Leads from Angie's list - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

HomeSealed · 10-28-2009, 10:53 AM

Just wondering if anybody gets a decent amount of leads through Angie's list. I am on there for free, but now they want you to pay to be at the top of the list. Anybody do this? Results?

kevjob · 10-28-2009, 11:00 AM

I am on the free listing with about 4 references from past clients, this year I got alot in work off the list but I refuse to pay as the list was originally just free listings.

HomeSealed · 10-28-2009, 02:13 PM

I have heard other people bring up the shadiness of paying for the service when they advertise it to consumers that we don't pay. I do agree with that, but my main concern right now is whether the roi is worth paying.

ATH · 10-28-2009, 03:13 PM

We have been listed on Angie's List for a number of years. This year, we decided to try being "featured." I don't, yet, know if we will continue it once our contract expires. We still have to do the analysis about how many jobs we got and how much they brought in, etc.

However, we have been featured for 8 months and the number of leads that claim to have gotten our name from Angie's List has more than doubled from the same period last year. FYI, over the same period, the number of leads, total, were about 5% lower than the same period last year.

BTW, I don't believe you can be "featured" with an "F" rating. I think they kick you out if you drop below a "B." I haven't tested this myself.

Ohmy · 10-29-2009, 09:44 AM

Its been great for us.

CherylfromAL · 10-29-2009, 03:05 PM

Thanks for the discussion about Angie’s List advertising. I just wanted to clarify some things. Chiefly, companies with overall grades of C, D or F absolutely cannot advertise on Angie’s List.

No company is required to advertise on Angie’s List, and lots of companies that maintain high grades benefit from that alone. Here’s how it works for those who do advertise:

In order to even be eligible to advertise with Angie’s List, companies must first be rated (or graded) by our members, and they must earn at least an overall grade of B from those members. Companies cannot pay for ratings, and they cannot rate themselves on Angie’s List. Only members who have interacted with companies can rate companies.

In addition to maintaining high grades, companies that advertise on Angie’s List must offer our members a discount. We monitor grades daily, and we routinely pull ads when grades fall.

As for which companies will be returned at the top of the list, this is really up to the member. Members are given a number of search result options. The default option allows members to find companies that offer discounts (advertisers) first. However, many choose other search options like grade, number of reports, or miles from their home.

If you have questions, we’d be happy to walk you through the process.
Toll-Free Phone: 866-843-LIST (5478)
E-mail: CompanyConnect@AngiesList.com

dougchips · 10-29-2009, 04:43 PM

So by default the top of the list is paid :-)

carolinahandyma · 10-29-2009, 07:11 PM

Your best bet is to encourage your customers to join AL and write reports about you and your company.

Other AL homeowner members will see that you have multiple reports and want to contact you. I doubt contractors with one or two positive reports get many calls at all even it they are paying for advertising.

Perhaps advertising with AL may get a AL homeowner member to look up your profile. However, with only one or two reports, even if they are stellar reports may not get them to contact you as they are going to see other companies (your competitors) with dozens of positive reports from satisfied AL members.

Mylocalcontract · 10-31-2009, 04:05 PM

I have no experience with AL, but I don't like the fact that customers have to pay to get bids for projects.

BKFranks · 10-31-2009, 04:11 PM

Do customers have to pay to join just to write a review of your company?

dougchips · 11-02-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKFranks

Do customers have to pay to join just to write a review of your company?

Yes.

The real question is what would prompt them to pay around $60 for an annual membership so they can rate you. You can't offer to pay their membership fee or Angie's list will brand you as someone who pays for reviews.

I've been a member for 2-3 years and IMHO it beats using the phone book or an on-line lead service when you are in need of a service. Plus, I love to read the other reviews about people in my industry.

Jesse Kirchhoff · 11-13-2009, 07:59 PM

We have the free listing and 2 or 3 potential clients have said that they researched us through AL, BBB and AG's office before ever calling.

I'm glad that they are doing their homework ahead of time - it is the first step in separating the wheat from the chaff. Something like that is definitely worth paying for

kcremodeling · 11-13-2009, 08:35 PM

The leads you get off angie's list will usually be good. You just have to make sure you follow up with them, even if you are not interested in taking on the project. It only takes one person to ruin your rep on angie's list.

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