Running an auto repair shop in this day and age is not an easy task.
The competition in the auto repair industry is growing every day and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to make your auto shop stand out and encourage customers to avail of auto repair services.
In this guide, we are doing to discuss some of the most effective strategies you can deploy for your auto repair business to not only retain existing customers but also target new potential customers.
It’s time to utilize an auto repair marketing strategy that is going to catapult your auto repair shop business into success!
But first, let’s start with a quick feasibility study on whether the formulation of an auto repair shop marketing plan or strategy is worth the hassle!
Why Do You Need a Marketing Strategy for Your Auto Repair Shop?
When it comes to marketing, it doesn’t matter whether you’re an individual or a business, everyone needs to reach out to potential customers.
When it comes to marketing, auto repair shops can benefit from investing in different types of marketing strategies.
But it’s not uncommon to wonder if automotive repair shop marketing ideas are worth the time, money, and effort.
So why do you need to opt for marketing strategies for your auto repair shop?
Auto repair business is a service-driven business that focuses on providing top-quality car repair and maintenance services to encourage customers to keep coming back for more.
A few top reasons why auto repair marketing strategies can really help your auto repair shop include:
- Helps you derive loyalty from existing customers
- Helps you grow your auto shop’s footprint beyond local customers and acquire new customers
- Helps you establish a competitive advantage over other local businesses in the auto shop space
- Increases your auto repair shop’s brand awareness
One of the greatest benefits of using auto repair shop marketing is that you will see an increase in your car counts owing to your investment in developing stronger customer relationships.
If done properly, auto repair shop marketing can yield a high return on investment and lead to an expanded base of new customers. This can help you in scaling your auto shop and boosting profits.
As a business owner, you should always seek out ways to expand your auto repair shop and utilize the best marketing efforts in doing so.
Now that we understand the benefits of marketing efforts for auto repair shops, let’s head to some of the top marketing ideas and strategies that auto repair shops can use to yield higher profits.
The Best 6 Marketing Ideas for Auto Repair Shops To Keep Customers
Some of the strategies that we are going to discuss are excellent ways to keep existing customers of your auto shop engaged. But they will also come particularly in handy for targeting new customers.
1. Set up a Car Advice Blog
Operating in the automotive industry in this day and age means you have to stay abreast with the latest marketing trends.
Setting up a car advice blog on your website can be a great place to keep existing customers engaged with your business. Setting up a blog about auto repair and vehicle services will drive traffic to the website of your auto shop.
By providing valuable information, you can engage both existing and new customers. To get the most out of this strategy, it’s advised that you invest in search engine optimization.
You can probably hire a specialist, who can deploy search engine optimization practices.
This will help in ranking your blog and website in the top search engine results. For example, by doing blogs on top auto repair strategies and using SEO, your website can rank on Google which can generate leads for repair services.
2. Invest in Social Media Marketing
Social media has emerged as a powerful marketing tool to add in your auto repair marketing plan. Using social media platforms should definitely be on the top of your list of marketing ideas for your auto shop.
You can start by setting up social media accounts on top platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. It’s a great idea to showcase reviews from your local customers on social media.
Apart from customer testimonials, you can also feature coupons and special offers on your social media handles. For example, on an important holiday, you can offer a free oil change to local customers.
You would be surprised to know how little things like a free oil change or discounted service can go a long way in helping your auto shop stand out in the auto repair space.
Strategies like a free oil change will pique the consumer’s interest in dropping by your auto shop. This is a great chance to start building your relationship with local customers and beyond!
Draft creative and quirky marketing messages, customer loyalty programs, and referral programs that can be featured on your social media.
Such marketing strategies can also challenge auto shop owners to do better. Social media nowadays also offer the opportunity to run advertisements which can also drive more traffic to the business page of your auto shop.
3. Opt For Coupon Advertising
Coupon advertising coupons offer a low cost but high exposure form of marketing in addition to social media. It can attract new customers to your auto repair business and encourage them to avail of your services.
The type of auto repair marketing is very effective in driving sales. The kind of services you can offer under the banner of coupon advertising include, but are not limited to:
- Half-off oil change
- Get a free oil change when you bring in your vehicle for an emission/safety test
- Get a free oil change when you bring in your vehicle for a service that exceeds a certain dollar amount
- Free tire rotation when you bring in your vehicle to be serviced
- The certain dollar amount of a specific service (e.g. 10 dollars off a tune-up)
You need to make sure that coupon advertising finds its way to the right customers as well. For example, online marketing to advertise your coupons is a good idea. You can also use social media to advertise your coupon plans.
4. Customer Referral Program
You know what they say when it comes to marketing, nothing can beat word of mouth marketing! Customer referral programs are useful because they are also a form of word-of-mouth marketing.
How referral programs work is by leveraging current customers. You can partner with your customers and ask them to refer your auto service shop services in their social circle in return for discounted services.
You can also allow your customers to use online marketing like social media and their own profiles to get referrals. This can help your auto repair company in standing out from other local businesses and competition in the auto repair space.
5. Customer Loyalty Program
No one can say no to a free service. Customer loyalty programs allow customers to get free services and show them an appreciation for their loyalty to your auto repair company.
A good loyalty program will encourage your customers to keep using your auto repair service and help you build a long-term relationship that offers a direct value.
The best way to implement a loyalty program is to treat it as a marketing tool and not as a reward program. You want to encourage customers to visit your auto body shop but your primary goal should be to increase sales.
To get started with your own loyalty program, you can start by implementing a rewards system.
In many cases, customers who have been loyal to your auto body shop are already receiving rewards, whether it’s for the service they’ve received or for simply returning to your auto shop on a regular basis.
6. Service Reminders
As auto shop owners, it’s always a great idea to drop service reminders for your customers. It can be the little stickers on the windshields of customers that you can add to remind them to keep coming back.
Or you could have your business page flyers stacked and handed out to customers. You can use digital stickers, emails, texts, or social media direct messages to remind your customers of your auto shop.
If your business provides discounts, then make sure that these are prominently displayed on your website. You could also promote your services by linking to your website and blog from the page where your service is being advertised.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, there are a lot of ways to increase business for auto shops using effective marketing. The more auto shops invest in marketing, the higher can be ROI provided that you are using a good plan and effective marketing channels.
These marketing efforts include everything from advertising, SEO, social media, and so on. The more you try, the more effective you’ll be at attracting customers to your auto repair shop.
The tips above will allow you to get started on a plan to expand your auto repair business and increase profits.