ACRE & ANGLE
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How to evaluate a lead marketplace

A practical due-diligence checklist for professionals comparing pay-per-lead and advertising marketplaces — questions, tests, and red flags.

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Treat marketplace signup like a vendor purchase. Ask hard questions, run a small test, and refuse vague answers about exclusivity and verification.

Questions to ask sales

  • How many others receive the same lead?
  • What is verified before delivery?
  • What counts as a billable lead?
  • How do refunds work, in writing?
  • Can I pause without losing prepaid value?

Operational red flags

Pressure to buy large packages before a trial, unclear distribution, no refund path, and leads outside your service area or discipline.

Run a 30-day pilot

Cap spend, tag every lead source in your CRM, and review weekly. Kill channels that fail quality bars quickly.

Bark-, Angi-, and Thumbtack-style products differ from design-specific platforms. Read comparisons, then verify live terms.

FAQ

Are contracts negotiable?
Sometimes. Always get refund and pause terms written.
Should I buy the biggest package for a discount?
Not until a pilot proves quality. Discounts on junk are not savings.
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