Buying Leads - what works best?

[JamieK]

Hi All

I am looking to get a bit of feedback on others opinions of Lead Generation companies - lets face it there is no end of scams/cowboy companies out there and admittedly I have fallen for a few myself and received no benefit other than a hole in my bank account where my marketing budget should have been!

That said, I love the idea of having a specialist create leads for me as I am rubbish at this element of business but I don't like the common model where they sell the same lead 3 times or more to competitors - this just seems nuts?

What would you guys say is the perfect solution to buying leads so we can visit the customers and quote the work afterwards - here is mine:

• Pay a set fee for an exclusive lead so that only I will be contacting that customer and not another two companies - I reckon anymore than £20 for this is too much and I cannot afford it
• I set the criteria I want leads to be created around or be able to select from prepackaged options in my geographic location
• Option for the lead gen company to make an appointment at a time agreed with me so I can just turn up and quote
• Refund policy for a rubbish lead or a time waster

Interested to hear your thoughts on this and ways you have managed to overcome the drama that is finding new customers!

 

[SolarCity]

I've yet to deal with a lead generation company that isn't crooked. One company in particular were frankly diabolical - cost us a fortune and we got nothing from the minimal leads we were offered. Avoid all of them - but especially Companeo. They're a joke.

 

[JamieK]

Thanks SolarCity - are you just creating your own at the moment then?

Would be awesome if we could get like minded companies together and create a blueprint for the fairest way to buy in leads as I have never had much success at it but haven't got a fortune to spend either

 

[SolarCity]

We're not producing any leads either. My phone is dead and our website is receiving no hits. Tough times.

 

[Eco Deal]

Stay away from lead generator they have made more money than us installers..........

never again ...

I tweeted greg to put the tariff upto 21p again.

 

[sedgy34]

dont feed them paracites, send your own flyers out

 

[oldtimer]

If you want to throw your money away and waste your time then sign up with them but seriously they pray on guys who are either desperate or trying to break into the trade by paying for high ranking status

 

[taffswell]

Looks like its not just me who has spent a fortune on leads, Pv is dying, lets hope the green deal gets it going again???

 

[oldtimer]

Looks like its not just me who has spent a fortune on leads, Pv is dying, lets hope the green deal gets it going again???

I have never spent a penny on them as in this current environment I just cant figure out how can make money from them the only winners are the lead generators

 

[Berneray]

Here is my two penneth worth.....

Since August I have bought 40 leads at a cost of £1600.

From this I have signed up 10 deals worth over £70,000.....

Of the 40 leads I did not get to see 10 for different reasons. SOme were just wanting an idea of price...other had changed their minds.

I got in front of 30 of which 10 have signed up. Of the 20 thats left I think over the next couple of weeks I'll get another say four.

For what its worth you have to attack them different. You have to be aware you are in a very competitive situation and there will be at least two other companies quoting for the business....But at the same time you need to keep in mind....someone is getting this job....Might as well be me....Margins in some cases will be tight..but as a wise man once said....you can do the job for £70000 or not do it for £7500...

I like internet leads.. I have a set budget a week to spend....and know exactly how much return I get on this. And as that is my only marketing cost I think its worth it.

 

[taffswell]

You must be with a good company, i priced a job in swansea last week the customer had 27 different quotes, most came out to see him and a few were emailed quotes, lucky enough i got the job, the cheek of some people tho he had a quote for a 4.0kw for £11500, no names mentioned.

 

[Eco Deal]

you must be buying decent leads then ?

the ones I bought are not worth it at the moment I used to convert 50% of bought leads now its 0% because the lead generators are hunting leads , and they are using telephone tatics to get them , the public are NOT going to the lead companies.

put it this way I paid to go top of google most of last year it got me 2-4 jobs per week ,
try going top of google now not one call ,

the only survey we have had is by referals

 

[SolarCity]

We used to get good leads too but all we stopped using the companies after we were stitched up time and time again by various firms. The amount of times we phoned people up who had no idea what we were talking about was ridiculous.

 

[Eco-Deal]

Stay clear of them all the leads are no good.

 

[Paolo Tedone]

yep, leads are relatively cheap vs the time invested in them, given the avg quality