Has anyone listed with thumbtack.com?

So, I was looking for "Mad Jack Art" (another artist near me) to see if they were planning to run Fabbulas in Philadelphia, PA this year. I discovered that Cyde's website with Vistaprint was down but she had a listing on Thumbtack.com. So, I thought I'd sign up for a listing myself. Has anyone done this? If so what are your thoughts?

If NOT, please consider listing through this link: http://www.thumbtack.com/welcome?refer=VWFQMJ1hG5h8UQ

If anyone lists through me, I get additional professional credit which makes my listing appear higher when potential clients search for me. If I am breaking any forum rules here by asking for the "clicks" I do apologize! I don't think I am, but just wanted to make sure!

I think this was the one I QUIT using because they would charge you 5 dollars or more JUST to get people's info. Not even a guaranteed gig. I was NOT impressed.

I thought it might be worth a shot since Kerry Ann Smith and Cyde Klaristenfeld were both using it. I'll give it a month or 2 and see if it is worth anything.

I agree with sweethaven, did it, paid for leads, and never had a hit back.

Unless it is completely free I won't list.

Yeah, I'd advise against it. I never paid for a lead because I thought it was BS. Also the site kept calling us to "verify" our info, super annoying.

They NEVER got my info right...kept saying I was in the top 5 in an area I would prefer not to paint in for safety reasons...gotta laugh! "Congratulations, you're in the top five of hood-rat painters!" (I guess the taggers beat me out...)

Bwa ha ha!! I got that one too anniel!!

I just got an inquiry from TT and had to turn it down because it was too far away (NJ) to cram into my already overstuffed June schedule. I wanted to point the woman to Dana Bee, but it wasn't an option to "refer a friend" when I turned down the job. Here's hoping for some hits in July. It's really a dry spell for me! Booked solid in June, and already getting bookings for August and September, but July is DEAD. Sent out a bunch of inquiries about vendor events, fairs, farmer's markets, etc., so hopefully SOMETHING will turn up! I don't need an unplanned 1 month vacation!

Different opinion - I've had CORPORATE gigs through Thumbtack. One $600 gig makes 9.99 a month for unlimited leads very reasonable.

I have already had 2 requests for quotes. 1 I had to turn down because it was for a weekend I was completely booked for. The other she likes my quote and will call me when we get closer to her scheduled date (hopefully). We'll see how it works out!

Becky521 - Are you still using Thumbtack?  How did it work out?

I signed up but haven't sent any quotes yet because it costs money.....meanwhile, the "leads" are actively searching out multiple quotes to choose from-if they choose any at all.

I signed up a couple weeks ago and have gotten a lot of leads. I've paid the money to submit quotes to a few of the closer ones that I'm available for but have yet to book anything. I'm starting to feel like it's a waste of time and money but I plan in giving it a couple more weeks. If I book one job from it, it will pay for itself. Fingers crossed!

shellbell wrote:I signed up a couple weeks ago and have gotten a lot of leads. I've paid the money to submit quotes to a few of the closer ones that I'm available for but have yet to book anything. I'm starting to feel like it's a waste of time and money but I plan in giving it a couple more weeks. If I book one job from it, it will pay for itself. Fingers crossed!

That's what i thought. Bought smallest package and submitted quotes to quite a few and only few got back to me with no booking. Noticed a few were fake quotes being asked for so you waste your credits. I canceled my profile with them a month ago. CL has been my top and only producer.

Ruby- I was starting to get suspicious that some of the leads were bogus. That's pretty messed up if they make fake ones so you spend the money.
I also use Craigslist but have been having issues with my ads getting deleted. Most of my bookings have come from CL. So it is a great source for me. I signed up for Gig Salad & Gig Masters. Both of which aren't free. Have had a couple quote requests from Gig Masters but no bookings. And not a single bite from Gig Salad. I will keep you posted about this, if you'd like.

Yeah i would like to be kept posted. I use gigsalad, but don't pay. No hits their either for me. I had one ad on CL that got deleted, because I was in the kids and baby stuff for sell. Since i took all the ones i had in that section i have had no problem. I use the event, creative and artist sections in 3 areas in so cal that are not bad of distance. Wish you the best! :-D

I signed up for Thumbtack last month & bought about $20 worth of "responses". Spent that answering requests but no job yet. The good thing is, my name now comes up when you look for a face painter in my city. Some of the people around here use gig salad or gig master. Most of my work, until now, has been word of mouth & me, marketing myself.

I've actually booked quite a bit off Thumbtack. I, too worry about fake leads. I think that may have been happening a year or so ago. I signed up for a month back then when they had monthly and got NO leads for a MONTH! I cancelled and complained and they comped me back. Now they are charging a little less per lead and not a monthly rate so I'm a little happier. I have actually had more from it than GigSalad this summer (it was complete opposite last year  )

What I do worry about is that since you are usually sending the request to multiple painters is that it becomes a "who's the cheapest" game. I don't want that, either. I'm starting to be more choosy with those I respond to but really it only pans out less than half (or maybe even 1/3) of the time.

I've also had better luck with Craigslist (but be careful!!!) and placing my postcards up or handing them out. Seriously - I left my card at my daughter's dance studio and booked a big soccer jamboree from it which since has also lead to at least 3 parties and counting. The best part of that? They have all been much closer to my home! Also Google AdWords to bump my website up sometimes helps.

The worst place to be listed. They charge you even when you will not get the gig.