Marketing Ideas Thread

Tex Star Detail

Tex Star Detail

Formerly TexasTB
Ok business minded folks, I am starting a general discussion thread about MARKETING and MARKETING IDEAS.
Let's see what you have, rattle your brains and get some ideas going. What have you found that WORKS for YOU? And what have you found that DOES NOT?

Shoot some ideas off the top of your heads, whether you think they are dumb or not. Chances are, they are NOT! What works in one area, always doesn't work in another, so anything is worth a shot!!!!!!!!
 
The first and best way that I found to market was online. I would put up ads on craigslist and then link them together. Here is an example. That is just one page. Anyway, I build 4 or 5 pages and then go back and link them together so that no matter what someone searches for to find my ad, they are still able to see all the services I offer without leaving craigslist. It has worked out so well for me.

Word of mouth is the next best way. I do that by leaving business cards with my customers to hand out to their friends. I've also been known to leave them with some vinyl stickers with my website URL on it that they have put in their windows to help me out. I'm always surprised how many people do it, but every now and then I'll see one of my stickers in a window and recognize it as a car I detailed.

I am also a huge fan of local car clubs. I detail for the local Integra club and Supra club. I make it a point to organize detailing days and show & shine events for them. That has helped generate referal business a lot.

Having a website helps quite a bit too. You can't always show everything that you can do on a business card, so having a website that they can go to helps. I am (still) working on mine, but it should be done this month>. :)

I'll have to come up with some more. I know I've got some good ideas in here somewhere.
 
Go marketing after 5 pm at businesses. Owners are the last ones there usually.Look for high end cars in front or back of building.Then go get them.
 
Thanks for sharing. I need to get with you with about craigslist. I need a bit of help posting pics and getting a good ad going. Yours looks amazing, real professional. Beats mine that is just words....LOL
 
Anytime. I just fixed the one I linked you to so that it has all five pages linked together. It doesn't take long to post those on craigslist and then change all the links so they work like that. I came up with that toward the end of the season last year and didn't get to use it much, so I am really looking forward to seeing the impact it has this year.
 
I just got started with this a month ago, so far I've only gone as far as posting on Craigslist and link some pictures from Photobucket. That's because I am not dedicated, just 1-3 cars per week is fine...
 
One thing I've learned is that you never want to advertise unless you are prepared for the volume that it will create.
 
If you are willing to give away a free detail, donating a "freebie" to a silent auction for a charity can generate new clients. The best part is that you get to help someone in need at the same time. I have done this a few times, once someone paid $300 for a detail.
 
If you ever what to really get serious contact your local Chamber of Commerce and see what they have to offer. Locally they do packet full of fliers to all the local Chamber members (about 1800 here in a town of 45,000) and most of the Chamber members are in the top 20% income bracket. Our packet ends up in the back room and most my employees will look though the deals.
 
I'm not down with giving away freebies anymore... LOL If I charged for those freebies, I could make one of my mortgage and truck payments.
 
You make a VERY good point Texas! Frebies are a great way to ruin a business. However, if you use a freebie to get your name out to a LOT of potential customers, it pays off in the long run.
 
Fireball said:
If you are willing to give away a free detail, donating a "freebie" to a silent auction for a charity can generate new clients. The best part is that you get to help someone in need at the same time. I have done this a few times, once someone paid $300 for a detail.
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I have done this a few times. Just be careful to specify what the donated detail will be good for, because I have been burned doing this. The winner had a pigged out oxidized conversion van. :(

What a bargain!

Troy
 
I don't really do many freebies anymore, but I'm not above deeply discounting my services in order to win a customer that I know is going to generate lots of referals. I don't discount services unless it is 3 or more vehicles. Everybody has two cars that you can detail, but not everybody will pony up a hundred bucks a car for three or four. If they are willing to give me that kind of business, then I'm not above giving them a break. I typically only knock off about 20% or so, but it is enough to secure the customer and obtain referals off the work. I still don't underestimate the power of the freebie. I'm doing one this week for a neighbor who I know is going to show off his car to all his buddies in his Vette club. The freebie is going to be worth it in the short run easy on this one.
 
Just remember to "Pay It Forward" I giveaway 1 full detail a month to a worthy cause. My way of saying thank you to the big man in the sky.
 
ShineFX said:
Just remember to "Pay It Forward" I giveaway 1 full detail a month to a worthy cause. My way of saying thank you to the big man in the sky.
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I like your way of thinking:bigups By charitable (assuming that's what you mean by worthy cause), is that by way of raffle? Do you work through a large organization like United Way to find your charity or through your church? Do you place a travel limit on the offer? I have considered doing just this along with a local car show which benefits Habitat for Humanity, but there are a number of out of town (and state) participants and I haven't resolved a way to handle it if one of those people won.
 
Any of you guys do clear bra installs? I was considering offering this to my mobile business. . . obviously 3M or a reputable brand. Any thoughts on this? Offering this as well as mobile detailing seems like it could have its marketing benefits. :thanks
 
I know people who do that. It is a really profitable job. Low overhead and you can charge upwards of $500 for the install. Good installers only take a couple hours to do the whole front end on a car. I would strongly suggest getting training on how to do it properly though. They are not the easiest things in the world to put on. If you screw up when you are almost finished, then you get to throw it away and start all over again. It would be profitable to be a certified ClearBra or similar company installer because you could offer the services at car dealerships and places like that. You just have to pony up the money to get the training and be certified and then it is all you. I believe Dwayne was going through that process at one point. Maybe Troy knows more about this aspect of the industry and will pitch in.
 
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