Checkatrade, Rated People, Bark, MyBuilder — they all work on the same model: you pay them to compete with 4 other tradespeople for the same lead. It's expensive, the leads aren't exclusive, and you have zero control. Here's the 6-month plan to replace them with direct Google leads.
Month 1–2: Foundations
Claim and fully optimise your Google Business Profile. Get your NAP consistent across all directories. Audit your website for speed, mobile experience and core technical SEO.
Month 2–4: Content + Reviews
Build out dedicated service pages and location pages. Launch a Google review-collection system to hit at least 25 fresh reviews in 90 days.
Month 4–6: Authority + Scale
Build local citations, earn a few quality local backlinks, and start publishing answer-content (blog articles or FAQ pages) for the questions your customers actually search.
Why the Maths Always Wins
A typical Checkatrade plan plus per-lead fees can easily reach £400–£800/month. The same spend on SEO builds rankings you OWN — generating leads for years without paying per click.
Should You Quit Checkatrade Immediately?
No. Run both for 3–6 months while SEO ramps. Once your Google enquiries consistently exceed your Checkatrade leads, cancel. Most of our clients quit within 6–9 months.
Ready to replace Checkatrade with direct Google leads? Book a free intro call with ClickBoosters.