Finding the Right Prospects
Start with high-ticket home-service trades: roofing, HVAC, plumbing, fencing, painting, landscaping, windows and doors, gutters, decks, pest control, and cleaning. Contractors are the ideal target market because they are accustomed to monthly subscriptions, lack in-house marketing staff, and often have the weakest websites in local search results.
Search systematically by targeting one city and one trade at a time. Review each Google Business Profile result, checking for these five buying signals:
- No website at all.
- A website without an SSL certificate (address starts with
http://). - A website that is not mobile-responsive.
- Fewer than 20 Google reviews.
- An unclaimed Google Business Profile.
The platform includes a built-in price tool for 11 of these core trades, automatically adding a ballpark pricing calculator and lead capture form to the site. Use the No Website and Has site issues filters in the ShowFirst results table to surface the best prospects instantly. See Results, filters, and exports.
The ‘Finished Product’ Pitch
Do not pitch a concept; send a working model. A preview site allows the business owner to immediately judge the value. Ensure the preview includes core services, service areas, customer reviews, project photos, and clear conversion points (call button, contact form, and trade-specific price tool).
Keep your outreach strictly focused on the product. Send three short, text-only emails over a 7-day period. Ensure every email includes your agency name, mailing address, and a clear opt-out line to comply with spam regulations.
Subject: your new website (ready to go)
Hi [First Name],
I noticed your current site was missing a few things that help [Trade] close more local jobs, so I went ahead and built a new one for [Business Name].
Here is the working preview: [Link]
No strings attached. If you like it, it’s yours. Should I send over the details?Hi [First Name],
Just floating this to the top of your inbox.
If you click the preview link below, test out the instant price calculator I added to the homepage. It’s set up to instantly capture lead details and text them straight to your phone.
[Link]
Let me know if you want the keys to this.Hi [First Name],
Last note from me on this.
The preview link for [Business Name] expires on [Date], and I’ll be taking the test site down to clear server space.
If you want to keep it, just reply "yes" today and I’ll transfer the setup to you. Otherwise, no worries and best of luck with the season!Pricing and Handoff
Agencies typically structure contractor website pricing with an upfront Setup Fee (covers the build and launch) and a Monthly Fee (covers managed hosting, ongoing edits, lead alerts, and technical support). Check what competing agencies in your market charge before finalizing your tiers. To present pricing under your own brand, navigate to Settings > Your brand to upload your name, logo, and brand colors.
Once the deal is closed, handing over the site takes a few steps from your dashboard:
- Owner Editor: The client clicks Edit this page to open the Website Editor and safely swap text, update services, and add photos. See Hero & About.
- AI Edits: Update the live site by typing requests in plain English via the Agent tab, which includes a single-click Undo button. See The Agent tab.
- WordPress Admin: Under the hood, every site is a standard WordPress installation accessible from your dashboard.
- Lead Alerts: Form submissions are stored in the WordPress admin and instantly emailed to the client with your custom agency branding. See Forms & email.
- Domain Connection: Point the client’s existing domain to the new site directly from your dashboard.
FAQ
Do I need to know WordPress?
No. ShowFirst builds the site automatically. The business owner can manage it via the visual Website Editor, and you can make advanced changes using plain text via the Agent tab.
What if they already have a site?
Build the preview anyway. Send it alongside a link to their current site so they can see the contrast. If they switch, simply point their existing domain to the new ShowFirst site.
How many preview sites should I send a week?
Send only as many as you can manually follow up on. Start with one trade in one city, monitor every reply, and scale up your volume as you refine your workflow.
Can I white-label the software?
Yes, everything the client sees. Go to Settings > Your brand to set your agency name, logo, color and reply-to address. They appear on the pricing link you send, on every lead-alert email the business owner receives and on the shared online presence report. Lead texts come from the platform’s registered number.
What does it cost me per site?
Current pricing is listed in the ShowFirst pricing section. New signups receive 100 free lead credits with no credit card required. A free “founders seat” is available for the first 10 agencies (the pricing page indicates if these are still available).
Search a city and trade. Your first search is free.
Search a city and trade →100 lead credits at signup. No card.