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.
Compare model, not logo
Bark-, Angi-, and Thumbtack-style products differ from design-specific platforms. Read comparisons, then verify live terms.