Augment LeadsWhat "shared" means
A shared lead is one inquiry that a vendor sends to more than one firm. Each firm gets the same name, phone number and accident details at about the same moment. Then the race starts.
Shared leads aren't illegal and they aren't always a bad fit. They trade exclusivity for volume. Some firms with very fast intake teams use them on purpose. But it's worth being clear about what happens on the other end. The injured person may get several calls from different firms within a short time. Some find that helpful. Many find it confusing or stressful, and some stop answering their phone.
For your intake team, a shared lead means:
- Speed decides almost everything. The first firm to reach the person has a real head start.
- Your team spends time calling people who have already talked to someone else.
- Follow-up gets harder, because the claimant can't always remember which firm is which.
What "exclusive" should mean
An exclusive lead goes to one firm. That part is simple. The trouble is that "exclusive" isn't a regulated term, and vendors use it in different ways. A clear definition has four parts:
- One firm per lead. The inquiry is delivered to your firm and no one else.
- Never resold. It isn't sold again later, after a set number of hours or days.
- Never reshared or recycled. It isn't moved into an "aged lead" pool or handed to another buyer if you don't sign the case.
- Applies to the lead itself. Exclusivity is about the inquiry, not a promise about who else buys leads in your area.
If any of those are missing from the written agreement, ask why.
Soft versions of "exclusive" to watch for
These phrases can sound exclusive while meaning something narrower. None of them are wrong on their own. They just need to be spelled out.
- Exclusive for a set time. The lead is yours for a window, and then the vendor may sell it again. That's a head start, not ownership.
- Territory exclusive. You're the only buyer in a county or market. That's a promise about other buyers, not about the lead, and the same person may still be contacted by another source.
- "Exclusive in your market." Ask what "market" means and whether leads can be sold to firms just outside it.
- Exclusive fresh, shared aged. The new lead is exclusive, but older leads are later resold to others.
- Exclusive from one source. The vendor sends the lead to you only, but the same person may have filled in other forms the vendor also runs.
Exclusive vs shared at a glance
| Shared lead | Exclusive lead (clear definition) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who else gets this inquiry | Other firms, at about the same time | No one else |
| Resold later | Often, or not addressed | Never |
| What the claimant experiences | Calls from several firms | One firm calling |
| What intake has to do | Win the race to call first | Call quickly and have a real conversation |
| What to get in writing | How many firms get each lead | One firm per lead, never resold, reshared or recycled |
Questions to ask any lead vendor, in writing
Before you place an order with anyone, ask these questions and keep the answers:
- Who else receives this exact lead, now or later?
- Is the lead ever resold, recycled or moved into an aged-lead pool?
- Is there a time window on exclusivity? What happens when it ends?
- Is exclusivity per lead or per territory?
- Who fills in the form, and where do your ads run? Do you buy leads from other sources?
- What consent record comes with each lead? Can I see the certificate?
- Is the phone number verified before the lead is delivered?
- What counts as an unqualified lead, and how are those handled? Is that policy in writing?
- Is there a retainer or minimum term?
A vendor that answers all nine plainly, in writing, is giving you something you can hold them to. For more on the consent questions, read our guide to TrustedForm and lead verification. For how the payment model itself works, see how pay per lead works for law firms.
Exclusive isn't the same as qualified
Exclusivity tells you how many firms get the lead. It doesn't tell you whether the lead fits your practice. A lead can be exclusive and still be outside your states, already represented or the wrong case type. You want both: one firm per lead, and screening built from your own criteria.
That's also why a written replacement policy matters. It sets out, before you start, what happens when a lead doesn't meet the criteria you agreed.
How Augment Leads defines exclusive
At Augment Leads, every lead is exclusive:
- One firm per lead. It's never resold, reshared or recycled.
- Exclusive applies to the lead itself. We don't sell exclusive territories.
- The claimant fills in our campaign form themselves, from our own ads.
- Every lead comes with a TrustedForm certificate and an SMS-verified phone number.
- Screening is built from your criteria, and leads that fail it aren't sent.
- Unqualified leads get replaced under our written replacement policy, agreed before your first paid order.
- There's no agency retainer and no minimum term.
That applies to our MVA leads and our workers' comp leads.
Spanish-speaking MVA and workers' comp leads are also available.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between exclusive and shared personal injury leads?
A shared lead is the same inquiry sent to more than one law firm, so several firms call the same person. An exclusive lead goes to one firm only. The word means little on its own, so get it in writing: one firm per lead, never resold, reshared or recycled, and no time window.
Are exclusive leads ever resold?
They shouldn't be, but some vendors use "exclusive" for a set time and resell the lead afterward. Ask whether the lead is ever resold, recycled or moved into an aged-lead pool, and get the answer in the written agreement.
Is territory exclusivity the same as an exclusive lead?
No. Territory exclusivity means you're the only buyer in an area. An exclusive lead means the inquiry goes to one firm only. They're different promises, and you can have one without the other.
Are shared leads bad?
Not necessarily. Shared leads trade exclusivity for volume, and some firms with very fast intake use them on purpose. The tradeoff is that several firms call the same person, so speed decides most outcomes and the claimant gets several calls.
What should I get in writing from a lead vendor?
Who else receives each lead, whether it's ever resold or recycled, any time window on exclusivity, whether exclusivity is per lead or per territory, what consent record comes with each lead, and what happens with unqualified leads.
Are Augment Leads leads exclusive?
Yes. Every Augment Leads lead goes to one firm only and is never resold, reshared or recycled. Exclusive applies to the lead itself, not to a territory.
Want leads that only your firm calls?
Book a strategy call. We'll walk through our written definition of exclusive and scope a first paid order for your states.