Homeadvisor Pros

So you own a service business and you need leads or phone calls, right? There are only a handful of ways to drive new business nowadays, especially if you are a home services company light a general contractor, HVAC contractor, plumber, or even a carpet cleaner.  

Word of mouth, going door to door, or having a good presence on the major search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. If you don’t have any of these thing going for you then your only other choice for you to grow your business are leads generation companies such as Homeadvisor, Angie’s List, and Thumbtack.

 

What Lead Company Is Best, Thumbtack vs Homeadvisor

Angie’s List is now owned by Homeadvisor so we will be comparing Thumbtack to Homeadvisor. Both companies can prove to be a good lead source and I can tell you I know companies that are using both services.

 

The name of the game when it comes to owning a business is new customers, you always want to keep your pipeline. When your phone isn’t ringing, you are not making any money and money can run out quickly as a small business owner!

 

The Pros and Cons of Using Thumbtack

Pros: Thumbtack is a great source of leads for a small business owner. One of the nice things is you can just go after the types of jobs you really want, you get to see the project and then bid on it. This means you can just go after the project that makes the most sense for your company.

 

  • Free to Join
  • Bid On Specific Projects
  • Custom Profile
  • Great Network

 

Cons: One thing you need to know you are always bidding against 5 other small businesses for the project. In many cases, there are always companies out there willing to drop their shorts when it comes to getting business which means if you want that project you could end up doing it for free!

 

  • Bidding Against 5 Other Companies
  • Customer Normally Take the lowest Bid
  • Customer Support is Limited

 

The Pros and Cons of Using Homeadvisor

Homeadvisor is a bit different, they get a lead in via all major search engines or through a TV commercial then distribute that lead to the Pros in their network that signed up for those types of leads. Depending on the area you are located, there could be 3 Pros or 10 Pros calling that lead!

 

Pros: Homeadvisor has a very wide net, both on internet presence and on television. In most cases, they are getting a large percentage of the leads in any given area. If you are a good salesman, you can pick a lot of the projects you are bidding on and really grow your business. Google and Homeadvisor teamed up in 2015 regarding home services.

 

  • Homeadvisor has market share for Google searches in many areas
  • Great resource when you don’t have any internet presence
  • If you are good at sales, you will reap the benefits

 

Cons: These leads can be very expensive, depending on what services you offer can be from $20 per lead up to $200 a lead! That is just for the lead, not the job. The biggest complaint we hear from our clients is a majority of the leads don’t even end in at least a phone call, so the Pro never even speaks to the so-called interested party, That’s insane!

 

  • Leads are Expensive
  • May never talk to the lead you paid for!
  • Leads are sold to 5 and sometimes 10 different Pros/Contractors

 

So What’s The Take-Away

thumbtack badge Both Thumbtack and Homeadvisor can be great for your business. They both offer a way to get in front of clients that are online searching for your services if you don’t have any internet presence in your local area or the areas where you want to work.

There are definitely more effective ways in most cases to get in front of those potential clients. Building an online presence through search engine optimization is a good start, though if you want phone call ASAP, Google Adwords, and now Google Local Services Ads, if they are offering this in your area, is by far more cost-effective.

 

 

 

Frequently asked questions

 

Which is better: Thumbtack vs HomeAdvisor? 

Both Thumbtack and HomeAdvisor can benefit your business, especially if you are looking to build a larger online presence. Depending on your budget, existing clientele, and scope of business, among many other factors, you may find both these lead generation platforms helpful. It is free to join Thumbtack while HomeAdvisor charges contractors annual fees and lead fees.

Is Angi and HomeAdvisor the same company?

Angi, formerly known as Angie’s List, merged with HomeAdvisor in 2017. Both Angi and HomeAdvisor are subsidiaries of Angi Inc., an internet services company formed after the merger of the two home service giants in 2017. IAC is the owner and majority shareholder of Angi Inc. 

Are HomeAdvisor leads worth it?

HomeAdvisor leads are not guaranteed sales. However, when your company has a great sales team that can successfully convert inquiries into sales, you may maximize the leads generated by HomeAdvisor, which can then make them worth it. 

Does HomeAdvisor own Thumbtack?

HomeAdvisor and Thumbtack are both home services websites, but they are entirely different companies. HomeAdvisor is a subsidiary of Angi Inc., while Thumbtack is a private company backed by several capital funding companies. 

Is Thumbtack a reliable source?

Thumbtack is a legitimate company and has received plenty of great reviews and feedback from numerous contractors across the country. However, just like most services and lead generation platforms, leads are never guaranteed to become sales. 

Is HomeAdvisor better than Angie’s List?

HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List, now called Angi, merged in 2017, but they remain two separate websites. Whether one is better than the other depends primarily on your purpose when using these websites. Angi is free to use, while HomeAdvisor charges an annual fee for contractors.

Are Thumbtack leads Real?

Real customers use Thumbtack. Therefore, it is safe to assume that at least a large portion of the leads Thumbtack sends to contractors are real. This is despite several reports of false or lost leads by some of the platform’s users. Thumbtack, just like many other home services platforms, does not offer a guarantee for their paid leads – leads aren’t guaranteed sales.

Is Houzz worth it for contractors?

A basic Houzz profile is free and definitely worth it when you want to build your online presence and widen your customer reach. Depending on the size of your business and your target market, you may or may not find the minimum flat rate of $49 per month for a Houzz Pro Essential plan worth it.  

 

Does HomeAdvisor sell your information?

Simply put, HomeAdvisor sells leads to contractors. Therefore, when users add their information to the HomeAdvisor website, these are sold to contractors who may contact these potential leads. 

How much does HomeAdvisor charge per lead? 

HomeAdvisor does not specify a fixed price per lead. Contractors are charged varying prices from $15 to $300+ depending on the project size, service offered and the contractor’s location.

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