Using Insurance Photos to Market Your Shop

[Joe Marconi]

Years back I used to take vehicle photos for insurance companies. Back then I did everything (actually too much) and eventually gave it up, mostly because it only paid $4.00 per photo and I had my hands fill running the shop, doing most of the repairs. I had to fill out a form, take photos of the vehicle and maintain a file. I know today it has to be different with technology.

 

Does anyone do these car photos for insurance companies and do you use it as a marketing tool?

[Spence]

We have more then one digital camera at our shop. Plenty of photos and yes I do use them to market our shop. It goes a long way to help show why something cost so much when a customer comes in to pay a bill. Put their vehicle on a computer monitor with some pictures of what it took to do the service on their vehicle goes a long way. We also email pictures to customers from time to time to help sell jobs. It's easy and works great.

I don't do the photos as much for insurance companies unless I need to make a point or cover my ass.

[Gary A]

Joe,

 

With my new office help I am going to try doing insurance pictures. I will let you know how it goes. The name of the company that we wil be doing it with is Carco.

 

Gary

[Gary A]

Bringing in a lot of traffic. So far one good job and a new customer as well. Also the customers are usually driving later model vehicles and are most likely good leads for me.

 

 

[Joe Marconi]

I started doinng photo insurance inspections for two months now for CARCO. It gives us the chance to meet new people and showcase who we are and our shop. It's hard to tell at this point if we can convert these people to us. We have sold state inspections, oil changes and wipers on some of these cars by just letting people know that these services are due. Plus, we ask each customer if we can add them to our data base and send them promotions. Most say yes.

 

The way I see it, anything that brings new people to your shop is a win-win. You do the man power to handle the added work, don't think you can do it yourself.