A practical best-to-worst ranking for DBR agent recruiting—not a generic list of America’s biggest cities. The model rewards reachable sales talent, efficient posting economics, Sunbelt momentum and your actual Craigslist response data.
RESEARCH MODEL · VERSION 1Scores are strategic planning estimates. Five markets include DBR live response evidence; untested markets receive a neutral response baseline until campaign data replaces the estimate.
The score is a test order—not a lifetime verdict. A market moves up when qualified-reply rate and recruit rate beat the portfolio baseline.
Proven live winners plus high-growth, cost-efficient markets.
55% OF TEST BUDGETLarge reach or strong talent pools with controlled spend.
30% OF TEST BUDGETUseful diversification markets that need proof before scale.
10% OF TEST BUDGETHigher friction, higher cost or smaller reach. Test last.
5% OF TEST BUDGETHold city, category and body copy constant. Rotate headline A/B/C only.
Use view rate for initial signal, then qualified replies and recruited agents for the real verdict.
Promote markets that beat baseline twice. Demote markets that miss twice. No city gets tenure.