If you're a plumber, builder, solar installer, or any kind of UK tradesperson, you've likely been pitched some version of this:
"We'll generate you loads of trade leads through paid ads — just £400/month plus ad spend!"
Sounds great, right?
Until a month goes by… and all you've had are:
- "Just browsing" enquiries
- No-shows for quotes
- Phone calls that go nowhere
- Leads that 3 other trades have already quoted
In this guide, we'll break down how most trade lead advertising services actually work, why most of them overcharge and underdeliver — and what a better alternative looks like in 2025.
📦 What Are Trade Lead Advertising Services?
Trade advertising services are agencies or platforms that offer to help tradespeople:
- Get more enquiries
- Win more jobs
- Automate their marketing
They typically promise "exclusive trade leads" or "local job leads", and they charge for either:
- A fixed monthly management fee
- A pay-per-lead model
- Or both
But what are they actually doing?
💸 What You're Really Paying For: Ads + Admin
Here's the part most tradespeople don't realise:
These services are mostly just running Google or Facebook Ads using your business name or a landing page — then sitting back and letting the clicks roll in.
Their process usually looks like this:
- Set up a basic ad campaign (often from a recycled template)
- Add a few keywords like "plumber near me" or "loft insulation quote"
- Direct traffic to a basic landing page or form (which is often not optimised for conversions)
- Send you the form fills or phone calls
Then? They may log in once a week to tweak a keyword or adjust your budget.
And for that, you're paying £300–£800/month plus ad spend — often with zero visibility or ownership of the results.
🤔 Why Most Paid Trade Leads Don't Convert
Here's why these "trade advertising" services are so hit-and-miss:
1. Low Intent
Most ad leads are from people:
- Price shopping
- Clicking by mistake
- Not ready to act
- Just checking options
- Easily entered by bots
They're filling out 5+ forms across comparison sites and directories. You're one of many, not the trusted choice.
2. Shared or Poorly Filtered
Even if you're told the lead is "exclusive," chances are:
- It's from a recycled form
- It was captured weeks ago
- It's been resold by someone else
The result? You waste time quoting for people who aren't serious.
3. No Strategy Behind the Ads
Most agencies don't specialise in your trade. They're running generic ads using broad phrases like "home improvement quote" — without understanding:
- Your ideal job
- Your margins
- Your local competition
So you pay for clicks — not customers.
🚨 Signs You're Overpaying for Your Trade Leads
If you're wondering whether your current setup is worth it, ask yourself:
- Do you own the landing page and ads — or does the agency?
- Can you see which keywords are converting (or not)?
- Are you speaking to leads within 24 hours of submission?
- Are you winning at least 1 in 3 jobs from these leads?
If not, you're probably overpaying for underperforming trade leads.
💡 So, What's the Smarter Way to Get Trade Leads in 2025?
Top tradespeople are moving away from third-party agencies and instead using data-driven platforms to contact real homeowners before they start shopping around.
✅ With platforms like HomeBuyerLeads, you can:
- See homes that have just been purchased
- Filter by property type, postcode, and need
- Get direct contact details for the new owner
- Reach them before they Google "trades near me"
This works because:
- New movers are highly motivated to hire
- You're not competing on price — you're first to quote
- The leads are exclusive to you, not recycled
It's lead generation that gives you control, not guesswork.
🧠Final Thoughts: Want Better Trade Leads? Stop Renting Clicks
The truth is this:
- Most "trade advertising" services are just repackaged PPC ads.
- You're paying for admin — not strategy.
- You're getting form fills — not jobs.
If you want better trade leads, it's time to stop paying agencies to run ads you could do yourself. Instead, start using verified homeowner data to reach the right customers at the right time — without the middleman.
📣 Want to see how many recent homebuyers in your area need your trade right now?
👉 Start a free trial of HomeBuyerLeads and get access to exclusive, high-intent trade leads today.