Repair Shop Websites Library
Your Website - Make it Work for You
By: Rhonda Hiltbrand at NWZ WORX, www.nwzworx.com.
Automotive Marketing & Business Consulting, Direct Mail & Technology Services
I hear it every day. "The economy today is tough and for the short term I need to cut back on my marketing. My accountant is telling me to hold off until business picks up again." I never recommend cutting back on your marketing. If your customers aren’t reminded that you are there ready, willing and able to service their cars, your competition can swoop in and sweep them right away from you. I do recommend that you make what you already have work harder for you until business picks up again. You have a tool right there that many small businesses overlook; small businesses such as automotive service and repair shops tend to treat this amazing tool as a static fixture. This fantastic tool is your website. Many shop owner’s feel the necessity of having one. They seem to think that "If I build it they will come!" They may come once but you have to give customers a reason to keep coming back.
You worked with a professional to get it up and running and beautiful. You are proud of it. Then you forget it. If you are experiencing tough times I recommend you start using it to full advantage and not only will your current customers appreciate it, prospects will too! Your website is so much more than just a glorified brochure listing your services. It is so much more than just a convenient place for your logo to rest!
- In a difficult economy consumers are looking online for coupons! Have monthly specials posted to your website!
- If you write articles for the newspaper, a blog or have a newsletter, get double duty out of it by posting it to your website.
- If you are doing direct mail, again get double duty for your dollars by having the piece posted to your website.
- Consumers often do a search to find out what could possibly be wrong with their car prior to bringing it in for service/repair. Post trouble-shooting tips on your site. They will find it helpful and they will find you!
- Information about your shop can always be kept up to date and fresh without the expense of re-doing a brochure each time.
- You can collect email addresses via your website and do email marketing.
- A website is a perfect place to post testimonials from happy customers. Keep them fresh as well! An outdated testimonial is not any better than an outdated coupon!
Have your website printed on your invoices and your business cards. If your website has been static for some time, be sure to remind customers to visit your website for monthly specials.
If your business has been slow and the dollars are tight right now, get your website working harder for you. It is simple and it is profitable!
