If you have tried to find clients for your plumbing business, you have probably heard of some popular pay-per-lead sites such as Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor, or Angie’s List.
Even though many people post their requests on those sites, the competition is very high because they sell shared leads. Since many plumbers are likely to be looking for clients on those sites, you could be bidding against quite a few competitors.
Thankfully, as more people turn to online searches to look for plumbers, there are also more lead generation services available to help you get in front of prospects.
Some of these providers drive online traffic to their platforms on which potential clients submit requests. The vendors then distribute these leads among plumbers who have signed up for their services.
Others take a full-service approach to helping plumbing businesses build their marketing funnels, which include websites, SEO, online advertising, and more to drive online traffic and get leads.
When you choose among various lead generation services, make sure to consider the different ways they generate, verify, and distribute leads. Select one that fits your market, business model, and budget so you can get the highest return on investment (ROI.)
To help you find a lead generation service for your plumbing business, we have done the legwork and put together a comparison of the 10 popular plumbing leads providers:
|
Exclusive Leads |
Lead Verification |
Lead Source(s) |
|
|
33 Mile Radius |
Yes |
Yes |
Prospects submit projects via vendor’s network |
|
Boost Marketing & SEO |
Yes |
N/A |
Prospects request quotes via vendor’s website |
|
Marketing 360 |
Yes |
N/A |
Prospects visit contractor’s website |
|
LeadsMill |
No |
Yes |
Prospects submit requests via vendor’s system |
|
Goodzer |
Yes |
Yes |
Prospects set up calls via vendor’s website |
|
AgencyPPC |
Yes |
N/A |
Prospects visit contractor’s website |
|
J&C Marketing Solutions |
Yes |
Yes |
Vendor finds phone leads and transfers them to plumbing businesses |
|
CraftJack |
No |
Yes |
Prospects submit projects on vendor’s website |
|
eLocal |
No |
N/A |
Prospects submit requests on vendor’s website |
|
99 Calls |
Yes |
Yes |
Prospects visit contractor’s website |
Figure 1: How each pay-per-lead website handles lead generation, verification, and distribution
How To Select the Best Lead Generation Service For Your Plumbing Business
We have selected a variety of providers that offer different types of services and packages so you can find one that works best for your business.
Here are a few things to consider:
Lead Distribution
Some vendors advertise “exclusive leads” – what does that mean and how is it different?
When you purchase leads, you’d typically encounter two types of leads.
Shared leads are sold to several plumbers so the competition will be higher. You may also be stuck in a bidding war that’d negatively impact your profit margin.
On the other hand, exclusive leads are sold only to one contractor. The competition is lower and you’d more likely win the business while keeping a healthy profit margin.
You may need to experiment to find the type of lead and the price per lead that will generate the highest ROI for your business.
In general, if you’re just starting out or have limited resources to devote to sales and marketing, getting exclusive leads may be a more efficient use of your time and money.
If you have more resources to spend on pitching new businesses, shared leads could yield better results because you can buy more leads at the same price.
Lead Source
Lead source refers to where your leads are coming from.
Most pay-per-lead website or lead generation services rely on search engine optimization (SEO) and online advertising to attract prospects who are searching for specific terms that indicate a high purchase intent.
If you have been in business for even just a little while, you probably notice that some sources (e.g., Google Adwords, Facebook ads, organic searches, website inquiries, referral) send you higher quality leads that are more likely to convert to clients.
Take note of how your highest-converting prospects find you so you can focus on promoting your business through those lead sources.
Some pay-per-lead vendors get their leads from third-party databases. They’re essentially just buying and reselling the information. Although they may be selling you more leads, the quality of those leads may vary.
Lead Verification
When you’re purchasing leads from a vendor, make sure to inquire how it verifies the prospects’ information and readiness to start a project so you don’t have to spend time and resources chasing after bad leads.
Some vendors screen prospects by having them fill out a detailed web form when submitting requests on their websites. This helps weed out those who aren’t ready to engage the work of a plumber.
Some lead generation services that charge per valid call or appointment often do more legwork for you by contacting the leads on your behalf to ensure that they meet your criteria.
In the case where a lead vendor has prospects call you directly, find out how to dispute a lead. Often direct leads are recorded and reported. This allows you and the lead vendor to post-qualify leads. You should not have to pay for unqualified leads.
