15 Ways to Do Contractor Lead Generation [Platforms & Strategies]
There’s more than one way to generate leads as a contractor. Discover what platforms and mediums you can use to help you earn more contracts and keep your company busy with jobs!
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insights from 185,000+ hours of contractor marketing experience
If you’re a contractor looking to grow in 2025, you need to amp up your lead generation for contractors.
Generating quality leads is the starting point to earning more jobs. But how do you generate leads that actually turn into work for your company?
Well, we’ve got options for you.
Below, we’ll cover the most common platforms contractors use to generate leads and the best options for growing your business.
If you’d like professional help launching your digital marketing strategy, contact us online or call us at 888-601-5359 to learn more. We bring decades of experience to lead generation, and we’ve helped our clients’ businesses earn more than 24 million leads in the past five years!
Most common platforms contractors use to generate leads
Here are some of the most common platforms contractors like you use to obtain leads (plus the pros and cons of each):
1. Angi
Angi, formerly known as Angie’s List, helps homeowners connect with top-rated professionals for all their home project needs. It’s free to sign-up and use the platform.
Once you create your profile, you’ll want to optimize it by showcasing the work you’ve already done as a contractor. It helps people see your abilities and feel more confident about your services.
Here are the pros and cons of using this platform to find contractor leads:
| Pros | Cons |
| Provides a convenient, centralized place to reach leads looking for contractors | Highly competitive and saturated platform |
| Lead management interface you can use to deliver quotes, communicate with homeowners, and more. | You have to pay per lead regardless of whether they hire you |
| Many cite lead quality issues with the platform |
2. HomeAdvisor
There’s no shortage of third-party websites where people can find a professional contractor. HomeAdvisor is another platform you can leverage to try and find contracting leads.
HomeAdvisor, powered by Angi, offers access to a sizeable audience looking for a contractor. They specialize in helping homeowners connect with contractors for various projects.
Here are the pros and cons of using this platform to find contractor leads:
| Pros | Cons |
| You increase visibility and reach of your business by building a presence on the platform | Leads are expensive and you have to pay regardless of whether they hire you |
| Doesn’t require much work to get a profile set up | Many complaints of “window shopper” leads that aren’t looking to hire yet (which costs you money) |
| Lead quality is often shared as poor and not worth the money spent to obtain the lead |
Explore: Is HomeAdvisor Worth It For Contractors?
3. Thumbtack
If you want to try another third-party website for contractor lead generation, consider making a Thumbtack profile. Thumbtack enables you to set targeting preferences so you can get jobs that fit your business the best.
With Thumbtack, your company pays when a lead contacts your business. You can also find lead opportunities and pay to message customers you think would be interested in what you offer — for this model, you only pay if the lead responds.
Here are some pros and cons of using this website to do lead generation for contractors:
| Pros | Cons |
| Listing your contracting company is free | Many cite high lead costs and low hiring rate, which can make the investment less worth it |
| You can set targeting preferences to get more relevant jobs | You often pay for leads that don’t end up being a good fit |
| Competitive platform with other pros vying for leads |
4. Nextdoor
Nextdoor is a social media network that allows people to connect with local residents in their area. Because it’s an app built off of connecting local communities, it’s often a good place for contractors to seek out work.
People will often turn to others in the community asking for suggestions of pros in their area they can hire for a job. If you have a positive reputation built on the platform and within your community, it can help you get recommended and earn more jobs.
Here are the pros and cons of using Nextdoor to generate contractor leads:
| Pros | Cons |
| It’s free to create a business profile | Some people are skeptical of the quality of businesses on the platform (many people will post to complain about certain companies) |
| It allows you to connect directly with people in your community looking for services you offer | You have to put in the work to seek out posts where people are looking for a contractor |
| You can build a positive reputation for your company, through the platform, which can increase leads/recommendations |
5. Porch
Another website contractors will use to generate leads is Porch. Similar to Thumbtack and Angi, Porch is a homeowner-focused service platform that allows people to connect with movers, security companies, insurance companies, home service providers — basically any professionals you might need for your home!
This website is a option for contractors that provide a variety of services, from deck building to cabinet makers to fence installation.
Here are the pros and cons of using this website to generate contractor leads:
| Pros | Cons |
| No membership fee for joining the website | Have to pay extra to get enhanced visibility on the platform |
| Lead cost varies depending upon your location and scope of the project |
6. Handy
Handy is another website you can use to do lead generation for contractors. This website specializes in offering cleaning, handyman, and home improvement project opportunities. It allows services in major cities across the U.S. to reach homeowners who need a contractor.
They offer a user-friendly platform that customers can use to book professionals, which helps streamline the lead generation process for you.
