6 Marketing Tactics To Improve Your Auto Repair Shop Business
You’ve just set up shop, excited to provide your car repair skills to your local community.
Then, a few weeks later, a dreadful realization strikes you: business is slow. You’re getting some inquiries, but not nearly as many as you’d like. Definitely not at the rate of success you were hoping for.
We get it, standing out in the sea of competition can be difficult, especially for newer businesses.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to market your auto repair shop and make it the go-to destination for car owners in your area.
Here are a few marketing tactics to give your business the boost it needs.
1. Get Involved in Your Local Community
One of the most underrated ways to market an auto repair shop is by getting involved with the local community. Sponsor a little league team, host a car show or partner with a charity. Anything that puts your name in front of potential customers could be a great first step toward increasing brand awareness, as long as it benefits the community too.
Not only will community marketing help get your business name out there, but it will also show potential customers that you’re a business that cares about more than just making a profit. This can provide you with some great PR opportunities and local collaborations down the line.
2. Make Use of Social Media
Social media is a powerful marketing tool that can be used to reach a large audience with relatively little effort. Most businesses have some presence on social media, but not all businesses are utilizing it to its full potential.
To market your auto repair shop on social media, start by creating profiles on the platforms where your target audience is most active. Then, post engaging content and videos that will encourage people to follow you and visit your business. You can also use social media ads to target potential customers in your area.
3. Use Traditional Marketing Methods
While digital marketing is important, don’t forget about traditional marketing methods as well. An auto repair shop is the perfect type of business to take advantage of this since not many people have go-to auto repair shops—they mostly just go to the most convenient spot that’s top-of-mind!
You can send out postcards or flyers to promote your business or even offer coupons or discounts alongside direct mail letters to entice people to visit your shop. You can also harness the power of print media marketing by placing ads on newspapers or billboards.
4. Get Listed in Local Directories
When promoting a car repair business, listing your business on local directories is another reliable way to get your name out there. Putting your site on listings like Enji makes it easier for potential customers to find your business when they’re searching for auto repair shops in the area.
One viable approach is to create a list of the top directories in your area, then claim and update your business listings on each one. Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are accurate. Then, include a link to your website so potential customers can learn more about your business.
One of the most important directories you should choose is Google My Business. This is a free listing platform that allows your business to appear in Google Maps and Google Search.
5. Encourage Users to Leave Reviews
Social proof is a powerful marketing tool, and one of the best ways to harness its power is by encouraging customers to leave reviews on your business website, a local directory, your social media page, or your GMB listing.
When customers leave positive reviews, it helps increase confidence in on-the-fence customers. To encourage customers to leave reviews, send them an email or SMS requesting one. You can also incentivize them by offering a discount on their next visit after they leave an honest review of your company.
Don’t forget to respond to every review and build a relationship! If someone leaves a bad review, don’t delete it. Instead, respond to it professionally and turn it into an opportunity to show potential customers your side of the story. This class act shows you’re willing to take responsibility for your mistakes and that you care about providing a good customer experience.
6. Offer a Rewards and Referrals Program
About 83% of customers trust their friends and family’s recommendations when it comes to finding a new service. So, if you want to get more business, one of the best things you can do is encourage customers to refer your business to their friends and family.
You can take full advantage of this method by offering a referral program. For example, you could offer a discount to customers who refer someone to your business. You can also offer a loyalty program where customers can earn points every time they visit your shop. These points can then be redeemed for discounts or free services.
Both of these programs will encourage customers to keep coming back to your business and bring new ones in, keeping the wheels of your business turning.