Placing cards/notes on "needy" cars

[imported_ajbarnes]

here's the thing, most people don't notice buffer swirls or understand what they are. they will look at the car and think "what an *******, there isn't a scratch on this beauty!"



and honestly, it seems a bit arrogant to go around dropping cards on cars. i think i would be pretty pissed if someone did that to me.

I agree. If you think about doing this type of marketing from a business person's (auto detailer) point of view, then it sounds like a pretty good idea, but from your average consumer's point of view........



Due to a lot of the negative image mobile detailing and auto detailing in general receives, I think it's best that we stick to marketing this type of service traditionally, if you want your company to be perceived in high regard.



When I first started my business 5 years ago, I did all kinds of advertising. Things like tossing flyer's in bags with stones on people's driveways , leaving flyer's/cards on vehicle windows, soliciting at stores and offices, etc. Because of the lack of success, and the damage I was doing to my image, all of my business now comes from word of mouth, online yellow page advertising, my website, and setting up "contracts" with property manager's at big office parks. Doing it that way is much more professional and respectable.



All of this is just my opinion, I'm just offering some advice based on my own experiences.

 

[getcha]

Funny thing is I actually have more work than I know what to do with...but when I've eyed the perfect "project" car, I've dropped my card and made sure to hand write a note with it to let people know I wan't mass distrubuting...nevertheless, it doesn't work. But still, on the ones that had buffer swirls, I assumed most had made an attempt to improve their paint by way of detail, and I guess I just figured that by my telling them how I can fix it, and fix it right that they'd go for it. Not.

RAG, do you remember at all what you wrote on the card? Im curious to what worked and what didnt.

 

[AP2TUDE]

I have tried doing this a bunch just in the town where I live, and I haven't gotten anything for it.



I have placed a business card on the same black CLS55 AMG at the mall probably ten times. I write a different, creative, note on the back of my card each time. Finally the guy called me and said that he already has someone. I told him based on what I saw of his car that the person is doing an unsatisfactory job and he said he didn't care. It was cheap and his car was clean, he didn't care about scratches or having it perfect.



That conversation right there ended that marketing campaign for me. I just don't think that you can really net the right type of customers that way. The major benefit of word of mouth is that you get people who all have the same expectations. The references you get from current customers who care about their car's finish, are other people who really care about their cars finish and not people just looking for a bargain on a "clean" car.

 

[RAG]

I stuck a note on a new BMW that had swirl marks on it, commenting on how nice his car was and that if he wanted to get the obvious buffer swirl (think Black 7 series, looked pretty new) fixed, I would be happy to help. He called, I fixed it.



Was really just a random thing, but he called me.

See...I thought just once somebody would be smart enough to say to themselves..."gosh, if this person is saying he can pnermanently fix that weird buffer pattern on my new black car, I ought to give him a call and see what's involved." But nooo...

 

[RAG]

I agree. I quit. I'm just going to let customers who know and care come to me from here on out.

I have tried doing this a bunch just in the town where I live, and I haven't gotten anything for it.



I have placed a business card on the same black CLS55 AMG at the mall probably ten times. I write a different, creative, note on the back of my card each time. Finally the guy called me and said that he already has someone. I told him based on what I saw of his car that the person is doing an unsatisfactory job and he said he didn't care. It was cheap and his car was clean, he didn't care about scratches or having it perfect.



That conversation right there ended that marketing campaign for me. I just don't think that you can really net the right type of customers that way. The major benefit of word of mouth is that you get people who all have the same expectations. The references you get from current customers who care about their car's finish, are other people who really care about their cars finish and not people just looking for a bargain on a "clean" car.

 

[chips-b-gone]

I have done the same thing that most of you have done by placing flyers on cars in parking lots. I get approxately 1 call for every 50 or 75. I read this in some marketing book that people will be more responsive if the flyer is placed in the correct place on the car instead of on the windshield.



On the windshield it IS considered another piece of junkmail. I found I get a better response if I place the flyer between the trim and the window on the drivers side or roll it up and place it in the door handle.



Another thing I also do is to post flyers with tearoffs at the bottom with the business name, Phone number and service at the bottom. I rotate the service between detailing, windshield repair and Headlight restoration. I post these flyers at banks, supermarkets with public bulleting boards, and Dairy Queens in the area. Car lovers hang out at dairy queen on Fridays.

 

[1ShinyCar]

Thought this might be helpful given that I found this thread while I was trying to find an Autopian Detailer in my area. Like suggested previously in this thread, a website is important. I agree with the previous posters suggestion to have before/after shots as well as some information on the site as to what to look for in a detailer.



If you are distributing the cards, reference the site. Perhaps more importantly, whether you distribute cards or not, make sure your site comes up when your potential customers are on Google, Yahoo or their search engine of choice.



I found 3 potential detailers because I frequent this site and I limited my search to the autopia.org/forum domain. Most won't be doing that. So, make sure that if someone types 'detailer', 'your city', 'your area', your site is configured to show up on the first page and that it represents you well.



Just remember, while you are trying to find customers, people are trying to find you - a skilled detailer. Finding a new detailer is similiar to finding a new dentist or chiropractor. You don't want just anyone drilling your teeth or adjusting your neck and you don't want just anyone putting a Makita on your paint. Pictures and thoughtful content will make people comfortable with you and excited to be your customer before you even meet them.



Good Luck