Here are the pros and cons of using this platform:
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to join the platform | Many people have negative perceptions of the quality of providers on the platform, making it harder to get leads |
| Ideal for contractors that are just starting out | You can’t connect with clients until you accept the job, making communication difficult |
| Customers provide description of job, which can leave you unsure if it’s a good fit for you |
Contractor lead generation strategies that actually drive quality leads
At the end of the day, your goal is to drive quality leads. A common pitfall of the lead generation sites we listed above is the lead quality. While you can get some decent leads from them, many contractors find the lead quality to be less than ideal.
So, where do you go for high quality leads?
Here are some of the top strategies you can use to do lead generation for contractors effectively:
1. Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile can help potential leads find your business via Google Search and Google Maps. Claim or create your Google Business Profile listing and optimize it to attract leads to your business. The best part is that it costs nothing to use Google Business Profile, which means you can get contractor leads for free from it!
2. Offer premium content to educate your audience
People have a lot of questions about contractors, construction, home improvement, and more. It creates a great opportunity for you to be a trusted source of information about these topics.
Create how-to guides, ebooks, and other freebies that provide valuable information to people interested in a repair or renovation. You can cover topics your audience actively searches for information on, like “how much does a contractor cost?” or “How to check is a contractor is licensed.”
Content is important to people. Over 70% of consumers would rather get to know a company through articles and blog posts than advertisements. It’s an appreciated medium from your audience, so it’s crucial that you take advantage of it and use it to drive leads for your business.
By creating content, you will be an authority in your field. When your information is helpful, people remember your business. Even if they don’t need your services at the moment, they will remember your business when they do need your services.
3. Manage your online reputation
The success of contractors relies heavily on your reputation. If you have a poor reputation, people won’t trust you to manage their projects. That’s why it’s crucial to manage your online reputation, so people pick you over your competition.
Two key platforms you’ll want to watch are Google and Yelp. Your Google Business Profile and your Yelp profile are two places where people can freely review your company and the experiences they had with your project management.
The first step is to encourage people to leave reviews about their experience with you. Whenever your team finishes a project, encourage your client to share their thoughts and opinions on platforms like Google or Yelp.
Once you have reviews on these platforms, you can start managing them.
If someone leaves a positive review about their experience, take the time to thank them for leaving the review. If there are negative reviews, take time to acknowledge the problems and provide a resolution for the client.
Keep in mind that 88% of people are likely to use a business if they see an owner responds to all reviews — it shows people you care and actively listen to what they say.
Taking the time to manage your reputation can help you earn more leads in the future.
4. Optimize for search engines
Search engine optimization(SEO) is a great strategy to use to drive qualified traffic to your website.
With SEO, you can optimize your website to rank better for queries relevant to your business. It requires optimizing for relevant keywords to help drive relevant traffic to your website, which ultimately leads to obtaining more qualified leads.
You can improve your performance in search engines by:
- Creating a well-designed and functional website that keeps users engaged
- Improving your website’s load time to provide information faster
- Optimizing your webpages for relevant keywords
- Earning backlinks to your website
5. Build a presence on social media
Social media is a great way to connect with potential customers. There are numerous platforms you can use to reach these people including Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Your target market will determine which platforms you use. Think about which platforms your audience is likely to use and create a profile on those platforms to connect with them.
Social media offers many opportunities to share content. You can share your blog posts, videos, and updates on these pages. People can read them and engage with them.
Videos and infographics are great for sharing, too. These are easy for users to share on to their own pages to friends and family. You can circulate these better and entice people to check out your content.
There are also opportunities to create paid ads to reach even more people on social media.
When you create your social media presence, you can gain more leads. You’ll connect directly with homeowners looking for the right contractor. These platforms are great for drawing more leads in to learn about your business and services.
6. Use Bing places for business to attract leads
If you find that a lot of your audience uses Bing to find local contractors, consider claiming your Bing places profile. This profile is similar to your Google Business Profile — it appears in local queries on Bing and helps searchers connect with your business.
After you claim your Bing places listing, you’ll want to complete your profile by adding your services, hours of operation, and other important information. Once you complete your profile, you’ll verify the listing is correct and then it can go live.
Bing places for business is a great option if you want to reach local leads searching on Microsoft’s search engine.
7. Launch a referral program to earn qualified leads
Word of mouth has always helped people find service providers because they trust their friends and family. Formalize the process with a referral program, and allow satisfied customers to benefit from spreading the word about your business.
Add a referral page to your website and add the link to your email footer. When someone sends a name, send an email inviting the lead to contact you with questions or details about potential projects.
When you create a referral program, keep in mind that there should always be a reward for both parties. Both parties should only get the reward if it results in a job for your business. That ensures people actually refer qualified leads.
8. Run Google Local Services ads
One of the best strategies to include in your contractor lead generation plan is running Google Local Services ads. These ads appear at the top of local search results when someone wants to find a professional in their area.
