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Ideas for Marketing for Brand New Shop/Location?


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Lets assume you are opening a brand new shop. You are not moving shops so you don't have a customer base to start with. To get off the ground running, what are some key marketing pieces, campaigns or elements you would implement (or have implemented).

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

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If the site was in a less trafficked area, I would print up some materials, EDDM, and run events like car clinics and such. Also, I would sponsor some little league teams and school events.

 

Also, on social media, location based advertising is pulling well for me, you have to make some compelling ads though, some fear based ads also work well.

Edited by HarrytheCarGeek
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If the site was in a less trafficked area, I would print up some materials, EDDM, and run events like car clinics and such. Also, I would sponsor some little league teams and school events.

 

Also, on social media, location based advertising is pulling well for me, you have to make some compelling ads though, some fear based ads also work well.

 

 

Thanks Harry, can you elaborate on what ads on social media have worked for you?

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Thanks Harry, can you elaborate on what ads on social media have worked for you?

 

Sure, on FB we run a location based ad for failed inspection, picture of a rejected sticker and a cop giving out a ticket to a woman, the demographics are for 24 to 64, male and female. Spending $300 a week pulling in about 35 to 50 new customers. Average RO is $354. Right now our return on those ads are $2 to 1 spent.

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Harry, do you mean 35-50 new leads per week?

 

No. Customers, they are basically already sold when they call or come in. Rejection rate is about 13% mostly due to budget and condition of vehicle. Our shops are in North Jersey and is very dense population wise, like NYC or Long Island.

 

Clearly this is not sustainable, we have been running it since November of last year, I am sure it will grow stale in some months.

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No. Customers, they are basically already sold when they call or come in. Rejection rate is about 13% mostly due to budget and condition of vehicle. Our shops are in North Jersey and is very dense population wise, like NYC or Long Island.

 

Clearly this is not sustainable, we have been running it since November of last year, I am sure it will grow stale in some months.

 

 

I am just trying to make sense of the numbers. If you are running a $300 campaign a week and have a 2 to 1 return you should be seeing $600 for your ROI correct? if your ARO on these vehicle is around $350 then you are seeing 1.7 cars per week?

 

or are you seeing 35-50 cars per week for an ARO of $350? That would mean for $300 you are seeing a minimum of $12,220 per week which is a hell of an ROI!

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I am just trying to make sense of the numbers. If you are running a $300 campaign a week and have a 2 to 1 return you should be seeing $600 for your ROI correct? if your ARO on these vehicle is around $350 then you are seeing 1.7 cars per week?

 

or are you seeing 35-50 cars per week for an ARO of $350? That would mean for $300 you are seeing a minimum of $12,220 per week which is a hell of an ROI!

 

Yes, we did over 200 inspections in February. and billed over $90K, so yes, those are pulling really well for now.

 

Now, on the other hand, March 1st, I spent $20K in EDDM post cards on LOF and Brakes specials. Guess how many coupon redemptions? Not a one!

 

EDIT: Those inspections attributed to FB., EDDM mailing went out March 1st.

Edited by HarrytheCarGeek
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Yes, we did over 200 inspections in February. and billed over $90K, so yes, those are pulling really well for now.

 

Now, on the other hand, March 1st, I spent $20K in EDDM post cards on LOF and Brakes specials. Guess how many coupon redemptions? Not a one!

 

EDIT: Those inspections attributed to FB., EDDM mailing went out March 1st.

 

 

those 200 inspections were for sure from your FB campaign?

 

I am wondering how adaptable this is for other services. I don't perform state inspections at my shop nor do I really desire to. I do however like the idea if it will work to pull in other services. Maybe a check engine light check? I don't know.

 

What steps did you take to advertise on FB? There are a few different options. Awesome that you are getting such a great ROI.

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those 200 inspections were for sure from your FB campaign?

 

 

Yes, the state is running a very aggressive pedestrian safety campaign that has help them snag lot's of people with expired inspections.

 

https://www.google.com/?ion=1&espv=2#q=nj+pedestrian+campaign&tbm=nws

 

This is the only reason that my ad for safety inspection is doing so well.

 

Let me get back to you on about FB.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         5 comments
      I recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
      Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
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      Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
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