Exclusive leads, or shared ones.
Checkatrade memberships put you in their directory. Kelso Creative puts you on page 1 of Google directly (and inside AI Overviews). One brings shared leads, the other brings exclusive ones.
Checkatrade is a known brand among UK trades. The membership gives you a directory listing, badging, and a flow of enquiries from people searching their site or the directory pages they rank for. Some trades do well from it.
Kelso Creative builds the alternative: your own service-by-location AI SEO pages that rank directly on Google and surface inside Google AI Overviews. The lead comes to you exclusively, not shared with three other trades in the same postcode. You keep the asset if you cancel.
Where the two diverge.
| Dimension | Kelso Creative | Checkatrade |
|---|---|---|
| Lead exclusivity | Yours only | Often shared with multiple trades |
| Brand recognition | You build your own | You inherit Checkatrade’s |
| Cost structure | Monthly subscription, no upfront build fee | Membership fee plus per-lead charges |
| Long-term asset | Compounds month after month | Stops when membership ends |
| Review management | Live Google Reviews on your site | Reviews live on Checkatrade’s platform |
Differences described above are based on publicly available information about Checkatrade at time of writing. We try to keep this accurate; if something is out of date, tell us.
When Checkatrade is the better choice
- You value the brand association and customer-trust signal that Checkatrade carries.
- You need lead volume in the next 30 days and have no existing SEO.
- The Checkatrade badge is part of your wider local-marketing mix and you want to keep that visible.
- Your category converts well from Checkatrade specifically (some do, some do not).
We are not the right call for everyone. Where Checkatrade fits better, we say so on the discovery call too. Better for both of us.
About Checkatrade and the comparison.
Can I do both Checkatrade and Kelso Creative?
Yes. Many clients keep Checkatrade running through the first 60 days of a Kelso Creative build, then taper down as their own SEO pages take over. The two are not mutually exclusive.
How do shared leads actually work?
When a customer requests a quote through Checkatrade, the enquiry is typically sent to several local trades who fit the criteria. You compete to respond first and win the job. Some trades like this competitive dynamic. Others find it exhausting.
What about the Checkatrade badge for trust?
The badge is a real signal for some customers. Once you have 20+ Google reviews on your own site, the badge effect is largely covered by your own social proof. We help you get there with the review-request automation that comes with every Kelso Creative engagement.
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Done comparing? Apply.
If Kelso is the right call, the AI SEO application is two minutes. Discovery call within 48 hours if it is a fit.