Running Google Local Services ads is a great way for you to reach people that need to hire a general contractor. Earning the Google Guaranteed badge serves as a vote of confidence that you’re a reliable contractor.
With these ads, you only pay when someone contacts your business — you don’t pay if they click on your ad to learn more about you. It makes Local Services Ads a good option for earning qualified leads interested in hiring you.
9. Run PPC ads
Leveraging pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is one of the best ways to earn leads for your contracting business.
If you’ve conducted a search on Google, you’ve seen these paid advertisements at the top of the search results. These results appear before the organic listings.
How does PPC work?
This form of advertising works on a bidding system. You select the keywords you want to trigger your ads and set a max bid. Your maximum bid and other factors, like Ad Rank, will determine the placement of your advertisements.
PPC is a great strategy for contractors because you can regulate your budget. You will never pay more than your maximum bid for each click, making it a targeted and budget-friendly option for contractors.
FAQ about contractor lead generation
Here are some commonly asked questions about lead generation for contractors.
Should I use sites like Angi or Handy to generate leads?
You can, but don’t rely on it as the sole source of your lead generation.
If you skim across Reddit threads, you’ll see that many contractors have had bad experiences with using these third-party platforms. Most of those complaints surround two things — poor lead quality and wasted money.
Can you get some good leads from these platforms? Absolutely! But if you rely solely on these platforms for your lead generation, you’ll be disappointed with the long-term results.
If you want to try using these third-party websites, try a balance of these websites and marketing strategies. You could build a profile on Angi, but also ramp up your SEO and PPC efforts.
Then you can evaluate them after the same amount of time and see what’s worth investing in for the future.
How can I improve the quality of my contractor lead generation?
If you feel like your current efforts aren’t producing high-quality leads, follow these quick tips to improve it:
- Make sure your target audience is right and relevant
- Leverage targeting in your marketing to reach the right people with the right message
- Continually analyze your lead generation efforts, identify pitfalls, and improve
How do I qualify leads I get?
As we’ve mentioned repeatedly, lead quality is crucial for earning jobs and revenue for your company. But that brings the question — how do you determine the quality of the leads you get? How do you know if they’re good?
The long answer: Create a lead scoring system of what an ideal lead would look like. You can include qualifiers like:
- If they’re located in your operating area
- If they’re the correct age range, gender, etc.
- If they submitted or completed a form
- If they visited a specific page on your website
- And more
You’d then have to manually score your leads based on your created criteria.
The short answer: Leverage a tool that does lead scoring for you. RevenueCloudFX, for example, includes a feature called LeadScorerFX, that automatically score leads for you, so you know which leads are most likely to convert into customers!
What tools can I use to help with contractor lead generation?
Leveraging tools can help make contractor lead generation easier for your business.
One of the most valuable tools you can leverage is a customer relationship management (CRM) system. A CRM will help you capture and retain lead information, score leads, track interactions, and provide follow-ups. It creates an all-in-one hub you can use to manage leads.
Additional tools you may need to support your contractor lead generation efforts include:
- Email marketing tools to keep leads engaged
- Social media management tools to manage social profiles that help with capturing leads
- Review management tools that help you manage your construction business’s reputation
Make lead generation for contractors hassle-free
There are a lot of steps between initial interest and closing the deal, and it’s up to you to take prospective clients through those steps. When you develop a process for generating contractor leads, you can turn be more successful at converting casual site visitors into valuable customers.
If you’d like to improve your lead generation strategy, WebFX can help. Contact us today to speak to a strategist about how our team can improve your online presence and start generating more leads for your business.
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Table of Contents
- Most Common Platforms Contractors Use to Generate Leads
- 1. Angi
- 2. HomeAdvisor
- 3. Thumbtack
- 4. Nextdoor
- 5. Porch
- 6. Handy
- Contractor Lead Generation Strategies That Actually Drive Quality Leads
- 1. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
- 2. Offer Premium Content to Educate Your Audience
- 3. Manage Your Online Reputation
- 4. Optimize for Search Engines
- 5. Build a Presence on Social Media
- 6. Use Bing Places for Business to Attract Leads
- 7. Launch a Referral Program to Earn Qualified Leads
- 8. Run Google Local Services Ads
- 9. Run PPC Ads
- FAQ About Contractor Lead Generation
- Make Lead Generation for Contractors Hassle-free
Solving key challenges for contractors
Our website isn’t ranking in the search results
When people need home services in their area, they take to search engines like Google. Ensure your website appears at the top of the results when your target audience needs your services.
We’re struggling to grow our team
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We’re not generating enough leads
Are people visiting your website but not getting in touch with you? Our expert marketing specialists and web designers can optimize all areas of your website so you can attract and convert more of your target audience to use your services.
We’re not attracting new customers
Having trouble increasing your online visibility, so you can attract new customers? Our award-winning marketing services get your brand in front of the right people in your local area.
