marketing ideas

Go to a restaurant where professional frequent, just look around a business park you will find lots. All those places encourage patrons to drop business cards ina fish bowl.



WHAT A RESOURCE



You can offer the restaurant ot pay for the prize they are offering in return for all the cards BOOM direct mail campaign



OR you could approach these places about becoming the prize, that's right let them give away the deatail you'll end up doing at some guys office and that will great exposure.



Advertise in the weekly church flyer VERY cost effective.

Support a Little League team, nothing like kids running around with your name on their back.
 
Read the article that is on the Guide to Detailing CD that comes from Autopia. There is an article by Joe Kennedy that I found very helpful and he covers alot of marketing techniques. It is in the Detailing for Profit section.
 
When times get a little slow I will do a demo, just a wash and dry and gel up the tires to make it look good. As soon as someone pulls up and wants some info I seal the deal and tell them I can do it today and will be over in a few minutes to detail their vehicle.



It really works. Try it soemtime. I have picked up 2 to 3 vehicles in one day and sold on details. Some of them are now frequesnt customers of mine.



Hope this helps.
 
Offer a demo basic detail, nothing fancy. You would be amazed what you might pick-up. When people see your work they will come and get a flyer and ask some questions.



Then you have to sell them. Try it.
 
I had this idea the other day as I was thinking about how concerned customers are with results, no matter what the industry. Most people don't care about brand, process, or anything, just the bottom line results. The product, process, or service that gives them the results they want is what they buy again and again. Also, many people are very visual and want to see what you can do for them in a real fashion, not just a fancy presentation with big words. Using those observations and the idea of a demonstration, I thought of the following marketing idea:



The idea is similar to Meguiar's Extreme Makeovers, but with a twist. The basic idea is still the same: take a junky looking car and make it look awesome to demonstrate the ability of your products and services. The twist is to only do half of the vehicle. When I say half, I am envisioning splitting the car in half from front to back. Do a complete detail of interior, exterior, engine bay, wheel wells, wheels, etc. on the driver's side half of the vehicle. Then leave the passenger's side half of the vehicle as it was. Keep up the detailing maintenaince on the driver's side half, but only wash the passenger's side half exterior. I know this would be hard for an Autopian to do, but we have to understand that most of our customers are not Autopians, but rather image conscious consumers who want a certain look. The display vehicle, which you could use as your daily work vehicle, would sell your services. You could have potential customers run their hand across the finish of the hood to experience oxidation and how it can be cured. Also, your ability to tackle water spots, cobwebbing, scratches, etc. would be on display in a side by side comparision (before my services, after my services). Of course a dark colored vehicle would demonstrate these differences the best.



I think the idea came to me when I was driving along side one of those "Geek Squad" Beetles on the highway and it piqued my curiousity as to who the "Geek Squad" was and what service they provided. For those who haven't seen these Beetles, they have a old school cop car paint job with black sides and white middle. Anywho, that's enough of my rambling about marketing ideas for a company I don't even have. ;)
 
This is not intended as a flame or insult but...maybe your flyer sucks?



If you want high quality customers then make it a high quality flyer. Color print with either a before and after shot of an amazing transformation or one of Mike P's infamous "half the hood" shots.
 
I tried the flyer route where I live and it was worthless. You had to compete with everyone else advertising and unless you were willing to put up another flyer every day, they got replaced by someone else's advertisement. That and the vandalism factor finally convinced me to look in other directions.
 
Another idea would be an extension of what has been discussed. Find the busiest gas station in town or on a big highway where all the expensive owners drive or live. Then set up the portable awning and detail a car. Peopl may drop by to see what's up and ask questions. Pay the station owner a cut on any business closed that day and stay honest. In Northern Mass we have a local chain that has about 20 stations (maybe more) and they are packed packed packed!



Target Target Target: doctors, lawyers, fleets, country clubs, realtors...who has money or who needs to have a clean car...



Or personalize. 20% discount for tenants of some medical building. 20% discount for doctors members of the Northern Mass Medical Society. Make them feel like they are specifically getting a deal.



Chambers of Commerce...20% off for all chamber members



etc, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top