The Complete Guide to Filtering Contacts by Postcode Area (For UK Trade Businesses)
TL;DR: Postcode filtering lets you find customers by area in seconds. Essential for organizing rounds, targeting campaigns, and assigning work to team members. This guide covers UK postcode formats, filtering strategies, and real examples for window cleaners, landscapers, and installers.
Why Postcode Filtering Matters for Trade Businesses
You're a window cleaner in Middlesbrough with 800 customers. Today you're working in the TS10 area. Which customers should you visit?
Without postcode filtering, you're scrolling through spreadsheets or manually searching addresses. With proper filtering, you get the answer in 2 seconds.
Route Optimization
Work in one area per day. No driving across town between jobs.
Team Assignment
Assign TS10-TS12 to John, TS13-TS15 to Mark.
Targeted Marketing
Send "Working in your area this week" to TS10 customers.
Territory Analysis
See which areas have the most customers.
Understanding UK Postcode Formats
Before you can filter effectively, you need to understand UK postcode structure:
UK Postcode Anatomy:
TS10 1AB
- • TS = Postcode Area (Teesside/Middlesbrough)
- • TS10 = Postcode District (Redcar)
- • TS10 1 = Postcode Sector
- • TS10 1AB = Full Postcode (specific street)
Common UK Postcode Areas:
5 Postcode Filtering Strategies
1. Filter by Postcode District (Most Common)
This is how most trade businesses organize their rounds:
Example: Window Cleaner Weekly Schedule
How to filter: Search "TS10" in your postcode field. Get all customers in that district instantly.
2. Filter by Multiple Districts (Range)
Sometimes you want to combine nearby areas:
Use Case: "Show me all customers in North Middlesbrough"
Filter by: TS5, TS6, TS7
Result: All customers in those 3 postcode districts
3. Filter by Postcode Sector (Hyper-Local)
For ultra-specific targeting (e.g., a particular street or estate):
Example: Landscaper Doing Leaflet Drop
Goal: Target a specific housing estate in TS10
Filter: "TS10 1" (TS10 sector 1 only)
Result: 12 existing customers + new prospects in that exact area
4. Combine Postcode + Status Filters
Most powerful when you combine postcode with customer status:
Active Customers in TS10
Postcode: TS10 + Status: Active
Overdue in TS11
Postcode: TS11 + Last Clean: 30+ days
Leads in TS12-TS15
Postcode: TS12, TS13, TS14, TS15 + Status: Lead
High-Value TS10 Customers
Postcode: TS10 + Tag: Premium
5. Phone Area Code Filtering (Alternative)
If customers don't have postcodes (e.g., old database), you can filter by phone area code:
Example: Middlesbrough customers
- • Filter phone numbers starting with
01642(Middlesbrough landlines) - • Filter mobiles starting with
07932(specific area)
Real-World Example: Sarah's Landscaping Business
"I have 600 landscaping clients across Manchester. I filter by M1-M5 for city center contracts, M20-M22 for South Manchester residential. When sending seasonal promotions, I can target 'M20 customers who haven't booked in 6 months' and send them a spring tidy offer. Got 15 bookings from one email."
— Sarah, Landscaping Business, Manchester (600 clients across 12 postcode districts)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Common Filtering Errors:
- Too Broad: Filtering "TS" gets you ALL Teesside customers (thousands). Be specific: "TS10", "TS11", etc.
- Inconsistent Data: Some customers entered as "TS10 1AB", others as "ts10 1ab" or "TS101AB". Clean your data first.
- Forgetting Spaces: UK postcodes have a space. "TS101AB" ≠ "TS10 1AB"
- Not Using Multi-Select: Instead of 3 separate searches for TS10, TS11, TS12, select all at once.
How to Clean Your Postcode Data
Before you can filter effectively, ensure your postcodes are formatted correctly:
Uppercase Everything
Convert "ts10 1ab" → "TS10 1AB"
Add Missing Spaces
Convert "TS101AB" → "TS10 1AB"
Validate Format
Use Royal Mail postcode validation (most CRMs do this automatically)
Conclusion: Master Postcode Filtering = Save Hours Per Week
Postcode filtering is the #1 feature trade businesses use daily. Whether you're a window cleaner, landscaper, or installer, organizing customers by area lets you:
- Plan efficient daily routes (no driving across town)
- Assign territories to team members
- Send targeted area-based campaigns
- Analyze which areas are most profitable
Stop scrolling through spreadsheets. Start filtering by postcode in 2 clicks with proper contact management software.
