A VERY simple step could save your agency from throwing thousands of pounds down the drain

We’ve all been there.

When a big shining penny so blindingly obvious drops into our laps and screams ‘What the f**k took you so long?!!!!’

Let me explain.

Twice this week I’ve had conversations with clients about their PR and marketing plans for the next quarter.

Both times I’ve heard words to the effect of;  ‘We do it but we can’t measure the response, so we don’t know if it’s worth doing.’

It was at this point that I leapt to my feet, spun around 360 degrees and leapt in the air like a Scottish fresh water Salmon and said: “Listen up my bricks and mortar marketing amigos!

“There is a way you can keep a track on how your marketing performs. Use tracking numbers.”

Now I know this doesn’t sound like the discovery of a 100 per cent cure for a hangover (that’d make billions!) but I was surprised these two clever and proactive agents weren’t using them.

It’s simple. The ‘virtual’ number sits over your existing numbers so that for example a flier / newsletter you have sent out has a ‘virtual number’ at the bottom.

At the end of the week / month the virtual number provider sends you a report telling you how many times that number was called so you get to know if your flier generated leads rather than guessing.

The numbers can be applied to your email marketing, newspaper advertising, billboards etc.

In my experience they are surprisingly cheap but well worth having.

Ask yourself why would you spend hundreds or in a lot of cases thousands on a marketing campaign and not measure the response? Bonkers really.

Anyway hope that helps folks and here’s to your next instruction.

Jerry

PS: My September Sizzler offer is any article you need written for your agency for just £29.99 (Up to 350 words – usual price for this £49.99).

Alex Evans

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Rental price and average salary tracker – February 2026

Regional divergence replaces winter slowdown as rental market shows mixed February movement Month-on-month rental prices showed a mixed picture in February. Notable increases were recorded in the East Midlands (+3.4%), North West (+2.8%), Scotland (+2.7%) and South East (+2.0%), suggesting demand has firmed in several areas. However, Northern Ireland (−6.6%), West Midlands (−1.3%), East of…
Read More
Breaking News

UK property sector gender pay gap keeps getting wider

UK property sector gender pay gap keeps getting wider and It now has the fourth largest gap across all UK industries The latest research from Yopa reveals that real estate remains one of the UK’s worst-performing industries when it comes to the gender pay gap, ranking as the fourth largest across all sectors after widening…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Britain’s most expensive streets revealed

The latest edition of Rightmove’s Most Expensive Streets report reveals that Winnington Road in Barnet, London, retains its position as Great Britain’s most expensive street, with an average asking price of £12,538,095 Chester Square in Westminster is second, with an average asking price of £11,546,428 and The Bishops Avenue in Barnet is third, with a price tag of £8,930,650 East Road…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Average mortgage deposit exceeds the average salary

In 62% of Britain’s housing markets, the average deposit exceeds the average salary The latest research from eXp UK reveals that in 62% of Britain’s housing markets, homebuyers must save a deposit that exceeds a full year’s earnings, underlining just how substantial the cost of homeownership has become across large parts of the country. eXp…
Read More
Breaking News

Latest Halifax house price data shows a 1.3% increase

Here are some thoughts from the Industry   Mary-Lou Press, President of NAEA Propertymark (National Association of Estate Agents), comments: “The latest Halifax House Price Index confirms that average property values have remained above the £300,000 mark for the second consecutive month, reinforcing the resilience of the UK housing market. Sustained pricing at this level…
Read More
Breaking News

Halifax House Price Index February 2026

House prices rose in February as market maintains early-year momentum • House prices increased by +0.3% in February, following a +0.8% rise in January • Average property price is now £301,151, edging up to another new high • Annual growth of +1.3% is strongest in four months, up from +1.1% in January • Northern Ireland…
Read More