Anyone use pay per lead marketing, and how much annual spending on marketing?

[Ronnie C.]

I'm not a newbie, just looking for what's best and easiest to get the phone ringing. There are sign bandits targeting bandit signs these days that pull them up on weekends after setting them out. Tired of fighting that battle and tired of mailers, never cared for that strategy anyway. 

I spoke with someone this morning offering pay per lead marketing where they have target ads on meta, and different platforms as well as google searches targeting specific areas, counties. $300-$325 per lead depending on the county in my area. They scrub the lead with questions specifically about their situation, the type of house as I made clear don't charge me for leads on trailers or old houses built before the late 60s. He said if I did get such a lead they'd refund me. 

I'm sitting here using Flipster, curious of your all's thoughts or experience with it. Scrubing leads and sending letters and it takes so much time. I can tell you their comps are crap as I am a licensed Realtor in TN (not practicing just want the MLS) and when I narrow down comps from Flipster the comps all always more than reality or looking at it narrowed down like an appraiser would.

What are y'all spending on marketing and what are your thoughts on pay per lead, along with Flipster which is not the pay per lead I'm referring to but the trial is about to end on it and i'm considering getting it. 

I've thought about dedicating a $50 grand to marketing for the next 12 months. I hate to piss it away to come up with very little. 

Thoughts?

Thanks