The top home service lead generation companies are Amazon Home Services, Angi, Bark, Home Advisor, Houzz, Nextdoor, and Phyxter. These 7 platforms can help home services businesses (deep cleaning, electrical repair, garden care, interior decorations, pool maintenance, etc) find quality leads in their area.
Of course, these services have their own advantages and disadvantages. It’s best to study each option if you want to avoid costly mistakes you’ll probably regret later on. For this blog, we’ll discuss these lead generation platforms and also share how your business can benefit directly from organic Google ranking.
Along the way, we’ll also talk about local lead generation - and how you can make top cash using it as a business model.
Top 7 home service lead generation companies
Amazon Home Services
Primarily known as the world’s largest ecommerce company, Amazon also offers Amazon Home Services. Here, interested consumers can “book and schedule professional home services.” A quick glance on the platform shows many available services, including office chair assembly, patio heater assembly, projector mounting, smart doorbell installation, TV wall mounting, and more.
“We've handpicked the best service providers in the U.S.,” Amazon assures customers. “Our service providers and technicians are required to be background checked and licensed if applicable.”
Needless to say, Amazon Home Services can be a great lead generation website for your home services business. While signing up is free, Amazon takes 15 to 20% of your service’s total cost whenever someone makes a purchase.
Angi
Established in 1995 and formerly known as Angie’s List, Angi allows users to “find top-rated certified pros” in their areas. The service is dedicated to connecting people with expert home service companies, such as those providing concrete resurfacing, interior painting, furnace repair, landscaping, plumbing, remodeling, roofing, snow removal, and others.
With Angi, business owners can feature their brand to new leads. Using their tools, a home service business can “show off your best projects, and prove that you're the right business for the job.”
The downside? Although using Angi is free, the company charges some homeowners with paid membership while contractors have to avail of advertising to increase their visibility. Otherwise, your business will not appear among top results as your target market searches the platform.
Bark
Next, Bark is another popular online marketplace matching consumers and professionals. In their House & Home Professionals category, people can browse services such as fence installation, gardening, home insulation, housecleaning, painting, and pest control, among others.
The generation service allows professionals to “pick the best leads” for their home service businesses by allowing them to review leads for free. Also, the company awards you with a Bark star rating as you get positive comments from your customers. This rating will appear both on your Bark profile and in Google search results.
Unfortunately, Bark has several bad feedback online - such as how difficult it is for unhappy users to ask for a refund. Also, take note that Bark isn’t fully focused on the home service industry since they also have counselors, therapists, wedding photographers, and other professionals in their platform. It can be pretty saturated if you look at it as a whole platform.
Home Advisor
Founded in 1998, Home Advisor is one of the pioneering lead gen solutions online. In 2007, the company was acquired by Angi. According to their website, they have successfully connected over 11 million consumers with home service professionals in their network.
Presently, the site has “100k service professionals specializing in over 500 categories.”
The catch? Home Advisor charges for every lead they deliver, whether you close the sale or not. So regardless of its quality, you’ll have to pay somewhere from $5 up to $100 for every new lead. In addition, you may also have to spend around $300 a year for a service plan subscription.
Houzz
With over 65 million users, Houzz is also one of the top lead generation services in the industry. The platform markets itself as “a place to find and hire the right design and construction professionals.”
Aside from checking out home service companies, consumers can also browse photo galleries of bathrooms, dining rooms, kitchens, patios, and others.
It’s free to create a profile and portfolio in Houzz but if you want to get top market exposure, you’ll have to pay for an Ultimate package. This $399 per month membership plan gives you access to targeted advertising and the lead generation program.
Nextdoor
Founded in 2008 and launched in 2011, Nextdoor aims to connect consumers and businesses by “turning your neighbors into customers.” This hyperlocal social networking app welcomes interested small business owners to create their Business Page profile and “engage with neighbors locally with free Business Posts.”
By Nextdoor’s definition, leads are “neighbors who are especially dedicated to their neighborhood.” Be warned, however, that while the site can be helpful for businesses, many users have mixed reviews about it. In fact, it has a 2.51 star rating out of 2,800 reviews on Sitejabber, which indicates most customers are “generally dissatisfied with their purchases.”
Phyxter
Although headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Phyxter serves both the American and Canadian market from several locations within the two countries. The platform “connects homeowners with reliable and trusted home service contractors in their area.”
By using the service, home service business owners and independent contractors can access useful features such as quoting/invoicing, payment processing, and lead generation. Additionally, it’s totally risk-free since you’ll only have to spend on leads that convert into paying jobs. Just be aware that the platform isn’t as popular as its competitors yet so you can’t expect getting many leads from them all the time.
