Is Your Agency_s Marketing and PR Super or Sh*te? Take the 11 Step Quiz

I once went to an expensive conference which featured an American marketing guru (I despise that term, guru shmuru).

I was struck by how shiny his face was and his equally glossy suit. I imagined him sitting on a chair and sliding right off it.

Shiny Sid said a lot of things I didn_t understand. Literally. His 45 minute talk was peppered with jargon, marketing speak and other assorted weirdly phrased bollocks.

Only one thing stood out about his lecture and that was when he was asked to define marketing in a few words _ his response was as vague as Donald Trump_s current economic plan _ _it_s more than words can explain._

It left me thinking _gee, thanks buddy, I just spent œ300 to hear that marketing is really a dark mystical art shrouded in a cloak of jargon and waffle that can_t be explained in plain English._

It ain_t. Here_s my simple 11 question test to see whether your agency_s marketing and PR is super shiny or sorrowful shite.

  • Do you have a marketing and PR plan for 2017 with a dedicated budget?
  • Do you produce a quarterly newsletter and deliver it to more than 10000 homes in your area?
  • Do you have a regular (at least fortnightly) blog on your website?
  • Do you have an email marketing system / software in place?
  • Do you network at least once a month within your local market?
  • Does your business card feature your photo?
  • Does your website have a way of enticing people to share their email address?
  • Have you ever carried out a scouting mission on what marketing and PR your rivals are up to?
  • Do you know the name of the reporter who covers your patch for the local paper?
  • Do you have a system / method of keeping in touch with former clients?
  • Does your agency have written values and / or an ethics policy?

Results:

If you said yes to all 11 questions your agency is more than likely one of the most successful in your area.

If you said no to all 11 you might want to start brushing up your CV because you will probably need it pretty soon.

If like most agents your answers were a 50 / 50 ish split that_s positive.

Because by adding a few more marginal gains / little points of difference / applying a bit more effort to your marketing and PR mix you_ll stand out for all the right reasons.

Obviously there_s more to successful marketing and PR than what I_ve mentioned here. But it_s not such a magic secret as Shiny State Side Sid would have you believe.

If you think I can help add value to your agency_s work get in touch.

Thanks for reading and here_s to your next instruction.

Jerry

PS: One REALLY good American marketer with a ton of sensible ideas is Seth Godin. He has a daily email full of good thinking.

ENDS

Jerry Lyons

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

City house prices soar

The latest research from Property DriveBuy reveals that house prices in UK cities are significantly outperforming both coastal and countryside locations, rising by an average of 3.4% over the past year, well ahead of the wider UK market which has seen growth of 2.5%. And while countryside homes have also seen a price increase, the…
Read More
Breaking News

Buyers return to housing market

2026 starts in line with 2024 with buyer demand 9% down on last year’s strong start Buyers are returning to the housing market at the start of 2026 as confidence improves and mortgage rates fall, but a growing number of homes for sale is giving buyers more choice and reshaping market conditions, according to Zoopla’s…
Read More
Breaking News

How will tenants be affected by the incoming Renters’ Rights Act?

On 28th October 2025, the Renters’ Rights Bill was passed into law, and it is now the Renters’ Rights Act. Changes to legislation resulting from this new Act will take effect from May 2026. This will affect landlords and how they let out their property, and it is worthwhile being aware of how it affects…
Read More
Seaside Properties UK
Overseas Property

Gibraltar property values rise faster than UK

Gibraltar house prices rise faster than UK and London, despite market activity dropping 46% The latest market analysis by Enness Global has revealed that Gibraltar’s property market has seen stronger annual house price growth than both the UK and London, even as the number of transactions completing across the market has fallen sharply, creating a…
Read More
Breaking News

Homes with fewer photos priced £80,000 lower

The latest research by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed a stark disparity in asking prices depending on how extensively a property is marketed, with homes listed using four photos or fewer priced almost £80,000 lower on average than those benefiting from five or more images. Benham and Reeves analysed current…
Read More
Breaking News

January market momentum builds

Analysis of the latest market data by eXp UK has revealed that the UK property market has picked up pace in January, with both new instruction volumes and the price of these new listings increasing when compared to the same period in previous years. eXp UK analysed the latest market data*, looking at both new…
Read More