Why the most expensive lead isn't always the worst deal
A $175 shared aggregator lead sounds far worse than a $25 exclusive Google Ads lead until the actual mechanics are compared. The shared lead is sold to 3 to 5 competing deck builders simultaneously, and speed to respond, not quality of work, often decides who gets the job. The exclusive lead costs less and isn't split with anyone.
On exclusive channels specifically, a $25 to $70 cost per lead has been reported to close at 25 to 40 percent, which makes the real cost per booked job considerably better than the raw price of a shared lead once that lead's split competition is factored in.
Budget shared platforms and what the low price actually buys
Some budget platforms offer leads in the $18 to $40 range on a $600 to $1,200 monthly spend, and decking-specific leads have been reported as low as $14 to $33 through certain channels. These lower prices generally come with lower exclusivity and a correspondingly lower close rate, similar to the shared-lead dynamic on higher-priced aggregator platforms.
The comparison that actually matters isn't the sticker price across these options, it's cost per booked job once close rate is factored in, which usually favors whichever channel gives the deck builder the fastest, least-shared path to the customer.
Spring seasonality changes how this budget should be spent
Decking demand peaks sharply in spring and summer in most climates, running closer to year-round only in warmer regions. A lead-generation budget spent evenly across twelve months is misallocated for this trade; concentrating spend ahead of and during the spring booking rush captures the window when the bulk of annual demand actually exists. Exactly how early that spend needs to start matters as much as how much of it there is.