How do you choose a lead generation company?
Determine what type of lead generation they are. There are two types of lead generation services out there. First, inbound lead generation agencies are the most common. They usually offer SEO services, social media marketing, paid advertising, and web design to help you attract leads. Second, outbound lead generation companies go for traditional marketing methods, such as cold calling, direct mailing, and email prospecting. Of course, you should choose a service that aligns with what you’re hoping to achieve for your home service business.
Check out their track record. Not all lead generation companies are created equal. So do your homework and look for a reputable platform with a solid track record. You want to hire a company that specifically has experience working with businesses in the home service industry.
Read reviews. Take time to search for online reviews. That way, you will see what others have to say about the service. Take note of any common red flags from existing customer feedback (such as bad quality of leads, hidden charges, poor customer service, etc.) so you know which companies to avoid.
Contact them and ask questions. Get in touch with your preferred lead generation company to ask them any questions you may have in mind. Go into detail regarding their features and pricing. You definitely want to have a clearer picture of their process and how it can benefit your brand. Tell them about what you do, your strengths and weaknesses. Plus explain what you exactly expect from them.
At the end of the day, you want to go with a lead generation company that can deliver quality over quantity. So do your research and compare different providers before making a final decision.
Do lead generation companies work?
Yes, lead generation companies work. In fact, dozens of our students have received feedback from clients that their leads helped keep their businesses afloat.
Lead generation companies help their clients by acquiring and providing names and contact information of potential customers. The goal is to spark their interest in the business’ products or services so that they become actual customers.
As with other industries, home service companies need a continuous flow of customers to thrive and survive. Simply put: the greater the number of quality leads, the greater the chances of them finding interested individuals who may avail of their services. By working with a lead generation company, a business owner can streamline their sales process and, as a result, increase their profits.
Lead generation as a business priority
HubSpot reports that 50% of marketers “consider lead generation a top priority in their marketing campaigns.” Moreover, “generating more leads” is their major priority in the next 12 months.
Since running a home service business requires dedication and hard work, owners often outsource lead generation to competent providers. With the help of lead generation experts, home service businesses can reach a bigger percentage of their target market - they also get to focus on serving their customers.
So yes, hiring a trusted lead generation service can definitely work for home service owners.
The advantage of organic search engine ranking
That said, our personal recommendation for generating quality leads is through organic search engine ranking. While this strategy requires greater effort and time investment, increasing your page ranking on Google will lead your business to the best benefits.
Case in point, you can save more money and enjoy free organic traffic for many years. With an excellent search engine ranking, you won’t have to worry about monthly subscription or per lead fees you’ll typically have to pay for when using lead generation companies. If you add up all your expenses over the years, you’ll realize organic search engine ranking will cost you less in the long run.
What is the best channel for generating quality leads?
The best channel for generating quality leads is Google. In a June 2022 StatCounter report, we read that Google continues to dominate the global search engine market at 91.88%. Meanwhile, LSA reports that consumers in need of lawn care, locksmiths, moving, and pest control services are most likely to use search engines. Moreover, we learn that over 55% of home services verticals search online before scheduling an appointment. Most of these consumers also do not have any specific company in mind when they perform an online search.
To sum up, a good percentage of users are undecided about which company to pick when they look up home service providers online. Despite that, most of them are ready to spend their hard-earned money when they find the right business that matches their needs.
For this reason, we believe Google is the best source of quality leads for businesses in the home service industry. Of course, we’d also like to give emphasis about the importance of ranking your site on local search engine results.
As a local home service owner, ranking your site in Google and in Google Maps using specific local keywords leads to more traffic and earnings.
These days, prospects in need of your services will likely perform a localized search when using Google. That means a potential customer looking for window cleaning services will probably type “local window cleaning service,” “window cleaning service (+ name of city and state),” or “window cleaning service near me.”
In a post by Safari Digital, we see relevant statistics about local search engine user behavior. According to the website:
- 46% of all searches on Google include local intent
- 97% of users searched online to find a local business
- “Near me” mobile searches increased by 136% last year
Without question, local home services can definitely benefit from having a strong presence in Google and in Google Map listings. By implementing the right SEO (search engine optimization) strategies, you can boost your ranking, increase your qualified lead base, and close more deals.
How do I get Google leads?
You can get Google leads through Google Ads and through SEO. Google Ads is a pay-per-click (PPC) advertising platform that allows you to promote your brand to your target market by boosting your presence with strategic ad placements. On the other hand, SEO improves your site’s ranking in organic search engine results. With this, you get to attract free organic traffic - which could convert into quality leads - without paying for ads.
