The cheapest leads for most trades come from Google: your Business Profile, your website and your reviews. Add referrals and repeat customers, and you rely far less on paying per lead.
The main lead sources, compared
| Channel | Speed | Ongoing cost | Who owns the lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Weeks | Free to run | You |
| Website + local SEO | 3–6 months | Monthly SEO fee or your time | You |
| Google Ads | Days | Pay per click | You |
| Lead marketplaces | Days | Pay per lead, often shared | Shared with competitors |
| Referrals and repeat work | Ongoing | Low | You |
Where to start
- Fix your Google Business Profile. It's free and often the biggest source of calls. See our checklist.
- Ask every customer for a review. See how to get more Google reviews.
- Make your website convert. Click-to-call at the top, a short quote form, photos of real jobs, and your service area.
- Build service and suburb pages for the work you want more of.
- Stay in touch with past customers. A reminder for annual servicing or a check-in after a year brings repeat work.
Answer fast
Many customers call the first two or three businesses they find and book whoever answers. Call back within the hour, or use a call-answering service when you're on the tools.
See our pages for trades, or get a free audit to find out how many leads you're missing on Google.
Want this done for you? See our local SEO plans, or get a free audit.