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Exclusive Leads vs. Shared Leads: What Local Businesses Should Know
The difference between a lead sold to you alone and one sold to a dozen competitors — and why it changes everything.
Not all leads are the same product. The single biggest variable isn't price — it's how many other businesses got the same lead.
Shared leads
A shared lead is sold to several businesses at once. It's cheaper per lead, but you're racing four or five competitors to call first, and the customer is fielding five pitches. Close rates suffer, and so does the customer experience.
Exclusive leads
An exclusive lead goes to one business. It costs more per lead, but you're the only call, the customer isn't shopping five vendors, and your close rate reflects it. For urgent, high-value work, exclusivity usually wins on cost-per-job even at a higher cost-per-lead.
The math that matters
Compare on cost per booked job, not cost per lead. A cheaper shared lead you win one time in five can cost more than an exclusive lead you win one time in two. Know which one you're buying.
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