What does a lead generation agency actually do for tradies?
A lead generation agency runs the marketing that brings tradies enquiries: it builds the offer and landing page, runs Google and Meta ads, and routes the leads to you. The good ones also handle fast follow-up so leads do not go cold. You are paying for a managed pipeline of jobs instead of chasing work.
- They build the offer and landing page, run the ads, and send you the leads.
- Better ones add fast follow-up and reporting (cost per lead, ROI).
- What separates good from bad: exclusive vs shared leads, and whether anyone answers fast.
What they actually do, step by step
- Offer and creative: turn your service into an offer worth clicking ("$X gutter clean", owner-on-camera video).
- Landing page: a page built to convert the click into an enquiry (not a brochure website).
- Ads: set up and manage Google and/or Meta campaigns, targeting your trade and area.
- Lead routing and follow-up: deliver the lead to you fast; the best add automated speed-to-lead SMS so the enquiry gets answered in seconds, not hours.
- Reporting: leads, cost per lead, and ideally cost per won job and ROI.
What you are really paying for
Not "ads". You are paying for a pipeline you do not have to think about and, critically, for speed and exclusivity. An agency that hands you exclusive leads and answers them instantly is worth far more than one selling the same lead to your competitors.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Are the leads exclusive to me, or shared with other tradies?
- How fast is the first follow-up, and is it automated?
- Do I own the ad account, leads and number if I leave?
- What does the reporting show: leads only, or cost per won job?
- Is there a lock-in contract, or can I leave if it is not working?
How Tradley fits
Tradley runs the ads and the offer, answers every lead by SMS in under 60 seconds, and keeps leads exclusive: one operator per trade, per town. It is also the app you run the won job in (schedule, quote, invoice, get paid), so the lead and the job live in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Is a lead gen agency the same as an SEO or web design agency?
No. A web or SEO agency builds your site and earns organic rankings over months (that is a job for a web designer). A lead gen agency runs paid ads to bring enquiries now. You often want both over time.
Do I need my own website first?
Not necessarily. Paid lead generation usually sends people to a dedicated landing page, so you can start getting leads before a full website is built. A website helps long-term trust and SEO.
How is this different from a shared-lead platform?
Shared platforms resell one enquiry to several tradies. A done-for-you agency on an exclusive model gives the lead to you alone, so you are not competing on price the moment you call.
What should it cost?
Models vary (monthly fee, fee plus ad spend, or per lead). Compare on cost per won job and whether leads are exclusive, not on the headline fee.
Want exclusive leads, answered in seconds?
Tradley runs your ads and answers every lead by SMS in under 60 seconds. One operator per trade, per town, so the lead is yours alone.