Is BuildZoom worth it for contractors?
BuildZoom provides a lead generation outlet, but is BuildZoom for contractors worth it? While BuildZoom is effective for some lead generation, contractors will find the most value in spreading their lead generation across marketing channels.
There are dozens of different home service websites you can use to find new clients for your business. BuildZoom is one of the biggest third-party websites to connect contractors to interested clients.
So, as a contractor, you may be wondering: Is BuildZoom worth it for contractors?
Here’s what we’ll dive into:
In this post, we’ll provide the pros and cons of using BuildZoom and supplemental strategies you can use with this site. If you have any questions about reaching valuable leads for your business, call us today at 888-601-5359 to speak with a strategist.
What is BuildZoom?
BuildZoom is a third-party website that helps contractors like you connect with people looking for a residential or commercial contractor to complete a job. The jobs on this platform range from minor home improvements to complete construction projects.
How does BuildZoom operate?
BuildZoom has a profile for every licensed contractor in the U.S. Each listing has photos of projects completed, government records, and details about each contractor. BuildZoom leverages public data to build these profiles.
So, when someone goes to BuildZoom to look for a contractor, they can see all the important information about your business. They can also see if you’ve ever had problems, like serious complaints or license suspension.
Having this easily-accessible information takes the hassle out of finding the right contractor — BuildZoom makes it easy for people to vet bad contractors and find good ones.
Is BuildZoom worth it for my business?
It can be — it just depends what you’re looking for.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of BuildZoom to help you decide if it’s worth it for your business:
Why BuildZoom is a good option for contractors
BuildZoom has potential to be a good lead generation option for contractors. Here are some of the benefits it offers:
- You get more jobs based on performance: BuildZoom matches you to clients based on your relevancy to their project and bid. It automatically takes your public data and uses that to determine where you’re a good fit. So, if you have tons of glowing reviews about the quality of your work, you’re more likley to appear as an option for future clients.
- You only pay if you’re hired: One of the biggest differences with BuildZoom vs. other platforms is that you only pay if someone hires you. Other platforms charge you just to have a chance at the lead. You’ll be charged 2.5% on the total amount of the job (Example: If a job is $50,000, you’ll pay $1,250 to BuildZoom)
- You build instant trust: Because BuildZoom does the work of pulling all the public data about your business, people already know the quality of your work. It helps move these leads quicker in the decision-making process because they already know you’re a trusted option.
Why BuildZoom might not be a good fit for you
Like any other third-party lead generation website, there are drawbacks to BuildZoom. Here are some cons to using BuildZoom:
- There’s a lot of competition: BuildZoom has over 4 million licensed contractors listed on their website. That’s a lot of competiton, which can make it hard for you to be on the shortlist of contractors they select to give to clients.
- You have to pay a comission fee: While it’s nice that you only get charged when you get the job vs. being charged for leads that may never hire you, you still have to pay a fee for getting the job. Since it’s a percentage of the job amount and not a flat rate, it can eat into your profit margin.
- Lead flow is inconsistent: Like any other third-party platform, lead flow is inconsistent. You may get a ton of leads one month and then none the next. It makes it difficult to rely on the platform for a steady flow of leads.
An alternative approach to platforms like BuildZoom
BuildZoom can be a great option for helping you get leads in your pipeline, but there are more consistent options that can keep you busy with leads year round.
Here are the top two strategies you can use instead of (or in conjunction with) BuildZoom:
1. Local search engine optimization (SEO)
One of the best alternatives to BuildZoom is local SEO. As a contractor, you’re primarily servicing people in your city and neighboring towns. And when those people want to find a contractor, they’re turning to search engines to find them — especially Google Business Profiles.
Claiming and optimizing this local profile is the first step to building your local presence.
You can also drive more leads through local search by:
- Targeting local keywords in your content
- Creating location-based service pages for areas you service
- Optimizing your information across local directories
- Asking for, getting, and responding to online reviews
Optimizing for local searches will help you drive leads actively searching for a contractor to hire in their area.
2. Paid advertising
Another great option for contractors looking to generate leads outside of BuildZoom is paid ads. Paid ads help you put your business in front of people looking for a contractor, whether they’re searching online or browsing social media.
Here are some paid advertising options you can use:
Paid search ads
These ads appear at the top of relevant searches related to contractors. You can run these ads for keywords like “contractor near me” or “bathroom remodeling services.” These ads help drives leads that are ready to hire a contractor.
Google Local Services ads
If you offer general contracting services, you can run Google Local Services ads to reach leads in your area. These ads trigger when someone conducts a local search for a contractor in their area — they appear at the top of the search results.
Social media ads
Social media ads appear in peoples’ feeds when they scroll on their platform of choice. You can leverage your target audience’s information to put ads for your contracting company in front of those leads and keep them thinking about hiring you.
FAQ on BuildZoom
How does BuildZoom compare to alternative lead generation sites?
BuildZoom isn’t the only third-party website where you can get contractor leads. There are other popular websites that you can try for generating contractor leads, including Angi and Houzz.
But how do these platforms stack up against BuildZoom? Here’s a comparison:
| Platform | Cost | Lead Quality | Competition |
| BuildZoom | 2.5% commission on jobs earned | 🟡 | High |
| Angi | Monthly membership cost (varies), plus $15–$85 per lead | 🟡 | Very High |
| HomeAdvisor | $25–$100+ per lead | 🔴 | Very High |
| Houzz | $249/month for basic plan (custom plans available) | 🟢 | Moderate |
| Thumbtack | $35 to $200 per lead | 🟡 | High |
What happens when someone submits a job on BuildZoom?
A client will submit a project by answering a few questions about it. They will specify their project needs and budget. Once this information is put out there, the client gets matched with at least three professionals in their area.
These results are generated based on contractor license, building permits, and customer reviews. This is where good reviews and a strong reputation helps you earn more projects. Clients will already get an idea of which companies do great work, which will help them when you submit your bid.
The client will determine the number of bids you need to submit for the project. Ensure that you include your best bid for the project. BuildZoom encourages you to deliver your bids to the client in-person and explain the rate and work to the client.
Meeting in-person allows you to create a better connection with these clients. It makes you appear more personable and allows the clients to ask any questions and voice concerns they have.
Get your business in front of more valuable leads today
BuildZoom is an excellent opportunity for your business to gain new clients. This service helps you show clients that they can trust your business to do great work for them. If you want to reach even more leads than the ones on BuildZoom, digital marketing is the way to go.
If you’re looking for a partner that can help you generate contractor leads that turn into revenue, WebFX is the partner for you. We’ve driven over 429K+ leads for construction companies like yours — it’s amounted to $5.9M+ in revenue for those construction companies.
Ready to fill your team busy with projects? Contact us online or call us today at 888-601-5359 to speak with a strategist!
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Macy is a content marketing consultant with over five years of experience creating content for dozens of industries including home services, recreation, and education. She’s written about every marketing topic under the sun, from SEO to AI to email marketing. Her work has been featured by Search Engine Journal, HubSpot, Entrepreneur, Clutch, and more. In her free time, Macy enjoys crafting, reading comic books, and walking her dog Daisy. -
WebFX is a full-service marketing agency with 1,100+ client reviews and a 4.9-star rating on Clutch! Find out how our expert team and revenue-accelerating tech can drive results for you! Learn more
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