieve success, it's recommended that you purchase their pro package.

And that's going to run you between $55-$999/month.

Pros and cons worth weighing in on include things like:

Houzz can generate more leads.

But you need to understand how to play their game.

This article gives a more comprehensive analysis of the platform.

And offers some tips on how to get the best bang for your buck.

Are you a contractor looking for professional connections?

Better leads.

And a platform that focuses on pre construction information? 

Then you need to check out this HomeAdvisor alternative.

ConstructConnect is all about filling your pipeline.

Finding choice opportunities and saving time.

An 'all in one' podium you can access from anywhere anytime.

ConstructConnect has a few benefits worth noting.

Some found in this post include things like:

Over 1.1 million contacts.

Build your business through referrals.

And get in on the bidding action.

Pricing is not transparent.

But with numerous options in all 50 states.

They're one marketing software worth checking out.

Google will always be king when it comes to search engines.

And we'll be diving into Google My Business later in the post.

But here's what you need to know about Bing Places.

And how it can help you generate more leads for your business.

Think of Bing like Google's little brother.

Not as big.

But has some clout.

Benefits to having a Bing Places listing as per this article include:

You can import your GMB to save time.

And verify your Bing Places listing here.

Optimize your listing a couple of ways like:

Need a more detailed explanation?

A guide on how to verify and optimize your Bing Places listing?

Take a read through this post.

But with no out of pocket expense.

Bing Places is a great way to get in front of your ideal customer.

This one's not a free ride.

But the more you put in-the more value you'll get.

BuildZoom is a referral-style platform.

Contractors can snag leads for free.

Land the job and you pay BuildZoom 2.5% of your profits.

They vet customers and offer a couple of decent incentives like:

BuildZoom acts as a mediator.

And expects complete transparency from its contractors.

You need to be licensed and insured.

And evaluate the pros and cons listed in this article including:

If you're looking for an inbound marketing strategy.

And a way to fill your pipe.

BuildZoom is an excellent option for contractors.

Want more information?

Check out this post breaking down the process from a-z.

They get over 1.45 million visitors every month.

But Yelp draws in a lot of tire kickers and price shoppers.

If you want to get a great citation and a free listing.

Setting up a profile on Yelp is a way to increase your business's online exposure.

But as far as a HomeAdvisor alternative goes.

It might not be worth its salt.

Consider a few of the pros and cons listed in this article.

That include things like:

For small-scale service providers.

Or business owners just starting out.

Yelp is a way to build a client base.

And it's simple to set up and manage your listing.

If you're interested in jumping on this idea.

This article offers step-by-step instructions.

And a guide on how to get your business listed on Yelp.

It gets 70,000 searches a second.

5.4 billion a day.

And has nearly 4 billion users.

If your business isn't on Google.

You've lost the war before you even go to battle.

Google My Business is another avenue.

One that is widely overlooked by business owners on the hunt for HomeAdvisor alternatives.

It's free to join and gives you an edge.

Another way to gain online exposure and reach a larger audience.

Consider the benefits of having a GMB.

Like the ones found in this article.

That include things like:

You can add images, updates and reviews.

And it's free.

If you don't have a Google My Business you need one.

And this post gives a complete guide on how to set it up.

17. Why Not Learn to Generate Your Own Leads?