Price Per Lead
Knowing your price per lead is essential in helping you project your client acquisition cost and staying profitable.
Keep mind that cheaper isn’t always better. You have to consider the conversion rate from each lead source to understand if you’re getting the highest ROI.
Here are the price-per-lead of some of the vendors:
|
Cost Per Lead |
Notes |
|
|
33 Mile Radius |
Approximately $60 per lead, depending on service area |
No setup or monthly fee |
|
Boost Marketing |
Cost can get as low as $5 per lead, depending on competition and advertising methods. |
Works with only one company per service category within a 50-mile radius to ensure exclusive leads |
|
Marketing 360 |
Varies based on package |
Builds your website and offers online ad service to drive traffic |
|
LeadsMill |
Depends on job type and service area |
|
|
Goodzer |
$25-$45 for each qualified exclusive call |
Pricing varies based on service areas and type of service |
|
AgencyPPC |
Varies based on package |
Drives traffic to your website with SEO |
|
J&C Marketing Solutions |
Varies based on package |
Pay per call or online form lead |
|
CraftJack |
$27-$40 per shared lead |
Get $100 fund when you start receiving leads |
|
eLocal |
Depends on service type and location |
No contract or set up fee |
|
99 Calls |
$29.90 per exclusive lead after intro period |
Intro offer: $199 setup and $99/month for first 10 months of unlimited leads |
Figure 2: Price-per-lead comparison
10 Lead Generation Services For Plumbers
There are different ways to work with lead generation service providers and here are the pros and cons of 10 companies to help you make the right decision:
1. 33 Mile Radius
Cost per plumbing lead: Approximately $60 per lead, depending on service area.
Lead distribution system: Exclusive leads.
Lead source: Vendor drives traffic to its website using digital marketing techniques such as online ads.
Lead Verification System Prospects submit projects via the vendor’s network.
Pros:
- You get exclusive leads for your particular service area.
- The vendor provides training to help you get the most out of its system.
- You only pay for valid leads.
- According to the vendor, top partners close up to 90% of the leads.
Cons:
- Cost per lead is higher than some other pay-per-lead sites.
Reviews:
Source: Better Business Bureau
2. Boost Marketing
Cost per plumbing lead: Cost can get as low as $5 per lead, depending on competition and advertising methods.
Lead distribution system: Exclusive leads.
Lead source: Vendor builds your custom website and drives traffic to it using PPC and local search campaigns.
Lead Verification System Prospects submit requests on your website.
Pros:
- The vendor works with one company per 50-mile radius to ensure you’re getting exclusive leads.
- You get a website built to support long-term growth.
- There’s no long-term contract.
- The vendor guarantees high-quality leads that are actively searching for a plumber.
Cons:
- You may not get into the program if there’s already a plumber using its service in your area.
Reviews:
Source: Google Reviews
3. Marketing 360
Also known as Madwire
Cost per plumbing lead: Varies based on package.
Lead distribution system: Exclusive leads generated from your own website.
Lead source: The vendor builds your website and uses online ads to drive traffic to it.
Lead Verification System: Potential clients opt-in to get a quote.
Pros:
- The vendor offers on-demand professional marketing services such as website design and development, content creation, online advertising, and video production to help you market your business.
- Packages include access to online lead management software.
Cons:
- The full-service approach can be more expensive than other pay-per-lead sites.
Reviews:
4. LeadsMill
Cost per plumbing lead: Depends on job type and service area.
Lead distribution system: Shared leads.
Lead source: The vendor looks for leads and sends them to the mobile app in real-time.
Lead Verification System: Vendor claims to deliver only verified leads.
Pros:
- You get leads sent to you in real-time via a mobile app.
- You can control your budget by adding funds to your app account.
- Pay as you go, easy to use.
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer as much customer support as other full-service vendors.
Reviews:
Source: LeadsMill.com
5. Goodzer
Cost per plumbing lead: $20-$45 per qualified exclusive call.
Lead distribution system: Exclusive leads.
Lead source: The vendor promotes your business online (e.g., paid ads, SEO etc.) and prospects submit requests via its website.
Lead Verification System: You only pay for valid calls.
Pros:
- You only get charged for valid calls with prospects.
- There are no setup fees, service fees, or other fees.
