“If you wait until you're really sure, you'll never take off the training wheels. - Cynthia Lewis

Angi and Home Advisor (which merged in 2017) are a great resource for new businesses who are looking to get work and get some money coming in. But if you build your business off their platform, you are hurting your margins through high cost per lead, and dealing with customers who by nature may be more shoppers than buyers.

Limited control over your brand, high competition and costs, limited customer relationship building, quality control challenges, and dependence on third-party platforms are all factors to consider.

Instead, businesses should focus on developing their brand identity, investing in marketing efforts that foster direct customer relationships, and diversifying their lead generation strategies. By doing so, you can establish a strong reputation, foster customer loyalty, and achieve long-term growth independently of these platforms.

In this blog we'll explore ways to leverage the platforms- and start to build your own business separate from them so you can soon be riding free of them.

Here are 5 ways to free your business from Angi and Home Advisor! 👊

1. Kill it with your current leads on Angi and Home Advisor

If you're paying for the leads, might as well be the one to win more of them than the 3 other companies that are sharing the leads. The best way to do that is to make it easy to contact you. Set up text auto-responders to your voicemail to ensure you are capturing lead information for all calls.

Put all leads into text follow-up responders. Most home services businesses miss opportunities because of poor follow-up. Often homeowners have delayed the start of a project, so even that lead for 6 months ago may not be ready to start work. Be the first to respond to new leads, and stay on old leads and customers you've provided estimates for. If you can get the most of of your leads, you'll be that much closer to going out on your own.

2. Develop a strong brand identity

One of the ways Angi and Home Advisor limits business the most is in how every business is boiled down to their review numbers and pricing. This makes it tough for even new businesses to get a footing, as other businesses are more established. You're limited to going jobs at very low, or no margins.

Invest time and effort into defining your brand identity. Clearly articulate your company's values, mission, and unique selling points. Create a compelling brand story that resonates with your target audience. Develop a professional logo, website, and marketing materials that reflect your brand's personality and expertise.

3. Invest in local SEO and online reviews

Optimize your online presence for local search by implementing effective search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. Claim your Google My Business listing and ensure accurate and up-to-date information is provided. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on Google and other relevant review platforms. Focus on local keywords to improve your ranking in local search results.

One of the best ways to start the process is to go back to your customers who left reviews on Angi or Home Advisor, and ask them to leave a review on your Google My Business listing. By reaching out to old customers you're also presenting a new opportunity for them to refer you.

4. Offer incentives for referrals

If you're already paying for leads from Angi or Home Advisor, using your past clients for referrals, even if you offer an incentive, will be a more cost effective approach. And these referrals are more likely to become customers than just shoppers.

Implement a referral program to encourage existing customers to refer your services to their friends, family, and colleagues. Offer incentives such as discounts, rewards, or exclusive perks for successful referrals. This can help generate a steady stream of qualified leads and expand your customer base.

5. Implement social media marketing

Social media is considered a cure-all for some businesses, or totally avoided by others. The truth, as with most things, falls somewhere in between. Without paying for ads, the ability to reach new customers is very limited. But social media is a great place to showcase your work. Take pictures of your completed jobs, tag the homeowners with their permission. This is the best way to use social media, and stay top of mind with your personal and business network.

Create engaging content that highlights your expertise, offers tips and advice, and showcases your work. Engage with your audience, respond to comments and inquiries promptly, and foster a sense of community. Social media platforms provide an excellent opportunity to build relationships, promote your brand, and generate leads.

Need help building your business for success?

Home Service Pup provides an all-in-one customer service solution that can help you stand out from competitors, big and small, by delivering the best service. Our time saving solution makes it quick and easily for customers to contact you, to follow-up on leads, and to provide service before, during and after the sale.

Learn how we can help