Service Magic Rocks!

irving

Got your attention. I have bought 39 leads from them over the last 5 months. Forget about the ones that I got credit for because the people clearly were not interested. Count only the ones that seem to be genuine leads. 39 leads/ 0 deals. This compares to a 40% closing ratio I have for over 11 years with other leads and lead services.

I think there is an even bigger issue here. Service Magic is very bad for your business. Why, well, I'll tell you. Because Service Magic leads are so bad, I tended to devalue all leads, no matter how I got the lead, and not treat them with the value I should have.

Now before any one says, "I'd never pay for leads" That is ignorant. I am not in the lead generating service or in the marketing business. I am in the contracting business specifically in building additions. Service Magic was not too long ago a good thing. Now they are what I call Fast Food (S**t). I gave them every opportunity and stuck with them for months. Furthermore I was on the pick and choose lead system. I can tell you that not one of the leads I have worked looks promising. I think there is probably some type of fraud being committed. Anyone interested in a class action suit, please contact me.

Teetorbilt

You could have saved yourself a lot of time and money by searching what has been said here.

31 posts and never searched the archives? Another lesson learned.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

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irving

No. I did my research. When I started with them things were pretty good.

dougchips

Irving, look up "marc" and check his recent post, he gives his numbers. I think the thread is "homeimprovementportal". Other than Marc, I don't know many people that are happy with them.

marc

Acctually I didn't say I was happy with them. I'm not unhappy with them either though. It's a lead source. I have just dumped them for Sunrooms and only take siding and window leads from them. Here is my response to someone asking about Homeimprovementportal..........

Homeimprovementportal..........5 leads, 3 sales ($21,593)
Qualitysmith.........................9 leads, 1 sale ($9,000)
Quinstreet...........................28 leads, 3 sales ($28,890)
Renovationexperts.................12 leads, 6 sales ($39,747)
ServiceMagic........................184 leads, 34 sales ($429,915)

Out of all the sales from ServiceMagic..........NONE were sunrooms or additions. We recieved quite a few leads for sunrooms also. Just never sold them. I don't blame ServiceMagic for this though, I blame my salesmen. Bottom line is someone put up their hand and asked for our service. They didn't ask if we could come over for afternoon tea. Our close ratio is up with ServiceMagic since we dumped Sunrooms. Wish I knew why.

Brian

I echo Marc's comments. I've used Service Magic for years. We get some good leads and some bad leads, just like with every other lead source.

For the first 9 months of the years we've had 52 leads and sold 10 jobs for $40,259. Our cost per lead for Service Magic is lower than most, so it's a good return on investment.

Brian Phillips

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BRNDIVY

I've used SM for a while with a bit of success. My lead cost is 15.00 and I have a close rate of around 65% with an average sale between $500 & $1000.00
So for every 10 leads (150.00), I'm making between $3200 & $6500 in sales. Not great, but not too bad either.

MattCoops

These internet lead services all pretty much come down to cruddy leads and big bucks down the drain. And the Homeowners are really just chasing the low bidder anyhow.

To get one up on them, why not update your website. Have your site work for you. Get in touch with a nerd who knows something about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and edit your contact page. Check out a free program called WebCEO. Get up in the ranks of search engines. Get over ServiceMagic, ReliableRemodeler, HomeConnections, HomeImprovementPortal, and the like.

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JoeyStans

I signed up with them and paid !!!!!!!!!!100$$, I still havn't received a REAL good lead! The one I did the homeowner backed out. Service Magic SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JoeyStans

With all of the big dog websites out there for promising giving us leads, I found a little company here. It is called FreeFloridaContractor.com. They are small, but that means they handle every case ideally. I have had only 3 leads in the past 5 months, but they were all good leads, I mean I got the job. What makes them even better is that they call me with the lead, if I want it I take it and the lead is NOT given to any other contractors. I agree with Marc about ServiceMagic and know they are digging there claws into the industry.

RidgeWalker

I use ServiceMagic. 90% of the leads I get from ServiceMagic were typically the same type of folks. I was up to me to get them to do the deal. Results based on "MY" efforts with SM leads are fantastic! Remember a lead scource is just that. It's called ServiceMagic for our clients, otherwise it would or should be called ContractorMagic.

