Getting More Local Contractor Leads in 2025 In a Down Market
You know it’s not just you.
Fewer calls.
Projects taking longer to close.
Your calendar that was booked out 6 weeks is now wide open.
The question is—what are you doing about it?
Because the smart contractors? They’re still getting jobs.
They’re not panicking.
They’re pivoting.
And I want to walk you through exactly how.
What’s Happening in 2025
Here’s the real talk:
- Homeowners are spending slower because of interest rates
- Supply costs are up again
- Leads have cooled off, especially in fencing and remodeling
- The big boom from 2021-2023 is behind us
But this isn’t a crash. It’s a slowdown.
People are still shopping. They’re just more cautious.
So your job is to:
- Show up everywhere they look
- Make the offer clear
- Remove friction
- Make follow-up automatic
- Reactivate Your Old Leads
You paid for those leads. Don’t let them die in your CRM.
We set up automated email and SMS sequences like:
- “Hey, still need that fence? We’ve got a spring deal running now.”
- “Ready to move forward? Crew availability just opened up.”
- Retargeting ads on Facebook/Instagram to people who visited your site but didn’t convert
Fastest way to get leads right now? Go after the ones who already know your name.
- Build Offers That Actually Work
You can’t just be another contractor screaming into the void.
You need to give people a reason to act.
What’s working now:
- Deadline-based promos (“Book by May 31 and get 10% off”)
- High-value free upgrades (“Free smart gate opener with any new install”)
- Low-barrier offers (“$49 fence inspection + quote credit if you move forward”)
We help clients create, design, and launch these across all platforms.
- Dominate Local SEO + AI Search
If your business isn’t showing up in Google and AI answers, you’re invisible.
We update:
- Geo pages for every city and zip you serve
- Add structured data for every service you offer
- Make sure your name/address/phone is consistent across 50+ platforms
- Optimize your site for voice search and AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity
This is what gets you found in:
- Google Maps
- “Fence company near me” searches
- AI-generated answers where people don’t even click links
The future of search is already here. We’re building for it now.
- Keep Your Calendar Full with Quick Win Services
Not every lead wants a full replacement right now.
So we help our clients market:
- Fence + gate repairs
- Clean & stain jobs
- Post resets
- Partial section installs
These are fast, easy to quote, and get your crew moving again.
We use these as foot-in-the-door services that lead to bigger projects.
- Your Old Customers Are Sitting on New Revenue
If you’ve done 100 jobs in the last year, you’ve got:
- 100 chances for referrals
- 100 people to ask for a review
- 100 people to upsell
We build automated check-in campaigns and referral offers so you’re not leaving money on the table. Let’s capture all those contractor leads possible.
FAQs
Why is this happening now?
Normal cycle. Rates are up, and demand is settling after a big boom.
Do I need ads or SEO more?
Both help. SEO is the long game. Retargeting ads get quick wins.
Should I lower prices?
Not necessarily. Add value instead of slashing your margins.
Can I get leads without spending a fortune?
Yes. We do it every day through smart local SEO and reactivation campaigns.
Will AI really affect my business?
It already is. If you’re not optimized for it, you’re missing leads you don’t even know about.
Final Word
This is when smart contractors build momentum.
You don’t need a miracle. You need a plan.
The tools exist. You just have to use them right.
At GBC Digital Marketing, we help contractors get seen, get leads, and get booked—even in the slow seasons.
If your phone’s not ringing, let’s change that.
Let’s get after it.
