Marketing

Your customers are far more likely to believe what they see than what they hear, because being able to visualize a problem and solution provides them with verifiable information that makes their decisions easier.

In the July/August 2011 issue, we reviewed the value of developing a brand for your company, built on the “promise of an experience.” Oftentimes, people assume that a brand is just a logo used on marketing materials. A brand goes far beyond having a logo.

This article is the first of a multi-part series where we will discuss shop signage and image. We’ll talk about what message you’re communicating without even uttering a word to your customer. We will look at ways for you to improve on the message you’re sending and help you set your shop apart from your competition.

Value has always been a powerful motivator in marketing and sales, but with the uncertainty in today’s tough economic times, an emphasis on value is more important than ever before. Although you’ll find many definitions, I believe we can all agree that in the mind of your customers, value means getting the most bang for their buck.

My 70-year-old mother started texting before I did. This probably sounds strange given that I’m the tech geek in the family and “Web” is my middle name.

Amy Porterfield, co-author of “Facebook Marketing All-in-One for Dummies,” presented a recent SEMA webinar regarding five proven strategies to grow your fan base and create a community on Facebook.

During tough economic times you need to make the most of every opportunity that you have at your disposal to generate more sales. Follow these five tips to convert more first-time callers into happy customers.

Institutional advertising programs, like print media, TV and radio, and electronic media, all have their place. Clearly they can help you keep the name of your company top of mind with your customers, which, in the world of advertising, is a good place to be. But regardless of how much name awareness your company carries, one thing is for certain: You sell a service, not a product.

Part 1 of this article in the July/August issue discussed how great customer service is not as easily defined as having clean restrooms. Customer service is a tangible, measurable attribute, so your customer always decides whether or not you’re delivering exceptional customer service.

The Internet is often referred to as “The Wild, Wild West” because technology is changing so rapidly, it’s virtually impossible to police content, images and business practices. Well, the web just got a heck of a lot wilder in the local search space, so here is what you need to know to protect your shop’s reputation.

If you’re looking to increase your repair shop’s exposure in your local community, a cause-related event is virtually guaranteed to get some much-desired exposure, help you earn the trust and respect of your current and potential customers – and, not to mention, help out a great cause.

Imagine choosing a car repair shop. The shop’s ad caught your eye in the newspaper by the clean, attractive look. You checked it out on the shop website, and not only found easy directions to its location, but also saw pictures of the people who worked there, along with a sparkling clean shop.