Sites like Checkatrade, MyBuilder and Rated People are a big part of how many homeowners find a tradesperson. They can be a useful source of work, especially when you are starting out. But there is a catch that is easy to miss: you are renting those customers, not owning them.
What renting looks like
Directories and lead sites typically charge a membership fee, a fee per lead, or both. The details vary and change over time, so check the current terms. The pattern is the same:
- You pay to appear, and the moment you stop paying, so does the work
- The customer often sees several firms at once, so you compete on price
- The platform owns the relationship, the reviews and the data
- Rules, fees and rankings can change without much notice
None of that makes them bad. It just means they are a cost of doing business, not an asset.
What owning looks like
A website in your own name works differently:
- Customers who find you directly are yours alone, not shared with five competitors
- Your reviews, photos and reputation sit in a place you control
- Every page you add keeps working, month after month
- You can build repeat and referral business with people who already know you
The first year costs money. After that, each enquiry gets cheaper, not more expensive.
You do not have to choose
The smartest approach is usually both. Use directories where they bring good work, and use them to collect reviews. But also build your own site so more of your enquiries come to you directly. Over time you can lean less on the rented leads.
A simple test
Ask yourself: if I stopped paying every directory tomorrow, how many enquiries would I still get? If the answer is “almost none”, your pipeline is rented.
Directories rent you customers. A website you own builds an asset that keeps paying back.
Building the asset
That is what a proper website is for. For a one-off £250 and £49.95 a month, you get a site that is yours to build on, with your own domain and email. Talk to us about getting started.