Most contractors wrote off Yelp years ago. But the platform has quietly become one of the most powerful lead-generation engines in the home service space — powered by AI partnerships with OpenAI and Perplexity that are funneling search traffic directly to Yelp listings.

John Wilson sits down with Katy Lightsey, Head of Services at Yelp, to break down exactly how 61 home service leads are flowing through the platform and what 68 contractor lead generation actually looks like in 2025. They cover lead costs, close rates, how Yelp Ads and Request a Quote really work — and why 68 how to get more leads for your home service business may start with the platform you've been ignoring.

What you'll learn:

→ How Yelp generates 10 million home service leads every month

→ Why AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are driving more traffic through Yelp

→ How Yelp Assistant uses AI to match homeowners with contractors

→ The truth behind Yelp's reputation with contractors

→ What every business should do to improve visibility and lead flow on Yelp

→ How Yelp Ads, Request a Quote, and lead pricing actually work

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🔗 CONNECT

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John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/

Katy Lightsey→ Yelp https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-lightsey-4a137468/

Learn more → https://business.yelp.com/ownedandoperated

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💰 SPONSORS

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Shout Out to FieldPulse 🚀

FieldPulse is an incredible Field Service Management platform that helps you save hours each week while keeping your operations running smoothly. If you're looking to streamline your processes, stay competitive, and focus on what truly matters, FieldPulse is a game-changer!

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🛒 Extra Special Thanks to Contractor Commerce!

Contractor Commerce turns your website into a 24/7 sales engine for service contractors. With guided pricing, online service and membership sales, and deep system integrations, your site pre-qualifies customers before the phone ever rings.

One contractor generated a $15,000 service sale after hours — straight from their website.

Book a demo to see how Contractor Commerce turns your website into a 24/7 sales and qualification engine.

💼 Shoutout to Quick Staffers LLC

Need trained HVAC & plumbing CSRs at a fraction of the cost? Quick Staffers LLC specializes in placing top-tier global talent with the best SOPs and scripts.

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John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

The Biggest Lead Source Most Home Service Companies Are Ignoring

Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast

The Biggest Lead Source Most Home Service Companies Are Ignoring