Understanding the 24-Hour Sponsor Priority Window
Quick Answer
When you have ANY sponsor listing ($25/month or $240/year), your entire account receives leads 24 hours before free accounts see them. This applies to ALL lead types - paid referrals, pro bono opportunities, and real estate leads - giving you first choice on every opportunity.
How the 24-Hour Priority Works
The Timeline
When a new lead is approved by Heritage Web:
Hour 0: Lead is matched to qualified professionals Hour 0-24: ONLY sponsor accounts see and can purchase the lead Hour 24: Free accounts receive notification and can now see the lead Hour 24-1440 (Day 60): Lead available to all until expiration
The Competitive Advantage
This 24-hour window means:
First access to high-value leads
No competition from free accounts initially
Better chance of purchasing before lead is taken
Time to evaluate without rushing
Higher ROI on sponsor investment
Account-Wide Benefit Activation
One Sponsor = Full Benefits
The moment you sponsor ANY listing, your entire account gets priority:
Sponsor a Profile listing → All your leads get priority
Sponsor an Organization listing → All your leads get priority
Sponsor an Event listing → All your leads get priority
Sponsor a Job listing → All your leads get priority
You don't need to sponsor every listing - just one unlocks the benefit.
Multiple Listings Example
If you have:
1 Profile listing (FREE)
1 Organization listing (SPONSOR)
1 Event listing (FREE)
Result: ALL your leads arrive 24 hours early because you have one sponsor listing.
What the Priority Includes
Paid Referrals ($29-$395)
See all matched leads 24 hours early
Purchase before free accounts can even view them
Exclusive access during the first day
Price remains the same
Pro Bono Opportunities
First access to help community members
Choose the best-matched cases
Build reputation before others see opportunities
Unlimited access included with sponsor
Real Estate Referrals
Early notification via SMS/email
24-hour head start on response
Better chance of securing commission-based leads
Higher conversion potential
Why This Matters
Lead Quality and Availability
High-Demand Leads Often Sell Within:
2-4 hours for premium opportunities
24 hours for good matches
48-72 hours for standard leads
Without sponsor priority, free accounts often find the best leads already purchased.
Real Business Impact
Consider This Scenario:
Monday 9 AM: High-value lead ($395) is matched
Monday 9 AM: Sponsors can purchase immediately
Tuesday 9 AM: Free accounts finally see it
Tuesday 9:15 AM: Lead likely already purchased
The sponsor advantage is clear - access when it matters most.
Additional Sponsor Benefits
Beyond the 24-Hour Priority
Each sponsor listing also includes:
Unlimited pro bono access (vs. 3/month for free)
3 team member slots per sponsor listing
Priority placement in search results
SMS notification capability
Pro Bono Champion badge
1-day approval (vs. 2-3 days)
7-day grace period for failed payments
ROI Calculation
Monthly Sponsor Cost: $25 One Additional Lead Secured: Often $50-$395 value Result: Sponsor pays for itself with just one lead
Common Misconceptions
"I need to sponsor my Profile listing"
Truth: You can sponsor ANY listing type for full benefits. Some users sponsor an Event listing for $25/month to get account-wide priority.
"Only the sponsored listing gets priority"
Truth: Your ENTIRE account gets priority on ALL leads, regardless of which listing is sponsored.
"Free accounts never get good leads"
Truth: Free accounts can get leads, but sponsors see them first. In competitive markets, the best opportunities may be gone after 24 hours.
"Priority only applies to paid referrals"
Truth: The 24-hour advantage applies to ALL lead types - paid, pro bono, and real estate.
Strategic Considerations
When to Upgrade to Sponsor
Consider sponsoring if you:
Operate in a competitive market
Want high-value leads
Need consistent lead flow
Have a team that monitors leads
Focus on pro bono work
Want the best ROI
Choosing What to Sponsor
Since any sponsor listing provides full benefits:
Sponsor your most important listing for visibility
Or sponsor your least important listing to save money
Multiple sponsors add team member slots (3 per sponsor)
Annual payment saves 20% ($240/year vs. $300/year)
Grace Period Protection
If your sponsor payment fails:
7-day grace period begins
All benefits continue during grace
24-hour priority maintained
Time to update payment method
No service interruption
After grace period without payment:
Automatic downgrade to free
Loss of 24-hour priority
Return to 3 pro bono monthly limit
Reduced team member slots
FAQs
Q: If I sponsor multiple listings, do I get more than 24 hours priority? A: No. The priority window remains 24 hours regardless of how many sponsor listings you have. Multiple sponsors provide additional team member slots instead.
Q: Do free accounts know that sponsors saw the lead first? A: No. Free accounts simply receive their notifications 24 hours after the lead is processed.
Q: Can I upgrade to sponsor after seeing a good lead? A: Yes, but you won't get retroactive priority. The 24-hour advantage only applies to leads matched after you become a sponsor.
Q: Does the 24-hour priority affect the 60-day expiration? A: No. All professionals have the same 60-day expiration window; sponsors just get a 24-hour head start.
Q: What if a lead comes in at 5 PM Friday? A: Sponsors see it immediately at 5 PM Friday. Free accounts see it at 5 PM Saturday. The clock runs continuously, including weekends.
Next Steps
Review your current listing status
Consider which listing to sponsor for maximum benefit
Choose monthly ($25) or annual ($240) payment
Upgrade before high-demand periods
Monitor your dashboard during the exclusive 24-hour window