Marketing does not have to be as tasking and high-cost as you think. Assess what you can afford to reach the customers in your area, and put a marketing plan in play. You could invest in a company smart phone or tablet to help automate your social media and assign an administrative employee to collect information about your customers online.
If you do not optimize your shop’s marketing potential, you can miss the moving target and lose potential customers. Other ideas to consider are surveying your customer base to find out what they want and need from your business and keeping track of your competitors’ online marketing strategies.
A solid marketing plan keeps you connected to existing, past and potential customers. When a customer comes into your shop, you, or your front desk will greet them with a smile and engage in conversation to show them that you care, right? If you expressed these same in-person mannerisms that make your shop unique and implemented a marketing plan that includes personal emails, short videos, and friendly photos – just imagine the impression you could make online.
The first thing you need to do is make sure you are easy to find online. This has to do with your site’s search engine optimization. Easy ways to help optimize your site is to have a regular flow of content by posting short blurbs or tips on your site. You can also help drive traffic to your page by sending out online newsletters or developing a strong social presence, both with links leading back to your site. Yelp is also a great, under-utilized tool for shop owners that can greatly increase your exposure. Whether you employ only one or a variety of these methods, a solid marketing plan will result in stronger brand recognition for your shop.
What should you be posting on social media? Keep in mind that what you post to your shop’s account does not always have to be relevant to your business. You can see what is trending in your area and promote events within your community. For example, if there’s a car show near town next Saturday, you might want to share a post about it on Facebook. Think about things you would want to see on social media. It’s exciting to read trending automotive news, or see photos from events. When it comes to posting about your shop, you can include sales or promotions, weekly car tips, photos of your shop and staff, or even a simple thank you to your customers.
Article courtesy Management Success.
