The reputation you’ve built for years can be torn down with a single poor online review, especially when you don’t respond to it. Google reviews are the most important because of the impact they have on local search visibility and the ranking boost it can give your website. Many third-party review sites are out there as well – Yelp, for example, and even some in-industry sites.

Technology, specifically for marketing our businesses, doesn’t always come naturally. This month, I decided to get out of my own office and get a better understanding of the challenges and pitfalls facing new shop owners as they try to build awareness and clientele, says Jeff Phillip, Digital Development Manager, Babcox Media.

When most people think of connecting via mobile devices, they think of apps. Then they subsequently think, “I can’t afford to build an app to connect with my customers.” The good news is that there are several ways to take advantage of your customers’ growing use of mobile technology to market to them on a more personal basis.

The way social media is used has changed dramatically over the past decade. What used to be a tool to connect with friends, family and former classmates has become an essential component of how small businesses market themselves. In the world of automotive repair where reputation is everything, using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat to effectively engage with customers can mean the difference between being just another repair shop or being the go-to shop on the block.

The Internet has forever changed the way consumers shop. Today, competitors are always just a click, text or email away. In this new age, simply having an online presence isn’t enough. Shop owners who want to succeed must develop a comprehensive online marketing strategy designed to both attract and retain customers.