We've gotten about 250K worth of business this year from SM leads.

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Electrician1

Okay guys I'll tell ya this.......I used service magic for over a yr.And after not landing, and get multipal leeds and not understanding why.I finally started adding 2 & 2 together.Talking with other Contractors and staying in Contact with customers/Leads.Service Garbage is taking all our money and give out tons and I mean tons of leads to all of us and racking in the doe$$$$.Then contactors are either get few leads or cutting other Contractors throats and get them By knocking out prices down to work for very little $!! Well..... haven't They aren't fooling me and my Company anymore and alot of the guys that are my Competetors as well.If you are with Serive dishonest Magic no matter what trade ......GET OUT NOW!Lets get these crooks OFF and OUT of the web COMPLETELY!ALL THEY ARE DOING IS COSTING US $$$$$$$$$

Electrician1

Okay guys I'll tell ya this.......I used service magic for over a yr.And after not landing, and get multipal leeds and not understanding why.I finally started adding 2 & 2 together.Talking with other Contractors and staying in Contact with customers/Leads.Service Garbage is taking all our money and give out tons and I mean tons of leads to all of us and racking in the doe$$$$.Then contactors are either get few leads or cutting other Contractors throats and get them By knocking out prices down to work for very little $!! Well..... haven't They aren't fooling me and my Company anymore and alot of the guys that are my Competetors as well.If you are with Serive dishonest Magic no matter what trade ......GET OUT NOW!Lets get these crooks OFF and OUT of the web COMPLETELY!ALL THEY ARE DOING IS COSTING US $$$$$$$$$

tin man

We have used service magic for 8 years,they are better then most.As the economy has gone south all lead companies have had problems.When times were very good 7 -8 years ago homeowners could not get someone to give them a quote now they get swamped with calls when they request a quote.
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Alside windows Boston

Mike Finley

I'll bet the reps from SM would all love to use your explanation as their excuse, only problem it isn't accurate.

Being swamped with calls from a request on SM (or any lead service) started long before the economy has had it's problems.

tin man

Mike it sounds like its not accurate for you,but in the Boston area its right on the money.In this part of the country lead services 4-5 years ago could not find 3-4 companies to buy a lead,now they cant get enough leads for demand.There also many more lead generation companies.
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replacement windows Boston.






























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Mike Finley

All I'll say is go to the search function on this site and type in "service magic". You'll get an eye full, and if you check the dates of the posts you'll see the scam started long ago and has nothing to do with the economy.

DavidC

I've been trying to stay out of these discussions for my own safety. But...

Most of our new business comes from SM leads. And I mean new business, not repeats or referrals. I have my gripes about the outfit and sometimes turn them off for spite, but the bottom line is they produce for me.

I have come to beleive that it can depend on several factors like your location, your chosen task list and the number of competitors using similar services in your market.

Judging by the responces here and on other forums I'd say it works for a few and most say no. If you think it gets negative press here you should have seen it on their own forum, now closed.

Good Luck
Dave

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3DVikki

I had no luck with SM. 100.00 fee for joining, then when they would send us a lead via text/email/phone call, we always called the person right away, and they never answered, or never called back. But SM is quick to charge you the 15.00. Out of 23 leads, we never got one customer to return a phone call to us. Whos to say the leads were not fake, just to rack up your bill. We canceled after a 2 months because we felt we were waisting our money.

gtmstang

I signed with SM yesterday. One hour or so after I signed came in my first lead. A small paint job(3500.00). Got in touch with the customer and hopefully signing today. Maybe not typical but impressive for the first day. I was with renovationexperts.com for about a year. I was really picky with the leads because I was just testing the waters, I think we bought 16 leads a month. 16 leadsx10months=160 leads. We closed 2 for probably 11,000. We only got to talk to 30 or so. Every lead we did everything but go to their house and couldnt get a response. They reinbursed me for all leads but it was with another crappy lead. I thought it was my lazy salesman so I started taking the leads and I had the same problem. So I quit them and will try SM. Has anyone tried reliableremodeler.com. I get leads from them also and closing is outstanding. Its 29.99/mo. and pay per lead. We close 50% or so of their leads. Mostly painting and decks are what we buy. I wish we did windows. I turn down 150 to 250 window replacements in a good week.