These two lead generation methods can drive fast traffic to your website, but which is better if you can only use one? Let’s check out both options so you can decide which generation tool is best for your home service business.
Google Ads
As mentioned, Google Ads is Google’s paid advertising solution.
Google Ads allows you to “create online ads to reach people exactly when they're interested in the products and services that you offer.” When you run an ad campaign, you dictate the copy you’ll use and the budget you’ll spend for it. Aside from Google Search results, Google Ads also allows you to display your ads on relevant sites.
Pro tip: Study how the ad auction works.
While Google assures that running a PPC campaign puts you in control of your own budget, it helps to understand the Google Ad auction process.
“Each time an ad is eligible to appear for a search, it goes through the ad auction,” Google also explains. “The auction determines whether or not the ad actually shows and in which ad position it will show on the page.”
According to the search engine giant, it’s possible to win over your competitors’ bids - even if their bids are higher - if you’re targeting “relevant keywords and ads.”
Search Engine Optimization
Next, SEO aims to boost your business website’s popularity so that your link is constantly visible to search engine users. As a potential client types your keywords on Google, they’ll see your and click your site, increasing the likelihood that they’ll turn into a paying customer.
The big difference with SEO, however, is that you aren’t paying for the leads. Organic traffic is free. So as long as you’re enjoying good ranking on Google, you can expect to get a lot of visitors and customers on your business website.
Pro tip: Never use “click here” in your content.
When optimizing your site, make sure that you implement proven SEO practices. For example, do not use “click me” on your content when adding links. Why? Because it doesn’t have any search engine value, according to Michigan Technological University.
“Always use descriptive links by linking keywords,” the institution also reminds. “It not only improves search engine optimization, but also adds value to your readers, including those with disabilities or who are using screen readers.”
Which is better for your business: SEO or PPC ads?
So is SEO better than PPC ads for your business? To answer that question, here’s an excerpt from Google Ads’ “SEO vs PPC” article.
According to their post:
“If your goal is to drive traffic to your site in the short term, you might choose to focus on PPC ads. If you want to enhance your business’s online presence in the long run, SEO is the answer.”
So while it’s possible to use both strategies in your generation campaign, SEO is unquestionably far superior. It may require a longer investment of time and effort but it also brings the best rewards. You can build authority for your brand and enjoy long-term success. In fact, a good search engine ranking can get your site years of free organic traffic from Google - which means more potential leads and sales for your business.
Is it better to outsource lead generation?
Outsourcing lead generation is a great idea, but it also has its pros and cons. For instance, hiring a specialist can help you save time. As they generate leads on your behalf, you can focus on your home service business. Experts will also run your campaign and they use the right lead generation tool and strategies to ensure customers with excellent output. However, you’ll also have to pay for monthly or per-lead fees to keep using their service. This can mean an additional overhead expense for a small business that only has a limited budget. You also do not have full control over your generation campaign and your chosen provider may even work with other companies - including your competitors.
In comparison, doing lead generation in-house puts you in the driver's seat. You get to steer the entire lead generation process in the exact direction you want it to be. You can also save money along the way as you work with your own team members. The obvious drawback here, of course, is that you’ll need to invest time and effort. You will need to train your team well, plus you have to stay constantly updated with current lead generation trends.
So, should you outsource lead generation or just do it yourself? Actually, there is no right or wrong answer here. It all depends on what your business priorities are and the resources you have. Consider your goals, your budget, and your work force to see which option is more practical in the long run.
If you ask me, I’d say going DIY has its merits as long as you can do it the right way. As you learn and apply effective SEO techniques, it’s possible to rank your home service website in just a few months. This can boost your organic traffic, resulting in an increase in both your leads and earnings.
Conclusion
With many home service lead generation companies to choose from, business owners should be wise before signing up for any service. By making an informed decision, you can find more leads without any hassle.
For those who are yet to establish their own business, go check out available training programs such as the Home Service Academy. Learning from experts like Johnny Robinson and Sergio Silesky will allow you to get off to a good start as you enter the home service industry.
Meanwhile, those who already have a home service business and want to do better in their Google ranking should be interested in our lead generation coaching program. Over the years, we’ve taught over 7,000 students who have benefited from our effective techniques.
We pull the curtains on how you can give your website that much-needed boost in a matter of months. Our proven 3-step process shows you how to earn passive income generating leads from organic traffic. If you’re willing to master and trust the process, you will discover why I recommend local lead generation business model as the #1 way to make money online.
