Field notes on local lead generation
Honest, sourced writing on how small service businesses actually win work — neighborhood recommendation posts, lead-marketplace math, and the trade-by-trade playbooks. From the people who build NextJet.
Tool comparisons
- Local Lead Tools Compared (2026): NextJet vs Leadhall vs Devi AI vs SyndrFour tools find neighborhood service requests. They differ on price, drafted replies, and account safety. An honest side-by-side from people who build one.Jul 18, 2026
- Devi AI Review for Local Service Businesses (2026)Devi AI monitors nine platforms for $49/mo. Here's what it does well, where it falls short for a one-truck service business, and who should buy it.Jul 18, 2026
- Leadhall Review: What Alert-Only Lead Tools Leave on the TableLeadhall sends contractors an alert when a neighbor asks for help. That's real value — and only half the job. A fair review from a competitor.Jul 18, 2026
- The Real Cost of a Lead: Shared-Lead Math Every Contractor Should RunA $40 lead that four other pros also bought is not a $40 lead. The arithmetic of shared leads, close rates, and what a job actually costs you to win.Jul 18, 2026
The lead-marketplace trap
- Google Local Services Ads vs Neighborhood Recommendations: Which Fills a Small Crew's Schedule?LSA puts you at the top of Google. Neighborhood recommendation posts put you in front of someone already asking. Costs, close rates, and when to use each.Jul 28, 2026
- Angi vs Thumbtack for Contractors: Where a $5,000 Job Actually Comes FromBoth sell you the same homeowner. The real comparison is lead cost, competition per lead, and close rate — plus the third option neither wants you to know.Jul 24, 2026
- Are Angi Leads Worth It in 2026? An Honest BreakdownWhat Angi leads cost, why contractors complain about shared and recycled leads, and how to decide if the math works for your trade.Jul 21, 2026
- Thumbtack Alternatives That Aren't Another Pay-Per-Lead Trap (2026)Most "Thumbtack alternatives" lists are ten more pay-per-lead marketplaces. Here are the models that actually change the math for a small crew.Jul 18, 2026