If you're a tradesman in the North East, chances are you've got a Checkatrade profile, a MyBuilder listing, or both. And fair play, they do bring in work. But if that's your only way of getting leads, you've got a problem. You're renting space on someone else's platform and competing on price with every other tradesman in your area.
The race to the bottom
Here's how Checkatrade and MyBuilder actually work for customers. Someone in Newcastle posts a job. Five tradesmen respond. The customer picks the cheapest quote. You've just spent time pricing a job, writing a response, and you lost it because someone undercut you by fifty quid. Sound familiar?
It's even worse in busy areas like Sunderland, Durham, and Gateshead where there are dozens of tradesmen bidding on the same leads. The competition is brutal and the margins get thinner with every bid.
You don't own the relationship
When a customer finds you through Checkatrade, that's Checkatrade's customer first and yours second. They control the reviews. They control the listing. They can raise prices whenever they want. And if your profile gets suspended for any reason, even by mistake, your entire lead pipeline disappears overnight.
Compare that to having your own website. When someone finds you on Google, clicks through to your site, and gets in touch, that's your customer from the start. No middleman. No commission. No bidding war.
What your own website gives you
- No competition on the page. When someone visits your site, they're looking at you. Not you alongside four other plumbers.
- Better quality enquiries. People who find you through Google have already decided they want to contact you. They've seen your work, read about your services, and chosen to get in touch. These leads convert at a much higher rate.
- You set the price. No more racing to the bottom. Your website attracts people who want quality, not just the cheapest quote.
- It builds over time. Every month your site is live, it gets stronger on Google. Checkatrade gives you nothing when you stop paying.
Use both, but build your own thing
We're not saying ditch Checkatrade tomorrow. If it's bringing you work, keep using it. But start building your own online presence at the same time. Get a website. Set up your Google Business Profile. Get reviews on Google, not just on Checkatrade. Over time, aim to get more of your leads from your own channels.
The tradesmen across Newcastle, Sunderland, and Durham who are doing best right now are the ones who don't depend on any single platform. They've got their own website bringing in steady leads, and everything else is a bonus on top.
If you're ready to stop relying on lead platforms and start owning your leads, get in touch and we'll sort you out.