Tracking where leads actually come from
If you don't know which channel produced a lead, you can't decide where to spend next dollar.
Ask every caller, every time
'How did you hear about us?' on every call, logged in one place. Self-reported is imperfect, but directionally accurate, and free.
Use one phone number per channel
A unique tracked number per major channel (Google ads, billboards, truck wraps) removes the guesswork. Call-tracking tools start at $30 a month and pay for themselves the first month.
Tie leads to revenue, not just count
A channel producing lots of cheap leads that never close is worse than a channel producing fewer leads that turn into real jobs. Measure to closed revenue, not lead volume.
Take your version of this question further
This is one operator-tested angle on the question. Your shop, your size, your trade, and your team change the answer. Ask your specific version inside Ask a Shop Owner to get a response grounded in how owners like you actually handled it.