As an Auto Service Shop owner, you struggle with marketing and advertising your service shop to increase car counts. In fact, one mechanic told me that trying to figure out how to advertise was more painful than 'rapping his knuckles on the alternator when the wrench slips!'. The truth is that I hear that a lot. But relax, because I am going to reveal one simple strategy that even the marketing gurus won't tell you.
I know your pain. I was there myself, having operated my own auto repair shop. You spend what seems like a small fortune in advertising and then 'hope'. I call that 'hope marketing' because that's all you do. Pay the advertising bill and then hope that you're going to 'maybe' get your money back on that ad. If you're lucky and you get 2 responses, just divide the cost of the ad in half and that's what each one of those new customers just cost you. You can't keep doing that or you'll go broke!
So what is the answer to marketing your Auto Repair Shop? How do you Increase Your Car Counts and survive in business? Up until now you've been chasing that 'shiny' button or some 'made-up-yesterday' strategy that is sold to you with a promise that it will generate fountains of cash. That's not going to happen and if you were lucky enough to purchase one of those programs from the gurus, you found that out.
Okay, so now you really want to know, right? Well here's the way smart auto service shop owners build incredible car counts.
THEY TAKE BABY STEPS: I know, that's not what you wanted to hear, but it's the truth. Rome wasn't built in a day and you're not going to do anything that will make your car count skyrocket overnight. I promise.
When you look at the successful auto repair shop owners, you know they just didn't appear last night. Well, you're not going to come out of the dark and be the 'star' in your market either.
When I say "Take Baby Steps" I am talking about do a bunch of little things that will make a change. No single one of them will make your business flourish. But combined, they will work perfectly.
As an example, you could start with implementing 1) a hand written 'Thank You' card for customers; 2) Create a Customer referral program and entice your customers to send you more; 3) Use 'Bounce Back Coupons' so that your customers return to you for all their auto service needs; 4) Send good customers simple 'Thank You' gifts. They don't have to be much. But think about it. Would you send a customer who just spent $400 at your shop a small gift that costs you $15 in order to help assure he returns to you? I know I would... and I did. It's the personal relationship you form that makes them 'stick' to you as if somebody 'welded' them to your shop.
All of these strategies are low-cost and you can 'tweak' or change them as needed. But combined, they will work to build your business and increase car counts.
What I like best about these types of strategies is that you've got literally no 'out-of-pocket' expense to talk about. That alone is a huge saving over that $1,000 ad that didn't work. But think about it. What's the cost of a box of thank you cards and a small supply of 'thank you gifts'. Add a little postage and you're on your way to formulating your overall marketing strategy for your Auto Repair Shop. You will see a difference in your car counts, I promise!
