Running an auto repair shop is not an easy task. It requires unmatched skill and precision, and a lot of time and dedication. All of the work you put into running an auto repair shop probably means that you don’t have as much time for marketing your business. 

However, marketing is an essential part of running a business. It is the only way you can actually make use of your skills and ensure that people trust you with their vehicles and keep coming back. Other aspects of the business also need supervision but you can keep track of your expenses and profits by using accounting software like FreshBooks.

If you’re stumped when it comes to marketing your auto repair shop, don’t worry. We’ve got some out of the box and effective strategies for you to do your promotions. Let’s take a look!

Hand out flyers in your neighbourhood

A lot of your customers are either going to be people who live close to your shop or travellers looking to get a tune up before they hit the road. Most likely, the people who come to your shop regularly will be the former. This is why you need to let the people in your locale know that you exist and that they can avail your services. 

This way, in case of an emergency, they’ll be able to think of you and come to you to get their vehicles fixed. 

The best way to get some exposure in your area is through flyers. There are a couple of places you can distribute flyers:

• In your local park
• Outside movie theaters
• Outside grocery stores
• By going door to door 

If you have no idea how to design an effective flyer, don’t worry. PosterMyWall has an incredible flyer maker that you can use to choose a template, customise it, and create something amazing. 

Build a good website

Online marketing is crucial to the process of gaining traction and standing out from your competitors. You can use a website builder like Wix or WordPress to make your website easily. 

Your website should be a one stop shop for anyone looking to find out more about your services. Create multiple landing pages, each one highlighting a special type of service. Also, include a page to contact you and book appointments. You can even add a personal touch by dedicating a page to introduce yourself and your employees, and to tell people a little bit about how you started your business. 

Ask existing customers to recommend you to their friends

Word of mouth is a great way to get some new customers. These days, almost everyone has some kind of a vehicle that requires a tune up every now and then. So try to get to those people through your existing customers. 

Once you finish a job, ask the customer to refer your business to their friends and family. You can even give them flyers or business cards to hand out in their network. If you do a good enough job and if you have a good rapport with the customer, chances are they will gladly abide by your request.

You can even put up customer testimonials on your website. Just take a picture of a happy and willing customer, ask them to share their experience with you, and put it up on a dedicated landing page on your website. 

Offer exciting deals and promotions

Entice new customers to give your auto repair shop a chance by offering a small free service if they spend a certain amount of money at your shop. For instance, if they come for a tune up, they’ll get a free car wash. Or something similar. Just make sure that whatever free service you offer doesn’t end up becoming a huge loss for you. 

You can also offer deals and packages that you can then advertise via flyers and your website. Everyone loves a good deal and if you offer one that you know a lot of people will like, it will do wonders for your business and get some new customers into your shop. 

Leverage social media to promote

Like we said before, online marketing is a great way to make some real headway with your marketing. And social media is where it’s at. You’ll find your target audience on social media, and if you play your cards right, they’ll be able to find you. 

Use Facebook and Instagram to promote your deals and promotions, and your shop in general. Here are some tips for a successful social media marketing campaign:

• Engage with your audience by replying to DMs, comments, and by asking your followers for their insights and opinions 
• Post engaging content — for instance, you can repurpose the flyers you design and post them on social media
• Establish trust and credibility by posting videos of your employees at work in the form of a video collage with the assistance of a video collage maker 
• Highlight your special deals and invite people to give your services a try

Final thoughts

This mix of online and offline strategies will definitely bring people to your door. From here, your quality of services will take over. So start your marketing campaign today and watch your business boom!

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