Transparent methodology

How LeadZipp scores local business leads.

Every lead gets an explainable 0–100 opportunity score. There is no hidden model: the exact signals and weights are published below.

Methodology updated August 13, 2026

What the number means

Digital weakness can be a sales opportunity.

Traditional lead scoring often rewards company size or engagement. Local prospecting needs a different question: which business has a visible problem you can credibly help solve? LeadZipp therefore gives more opportunity points to signals such as no website, very few reviews, and a middling rating.

A high score does not judge the quality of the company. It says the listing shows a clear opening for a relevant service provider. A successful plumber with no website may be both a good business and an excellent web-design prospect.

80–100

Hot lead

The clearest visible gaps and a practical way to make contact.

50–79

Warm lead

Several useful signals, but the opening may need more research.

0–49

Low priority

A stronger digital presence or fewer immediately actionable signals.

The exact opportunity-score weights

Every point, line by line.

Points are added, then the result is capped at 100. Category match and proximity are calculated relative to the search the user actually ran.

Website and reachability
Valid phone number+15
No website listed+35
Website listed+5
Category matches the search+10
Proximity within the search radius
Closest 20% of radius+12
20–40% of radius+9
40–80% of radius+5
Outer 20% of radius+2
Review footprint
Fewer than 5 reviews+20
5–14 reviews+15
15–39 reviews+10
40–99 reviews+5
100 or more reviews+2
Rating gap
No rating+10
Below 2.0+5
2.0–2.9+18
3.0–3.79+15
3.8–4.39+8
4.4 or higher+3

Why very low ratings do not receive the most points

A rating below 2.0 may indicate a defunct listing, spam, or a business with problems that a marketing service cannot solve. The strongest rating opportunity sits between 2.0 and 3.79, where the reputation gap is visible but the listing is more likely to be workable.

Two scores, two audiences

Opportunity score is not digital health score.

LeadZipp deliberately keeps these measures separate. Opportunity score helps a seller decide whom to contact first. Digital health score helps a business owner understand what is working online. As one rises, the other often falls.

Digital health pillarMaximum
Google Maps profile completeness and reputation30 points
Website quality, security, domain, and availability35 points
Conversion signals such as contact path, mobile readiness, speed, and analytics35 points

What the model does not use

  • Private financial, demographic, or personal data
  • Guessed revenue, headcount, or owner identity
  • Email opens, tracking pixels, or hidden behavioral profiles
  • A generative-AI judgment that cannot be explained

Questions

Lead scoring FAQ.

What is a local business lead score?

A local business lead score ranks a prospect by how actionable the sales opportunity is. LeadZipp uses a 0–100 scale. Website gaps, a thin review footprint, a fixable rating, phone reachability, proximity, and category relevance can all add points.

Does a high LeadZipp score mean the business is bad?

No. It means the business has visible digital gaps that may create a sales opening. A busy contractor with no website can be an excellent business and a high-opportunity lead at the same time.

What is the difference between opportunity score and digital health score?

Opportunity score is for the seller: higher means there may be more to fix and a clearer reason to contact the business. Digital health score is for the business owner: higher means the listing, website, and conversion setup are stronger.

Is the scoring model AI-generated or a black box?

No. The opportunity score is deterministic. The same input produces the same score, and every point comes from the published rules on this page.

Put the model against a real ZIP code.

Run a live search, sort by opportunity score, and inspect every signal yourself.

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