Direct Leads: Choose Your Own Adventure!

AllAroundMusic

Hello Thumbtack Pros!

My name is Christopher Pinon, and I'm the founder of All Around Music, specializing exclusively in online music lessons. I've been using Thumbtack since 2015 and am interested in helping Thumbtack by providing feedback to improve the platform. This is one suggestion I wanted to share.

I'd love your feedback on how direct leads are handled on the platform. Currently, when customers directly reach out to us, our business is placed to compete with up to five other businesses depending on what the customer selects, which then counts as a lead being charged.

What if we had the option to choose?

Option 1: Keep the current system, where direct leads automatically count as part of your 5 direct leads.

Option 2: Introduce a customizable setting where each Pro can toggle their preference, allowing you to choose whether direct leads count towards your 5 direct leads or if you'd prefer only receiving leads that match your specific targeting preferences.

Additionally, depending on customer interactions, if a customer initially selects your business but ultimately chooses another provider, your business would be grayed out if you've opted to only receive leads matching your specific targeting preferences.

This could be a win-win scenario:

Pros who prefer broader exposure and more leads could select the first option.

Pros who prefer highly targeted leads could select the second option, ensuring their leads align precisely with their preferences.

This setting wouldn’t hinder the customer’s experience. Customers would still be able to view all available pros and make their selections as usual. If a pro has opted to only receive targeted leads and the customer selects another business in their up to five selections, the pro’s profile would simply appear grayed out with a note like “currently unavailable due to customer selection.” This maintains visibility, encourages intentional decision-making, and increases the likelihood of a confident match that leads to a sale. This also helps prevent option overload, allowing the customer to feel more assured and focused in choosing who they want to work with.

Which would you prefer? Vote below and let's discuss how we can improve the Thumbtack experience for everyone!