Business

I’m going to level with you; there really isn’t some magic way to get the social media ROI you want (and think you need) as a shop owner. Sure, all the data may be there in one form or another, but it can take one heck of a lot of merging and purging to attribute that one sale to that one click on Facebook. Truth is; it’s a process that requires everyone involved to be all in. Yes, I am pointing directly and squarely at YOU.

Regardless of their income, the majority of your customers are very sensitive to price, even if they have been dealing with you for years. During these tough economic times they’re looking for value, and they determine value not by the lowest price, but by what they receive in return.

With the information we’ve attained from every customer panel we have moderated, with what we have learned from our focus groups, and with the feedback we have received from our members, one thing is certain: Customers like to know by 2:00 p.m. at the latest whether or not their vehicle will be finished that day.

Ok, I admit it. Let’s get it out in the open. I am a zombie movie fan. There is something about dead people shuffling around grunting in an expressionless, catatonic state that captivates me. The new TV series, The Walking Dead, is my current favorite show. However, when it comes to catatonic customer service people … well, that’s another story.

If you would like to bring in more customers during these competitive times, and build employee morale all at once, then here’s a guaranteed way to do so that your competitors would never think of.

As I pinball across North America training independent tire and auto service businesses on sales and customer service, it has become clear that many salespeople are under the impression that they must aggressively work to close the sale when interacting with customers, or they will lose business.

It’s that time of year again: tax time. Whether you file as a corporation or sole proprietor, here’s what business owners need to know about tax changes for the 2012 tax year.

People buy when they are ready to buy, not necessarily when you are ready to sell. Don’t get frustrated if an advertisement does not get the response you were looking for. The purpose of advertising and marketing is to maintain a continuous stream of information to your customer. The more you can connect with your customers and other people in your market area, the more you increase your chances of those people coming to you when they are ready to buy.

With vehicles being built better than ever before, and with service intervals continually being extended, you are going to see your customers less often. This means that your service advisors have to be razor sharp when that phone rings. Although there is no silver bullet that will allow you to bring in every first-time caller, there are a number of things you can do to get more appointments. In this article, I would like to share some of the best practices your advisors can use that will bring immediate results.

Running a business is expensive and the capital that you’ve poured into your company can disappear in an instant if a major weather event damages your offices, or if someone in your shop gets injured while on the job.

In the world of auto repair and service, one thing is certain: You are going to lose customers. They will move, no longer have a need for their vehicle, turn to one of your competitors, or buy a new vehicle and then take it to the dealer for service.

The majority of challenges and frustrations experienced by sellers can be avoided with solid information about the pitfalls of selling a business in today’s market. While there are dozens of challenges to overcome, here are the first five of 10 of the most common mistakes that can have drastic repercussions and cause both stress and loss of value on a business sale.