Wakeman, Allo, and the text-back already in Jobber: what each one costs
Compare what Allo, Jobber's Receptionist, and Wakeman really cost a one-man shop, and which one actually texts back the callers you miss.
The Lead-Gen Problem
13 articles
Do not give a faucet price to a Google AI caller
Learn how to answer Google's AI pricing calls for a faucet job with a conditional range, a short script, and how to opt out.
How fast do you have to text back a missed call during the pre-holiday rush?
Text back a missed call within about five minutes and call back within the hour during the pre-holiday rush. Here's the timing and a setup plan.
What should a one-truck shop post in October so the phone still rings in November?
Plan October Google posts and review requests so your one-truck shop keeps getting calls in November, using a routine that takes three evenings a week.
Google is moving Local Services Ads into Performance Max: what contractors should do
Google is moving your Local Services Ads into Performance Max. Learn what changes, what stays the same, and what to set up before and after the switch.
The 20-second rule: when a missed Google call becomes a bill
Since Oct. 1, 2026, Google can bill a missed call that stays on the line over 20 seconds during your listed hours. Learn the settings that matter.
Google will charge you for a Local Services Ads call you did not answer, starting October 1
Google can now bill unanswered Local Services Ads calls lasting over 20 seconds. Here's which ones count and how to cut the charges.
What photos of a finished repair help you show up on Google and in ChatGPT?
Learn which finished-job photos help you show up on Google and ChatGPT, and how to place them.
Why Buying Ads and Sending Calls to Voicemail Wastes the Ad
You paid to make the phone ring. When it goes to voicemail, most callers don't leave a message; they call the next ad. The math, and three cheap fixes.
Angi, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack: What a Lead Really Costs You
Lead sites charge you per lead, but the real cost is per job you actually win. How to figure your true cost, what the FTC found about HomeAdvisor, and what to do…
Tracked Phone Numbers: Who's Really Answering
The number on a 'local' contractor website might ring a call center, an AI screener, or whoever bought the lead this week. How tracked numbers work, the tells, and how a contractor…
Why Google Maps Shows "Companies" That Don't Exist
Some contractor listings on Google Maps are lead-gen fronts: fake addresses, borrowed names, call-tracking numbers. How to spot them, how to report them, and how real contractors protect their place on the…