Marketing a new business?

[shortd81]

I have several ideas which I will be putting into play but still looking for other ideas which I haven't thought about. Got any?

[CalgaryDetail]

is it a mobile or a shop? if its mobile i would go to an office building with lots and ltos of rich people and hand out your card, and maybe give a few free hand washings. Also you could go to the wealtheir areas and do a fly run. Im looking at doing a flyer with a 10% discount to get them in. Also the freebie is an amazing thing word of mouth will be your best asset

[shortd81]

It's a shop

[Jngrbrdman]

Never underestimate the power of radio. I help with a couple car shows a year locally and once I convinced one to start advertising on the radio their participation went up from 50 cars to 150 - 200 cars. Radio reaches people sitting in dirty cars. It is a perfect way for a detail shop to advertise. Just base your marketing strategy around people sitting traffic jams drooling over all the clean cars while theirs is really dirty.

I've always found that guilt is an excellent marketing strategy for just about any area. Make them feel guilty for not using your services sooner and you'll get flooded with business. You can create brochures and flyers with that ad campaign and target placement in areas where people in dirty cars are going to see them. If I could handle the volume of customers that this marketing strategy would generate then it would be something I would have already done. I've got all the flyer and brochure designs and everything all ready in my head. I just need the time to dedicate to implementation and completion. Maybe when I retire... lol I should just create everything and then sell the templates to detail shops or something. I really believe in this strategy.

[tmacsad]

Originally Posted by Jngrbrdman

Never underestimate the power of radio. I help with a couple car shows a year locally and once I convinced one to start advertising on the radio their participation went up from 50 cars to 150 - 200 cars. Radio reaches people sitting in dirty cars. It is a perfect way for a detail shop to advertise. Just base your marketing strategy around people sitting traffic jams drooling over all the clean cars while theirs is really dirty.

I've always found that guilt is an excellent marketing strategy for just about any area. Make them feel guilty for not using your services sooner and you'll get flooded with business. You can create brochures and flyers with that ad campaign and target placement in areas where people in dirty cars are going to see them. If I could handle the volume of customers that this marketing strategy would generate then it would be something I would have already done. I've got all the flyer and brochure designs and everything all ready in my head. I just need the time to dedicate to implementation and completion. Maybe when I retire... lol I should just create everything and then sell the templates to detail shops or something. I really believe in this strategy.

I know this is an old thread. However do any of you guy's advertise on the radio? If so, has it been productive for your business?

[Tex Star Detail]

Nope. Too much to factor in, in my opinion. When it needs to be aired, etc. Who will be listening, are they your target market, what time of the day, what to say in the short few seconds of play..... I'd rather spend marketing $ elsewhere.

[tmacsad]

Originally Posted by tmacsad

I know this is an old thread. However do any of you guy's advertise on the radio? If so, has it been productive for your business?

I would like to ask this question again

I am considering running some ads on the radio here in T-Town (Tulsa OK). I can think of any detailers that use the radio as a marketing tool here. I would like to know if any of you guy's use or have ever used radio to advertise, and how it went for ya?

Also, the guy I have been talking to said that I could do some bartering for some air time...would that be wise?

[C. Charles Hahn]

Originally Posted by tmacsad

Also, the guy I have been talking to said that I could do some bartering for some air time...would that be wise?

You might even be able to barter for more than air time. Lots of stations do "on location" events and thus have a van or truck with broadcast equipment in it. Maybe you could offer to detail the station's van in exchange for air time and/or signage placed on their van stating "detailed by T-Mac" and listing your phone number.

Some of the station vans I've seen around here have something similar on them already for the vinyl/sign shop that put the graphics on the van, so it wouldn't be far fetched to just add another advertisement.

[SeaJays]

Originally Posted by Shiny Lil Detlr

You might even be able to barter for more than air time. Lots of stations do "on location" events and thus have a van or truck with broadcast equipment in it. Maybe you could offer to detail the station's van in exchange for air time and/or signage placed on their van stating "detailed by T-Mac" and listing your phone number.

Some of the station vans I've seen around here have something similar on them already for the vinyl/sign shop that put the graphics on the van, so it wouldn't be far fetched to just add another advertisement.

That's a pretty good idea Shiny! Never thought of that. I may have to hit up some local broadcasts and see if I could take advantage or something like this.