Every directory wants your monthly fee and promises a flood of leads. So where should an outdoor living contractor actually put their effort? Here is the honest breakdown of Google, Angi, and Yelp, what each is good for, and the trap to avoid with each.
Google: where to focus first
This is where the most homeowners start, by a wide margin. When someone wants a patio or an outdoor kitchen, they Google it. Your Google Business Profile and the map pack are the biggest free lead source you can build, and unlike a directory subscription, the leads are exclusively yours, not shared with three competitors. It also compounds: the reviews and pages you build keep working for years. The only catch is that it takes a couple of months to climb, so it rewards patience. This is the priority, full stop.
Angi: useful supplement, risky foundation
Angi, which absorbed Angie's List and HomeAdvisor, can produce real leads, but understand what you are buying. The leads are typically sold to several contractors at once, so you are in a price fight from the first call, and the cost per lead can be steep with no guarantee any of them close. It works as a supplement to fill a slow patch or while your Google presence builds. Building your whole business on it is risky, because you are renting access to shared leads and competing on price by design.
Yelp: worth a free listing, rarely the plan
Yelp is stronger in some metros than others and weaker for contractors than for restaurants. Its sales team pushes paid ads hard and the costs add up quickly, while its review filter is aggressive and can hide legitimate reviews. A complete free Yelp listing is worth having, because it can show up in searches and adds a consistent citation of your name, address, and phone. Paying to build your business on Yelp is rarely worth it for this trade.
How to handle all three
Claim your free listing on each, since complete, consistent listings across the web reinforce the trust signals that help your Google ranking. Then put your real effort into owning your Google presence, and treat Angi or Yelp ads as optional, trackable experiments, not the foundation.
The pattern
Own your Google presence first, because it is free, it compounds, the leads are exclusively yours, and it is where buyers actually start. Treat the paid directories as supplements you can switch on or off, never as the plan your business depends on.
Frequently asked questions
Should contractors use Google, Angi, or Yelp?
Focus on Google first. It is where most homeowners start, the leads from your map pack and profile are exclusively yours rather than shared, and it compounds over time for free. Claim free listings on Angi and Yelp for consistency, but treat their paid options as optional supplements, not your main lead source.
Are Angi leads worth it for outdoor living contractors?
They can fill a slow stretch, but the leads are usually sold to several contractors at once, so you compete on price immediately and the cost per lead can be high with no promise of a close. Use Angi as a supplement while you build your own Google presence, not as the foundation of your business.
Is a Yelp listing worth having?
A free, complete Yelp listing is worth claiming because it can appear in searches and adds a consistent citation of your business details, which supports your overall local trust. Paid Yelp advertising is rarely worth it for contractors, since the costs climb fast and the platform is weaker for this trade than for restaurants.
Why are Google leads better than directory leads?
Because they are exclusively yours and essentially free once you rank. Directory leads are typically shared with multiple competitors and cost you per lead, which forces a price fight before you have even spoken to the homeowner. Owning your Google presence gives you leads no one else received and a source that keeps paying without ongoing fees.