Cons:
- Price per call is typically more expensive than shared leads from other pay-per-lead sites.
Reviews:
Source: Facebook Reviews
6. AgencyPPC
Cost per plumbing lead: Varies based on services.
Lead distribution system: Exclusive leads generated from your own website.
Lead source: The vendor uses search engine optimization (SEO) techniques and pay-per-click (PPC) ads to drive traffic to your website.
Lead Verification System: Potential clients submit requests on your website.
Pros:
- Optimizing your website for organic search is a strategy that will generate long-term results for your business.
- The vendor helps you analyze metrics and track ROI so you can improve results over time.
Cons:
- The service only involves driving traffic to your website. You still need to make sure you have a client-attractive website that can capture leads effectively.
Reviews:
Source: Google Reviews
7. J&C Marketing Solutions
Cost per plumbing lead: Varies based on services.
Lead distribution system: Exclusive leads.
Lead source: The vendor transfers phone leads to your business immediately and notifies you via email about online appointment requests.
Lead Verification System: The vendor uses local targeting to make sure leads collected are located in your service area.
Pros:
- Exclusive leads and local targeting helps improve conversion rate.
- Hot phone transfer connects you with prospects that are ready to hire a plumber.
- Service includes tracking to help fine-tune tactics and increase ROI.
Cons:
- The added services (e.g., phone transfer) could mean a higher cost per lead than some other pay-per-lead sites.
Reviews:
Source: Yelp
8. CraftJack
Cost per plumbing lead: $12-$75 per shared lead.
Lead distribution system: Leads shared by up to four contractors.
Lead source: Prospects submit requests on the vendor’s website.
Lead Verification System: When potential clients submit requests, the automated system calls them to verify their information.
Pros:
-
The vendor’s proprietary lead management tool helps you keep track of prospects. You also receive text or email alerts on new leads right away.
-
You can request a credit through the lead management tool if you get a bad lead.
Cons:
-
You’ll be competing with other plumbers for the same clients, which could lower your conversion rate.
Reviews:
Source: Better Business Bureau
9. eLocal
Cost per plumbing lead: Depends on advertising package and service area.
Lead distribution system: N/A. You list your business on the website for free and pay to get featured on search results.
Lead source: Vendor drives traffic to its website using online marketing techniques.
Lead Verification System: Prospects click through your listing or ad to your website to request a quote.
Pros:
- You get highly targeted leads because they’re searching for exactly the service you offer in your geographic area.
- You only pay for valid calls and leads. If there aren’t enough leads coming through, you can get the rest of your money back.
Cons:
- Competition can be high in certain areas.
- Paying for ad placements can get expensive.
Reviews:
Source: Better Business Bureau
10. 99 Calls
Cost per plumbing lead: $29.90 per exclusive lead after the intro period.
Introductory Price: $199 setup fee. $99 per month for the first 10 months to get unlimited leads.
Lead distribution system: Exclusive.
Lead source: 99 Calls Lead Generation System drives your website to the top of search engine results so it can be found by high-quality prospects.
Pros:
-
99 Calls doesn’t share or resell leads so you’ll get exclusive leads that are more likely to convert.
-
You get a highly optimized website that will rank on the first page of Google to generate long-term results.
-
The service includes listing on several prominent directories and optimizing your Facebook business page. The vendor will help you set up these profiles properly so you can gain visibility and promote special offers.
- 99 Calls Lead Generation packages guarantee a minimum number of leads per month or your bill will be prorated.
-
Free monthly reporting helps you track results and maximize your ROI.
Reviews:
Source: Better Business Bureau
Also see:
Google Reviews for 99 Calls
Facebook Reviews for 99 Calls
Conclusion
Many people don’t think of plumbing until a pipe has burst or the bathroom is flooding.
But when they do need a plumber, they need one fast. They won’t have time for research and will call up the first few who are listed on their online search results.
As such, optimizing your website and directory listings for SEO is essential for generating leads and getting new clients.
As you can see, there are many different services to help you get found by prospects that are searching for plumbers.
To maximize results, you may need to test out a few vendors to see which method generates the highest ROI for your target market and business model.
Of course, you also need to hone in on the rest of your sales funnel (e.g., increase the conversion rate of your sales calls) and deliver outstanding customer service so you can get more leads from referral.