Is there a problem with local business competition? Advice please.

8

89gt-stanger

New member
On another forum I am a member of, there is a specific detailer that is know for doing great work, and his work is actually very nice. He is a paid advertiser. I have been building up my skills and business for about 4 years. Within the last 6 months, I have really started up the business and now have many customers.



Anyways, in one of the threads, another member asked how to contact the admin because he had a question, and could not get ahold of him. I posted asking for pricing information about becoming a paid advertiser. The other detailer posted "Wow. Just wow!" I asked, and evidentally he has a big problem with this.



I have posted work of mine before, not trying to advertise, but showing people how to do things.



On that site, there are 3 car dealerships and 4 performance shops that advertise and compete against each other.



Is it wrong for me to advertise? What should I tell this guy? I am sure that the mod will allow me to advertise, but I think this guy is going to pull s***. This site will allow me to gain a lot of business. I have been a member for 2 years.



Any advice?



Thanks!
 
Nothing better than a little competition haha.



I wouldn't offend anyone by advertising without being a paying sponsor, but if you do it the right way and according to the forum's rules, it doesn't matter if it's only you two or 10 other detailers, you're paying money to get your name out there, and money turns the world round and round and round and...
 
lecchilo said:
Nothing better than a little competition haha.



I wouldn't offend anyone by advertising without being a paying sponsor, but if you do it the right way and according to the forum's rules, it doesn't matter if it's only you two or 10 other detailers, you're paying money to get your name out there, and money turns the world round and round and round and...
Click to expand...



Definitely. I feel its like a slap in the face if someone has to pay for a service, and the other person who is benefitting from the smae thing is not paying.
 
you are not advertising the same as the other detailer, therefore you shouldnt have to pay!



I went through this on another site and I finally gave up after 4 emails trying to get an explanation out of the mods! None was given! basically I chalk it up to a certain detailer getting pissed I was tapping into his market because I put out some quality work and was getting referrals from it and on the same site!



I later find out that this is the norm on that site and that is why other people has insisted that I go to another site instead which is more laid back...same market, different site!
 
89gt-stanger said:
I have posted work of mine before, not trying to advertise, but showing people how to do things.
Click to expand...



I don't think you did anything wrong but it should be pointed out that if it is known that you work for money any kind of posting your work could be taken as a form of advertising. I understand it isn't an explicit offer but it is a way of establishing yourself as a resource and a way to position yourself as a leader in the field. More of a back door way to advertise.
 
toyotaguy said:
you are not advertising the same as the other detailer, therefore you shouldnt have to pay!



I went through this on another site and I finally gave up after 4 emails trying to get an explanation out of the mods! None was given! basically I chalk it up to a certain detailer getting pissed I was tapping into his market because I put out some quality work and was getting referrals from it and on the same site!



I later find out that this is the norm on that site and that is why other people has insisted that I go to another site instead which is more laid back...same market, different site!
Click to expand...





Thank you for the reply.



MichaelM said:
I don't think you did anything wrong but it should be pointed out that if it is known that you work for money any kind of posting your work could be taken as a form of advertising. I understand it isn't an explicit offer but it is a way of establishing yourself as a resource and a way to position yourself as a leader in the field. More of a back door way to advertise.
Click to expand...





Is that not what goes on, on this site every day though?:think:
 
Whatever you do, try not to get involved with on-line drama. If he's hostile,

then let it be. Take the high road. Those types tend to do themselves in...
 
if this is the site dfwstangs.net don`t even bother , is waist of time , they have a favorite detailer and is not worth it to post there.

so... don`t waist you time and money
 
David Fermani said:
Yeah, don't ever try competing with anyone advertising $139 details.
Click to expand...



well , is no drama , are so many ways to advertise , plus quality makes the difference , so focus on that and you will succeed !
 
axel_ny said:
if this is the site dfwstangs.net don`t even bother , is waist of time , they have a favorite detailer and is not worth it to post there.

so... don`t waist you time and money
Click to expand...



That is the site. I have been a member for a while, and people trust me. I have had a few people on there have me do aluminum polishing for them. (I am great with it.) I feel though that he has made a solid customer base, and the people on there are not going to budge. Oh well.



axel_ny said:
well , is no drama , are so many ways to advertise , plus quality makes the difference , so focus on that and you will succeed !
Click to expand...



There are a few ways to advertise that I know of.



1. I give each customer a few business cards to pass around. I did a wash/wax and chrome polish on a Harley yesterday, and the owner asked for several cards because he is oging to pass them around in his bike club and strongly advise using me for detailing bikes.



2. I really do not know what else to do, just let word of mouth work itself I guess?



3. Newspaper. Has anyone had success with this?



Please, let me in on some ideas.



Thank God for Autopia.org and the members!:woohoo:
 
89gt-stanger said:
Please, let me in on some ideas.



Thank God for Autopia.org and the members!:woohoo:
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if you guys in the USA have this via USPS, but with Canada Post here, we can do what's called "un-addressed ad-mail". Basically you take a flyer that meets the maximum size, weight and dimensions, you pick what letter carrier routes you'd like to have the flyers sent to, and they get delivered to all homes on those routes, along with that residence's normal mail.



Basically a flyer in your mailbox mixed in with your regular, addressed mail.



I just sent out 1500 pieces and already got a booking within 24 hours of them hitting homes.



Just remember, you need to have a call to action on there as well. For example, "book by August 1st, 2009 and save 10% off any service !". Without a call to action, people will probably look at the flyer and put it down, with the intention to look at it again later (although they most likely never will). What you want to achieve is someone who looks at your flyer, sees the call to action, and then immediately makes the decision to use your services or not. If they decide to, they may not call for a few days, but they'll put the flyer on their fridge, or make a note in their agenda / BlackBerry to contact you.



Not sure how you're price structured, so your call to action may have to be a bit unique. My services are priced by the package (in order to compete where I live, I have no real choice, as the only other 2 shops in town are package-based), so it's super easy for me to make a simple decision on what my call to action is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top