The title of my video and blog post today is, I tried bark.com – is it worth it? I’m going to be making a short series of posts and videos on the process I used to promote my old off-line business (which I no longer own). This first post is about Bark.com.
The title of the video is: I Tried Bark.com. Is It Worth It?
If you’ve never heard of Bark, it’s basically a lead-generation platform where potential customers post a job, and local businesses can pay (using credits) to respond and quote for the work.
You Can Sign Up For A Bark Account Here
Why I’m Using an Old Bark Profile
I already had an old Bark account from my stump grinding days. It’s outdated now, but I thought it would be useful to show a real profile and dashboard rather than speaking in theory.
One thing I noticed straight away is that my old profile was only 61% complete. In my experience, you want to aim for 80% to 100% completion wherever possible, because a strong profile gives you the best chance of being found and taken seriously.
What You Can Add to Your Bark Profile
Bark gives you the ability to build out a proper business profile. Even if you’re not using Bark, it’s a good reminder of what people want to see when they’re deciding who to contact.
- Logo or profile image (a real photo can help people trust you faster)
- Business details (location, website, service area)
- A clear description of what you do and who you help
- Pricing (minimum price, hourly price, or a guide price if it suits your trade)
- Photos of your work (before/after is ideal for trades like cleaning, gardening, decorating, etc.)
- Social links (Facebook page, other platforms if relevant)
- Accreditations (if you have them)
- Questions and answers (why you started, why clients should choose you, what you like about the job)
Bark Reviews vs Google Reviews
On my Bark profile there’s a review section, but I never really used it.
Personally, I prefer focusing on Google reviews because they’re free, and (as long as you keep your listing active) you’re building something you can keep long-term rather than starting from scratch on a platform you might stop using.
If you’re building any kind of local business presence online, it’s also worth thinking about how easy it is for Google to find you. I covered a similar idea here when I noticed my Facebook page was not showing in Google at all:
The Big Issue I Had: Categories and Targeting
This is the most important part of the whole video.
My business was stump grinding, but Bark didn’t really have a clean category for “stump grinding” on its own. I had to place it under broader categories like tree surgery and removal. The result was that I was seeing a lot of leads that weren’t suitable for me.
To put it simply:
- If 20 jobs were posted, maybe only 1 would be relevant to stump grinding.
- But if you’re in a more general category (for example general gardening, grass cutting, or cleaning), far more of the leads may actually be suitable.
So for some trades, Bark may be far more targeted and therefore far more effective.
Lead Settings and Service Area
Inside the dashboard you can set up your lead preferences and service area. In my old account, I had a radius set (for example, around 20 miles from my location). This matters because if you’re too broad you might get leads you can’t realistically service, and if you’re too tight you may not get enough volume.
How the Credit System Works (And Why Speed Matters)
Bark uses a credits system. You buy credits, and each lead costs a certain number of credits to respond to.
One thing I’ve heard repeatedly is that you need to respond quickly. If you’re slow, the customer may already have a few quotes and you’re basically wasting credits replying too late.
That means if you’re going to test Bark, you need a simple routine:
- Check leads daily (or set the app up so you see them quickly)
- Only respond to leads that genuinely match what you do
- Have a short, professional reply template ready
My Honest Verdict
For my specific niche (stump grinding), Bark didn’t feel as effective as it could have been, mainly because of the category issue. I was filtering through a lot of enquiries that didn’t match what I actually wanted.
However, I do think Bark could work very well for other trades, especially where the categories are clearer and the leads are more targeted.
My advice is simple: if you want to try it, buy a small batch of credits and test it properly. Some things work brilliantly for one business and do nothing for another.
Do Not Rely on One Lead Source
Even if Bark works for you, I wouldn’t rely on it as your only lead source.
You want a mix of:
- Platforms like Bark (paid leads)
- Local visibility (Google presence and reviews)
- Your own online assets (a website and/or a Facebook Page you control)
If you’re building a Facebook Page for your local business, these posts may help:
- The Complete Guide To Facebook Pages
- What £1 A Day On Facebook Ads Really Does
- How to Grow Your Facebook Page From Scratch
And if you want a simple reminder of how quickly you can get something online, this older post is still relevant:
Finally, if you’re looking at hosting for a website (rather than relying on social platforms), here’s the hosting I used for years:
Over to You
Have you ever used Bark.com for your business?
If you have, let me know in the comments what trade you’re in and whether it worked for you. It will be useful for other people reading this, especially those running local businesses like cleaning, gardening, and other services.