Fix the leaks before you buy more leads
Every contractor we look at is already losing work they paid for. The leaks are almost always the same four.
Missed calls
Calls that ring out during a job. Most callers do not leave a message, they call the next company.
Slow quote follow up
Quotes sent and never chased. A single follow up two days later recovers a surprising share.
A website that hides the phone number
If someone has to scroll to find how to reach you, you lose them.
A dead customer list
Hundreds of past customers who would book again if you reminded them.
The twelve week plan
| Weeks | Focus | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Website basics and call handling | Every call answered, phone number visible, short form |
| 3 to 4 | Google Business Profile and reviews | Profile complete, review requests running on every job |
| 5 to 6 | Service pages | One strong page per service you want more of |
| 7 to 8 | Google Ads on your best service | Booked jobs coming in at a known cost |
| 9 to 10 | City pages | Organic visibility building in your top areas |
| 11 to 12 | Past customer reactivation | Cheap jobs from a list you already own |
Measure three numbers, not thirty
- Calls and form fills per week, and where they came from.
- Percentage of leads that become booked jobs.
- Cost per booked job by channel.
Impressions, clicks and followers are interesting. They are not the scoreboard. If a channel cannot show you booked jobs after a fair trial, turn it off and move the money.
Doing it yourself vs hiring help
Plenty of contractors run this themselves and do well. It takes roughly five focused hours a week. The point at which most owners hand it over is when the admin of running ads and chasing reviews starts eating the evenings they were meant to spend quoting.
Whoever runs it, insist on seeing booked jobs by channel every month. If a marketing report never mentions jobs, it is not a marketing report.
FAQ
What is the cheapest way for a contractor to get more jobs?
Answering every call and messaging past customers. Both cost close to nothing and usually produce work within days. New lead generation should come after those two are handled.
Does social media work for contractors?
It rarely creates urgent demand, but it does confirm you are real when someone checks you out before calling. Treat it as proof, and put your budget into search where the intent is.
How do I know if my marketing is working?
Track booked jobs by source for ninety days. If a channel has produced no booked jobs in that time with a fair budget and a decent landing page, stop and reallocate.
