If you own and operate an auto repair shop, you undoubtedly have a lot of responsibilities on your plate. While this thinking is reasonable, you do yourself and your automobile repair business a disservice by not putting in the effort to keep bringing in new consumers and incentivizing existing customers to return.

If your COVID is set to “on,” the government will first try to contact you. When states begin to lift COVID restrictions, you may be reopening your business for the first time in weeks. It’s now the perfect moment to start implementing marketing ideas for your auto repair store.

Traditional advertising methods are becoming increasingly less effective in today’s society. With the advent of the Internet and social media, consumers are now bombarded with so many marketing messages that they tune most of them out.

This is why it’s more important than ever to focus your marketing efforts on a digital marketing strategy.

The good news is that there are a variety of low-cost methods to raise brand recognition and attract new consumers to your auto repair business. With a little bit of forethought, you may ensure that you’re regularly bringing customers to the store just and economically with an effective automobile repair marketing strategy.

Do you want to know how to utilize an auto repair marketing plan that works? Continue reading for some additional information.

10 Marketing strategies for your auto repair shop

Marketing is a broad and varied field, so finding the right marketing idea or strategy for your business can be difficult. There are many options at your fingertips, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

Online marketing for auto repair shops

There are a few of auto repair shop marketing ideas that are connected to your internet presence, such as:

• Having a user-friendly (and SEO-friendly) website
• Utilizing email marketing campaigns
• Writing a blog
• Video Marketing
• Social Media Sites

Strategy 1: List your business on Google My Business

If you’re looking to use auto repair advertising ads that work, start by promoting your auto service shop on Google My Business. As the neighborhood hub, Google My Business is one of the most effective ways to advertise your business for free online. Claim your free Business Page to begin connecting with locals. You can list basic information about your business, such as your hours, address, phone number, website, and photos. You can also post updates about your auto repair shop, such as promotions or announcements. This creates a unique community built on trust and authenticity and allows you direct access to your target market.

This is also a great way to improve your SEO and make it easier for customers to find you online. On Google My Business, you can also see insights about how customers are interacting with your listing, such as the number of views, clicks, and calls you’ve received.

To get started, go to business.google.com/create and enter your business information. Once your Business Profile is created, you can manage it by going to business.google.com/.

Strategy 2: Create a website

If you’re a business owner in today’s digital age and don’t have a website (or if you do but it’s tough to navigate), you’re missing out on a significant marketing opportunity. Establishing a digital presence enables you to engage with your neighbors long before they step into your garage. Making a favorable internet first impression is critical.

Your website should be structured in such a way that it encourages visitors to contact you by phone.

• Easy navigation- A basic website does not need to contain a plethora of features. Everything should be geared toward promoting your garage and staff while moving consumers down the sales funnel.
• Informational – When you’re writing a headline for an ad, be sure to include all of the essential details and relevant information that customers search for, such as:
• Shop info
• Services
• Pictures
• Blog page
• About us
• Promotions
• Social media links (Facebook, Instagram, etc)
• Search engine optimization – To be relevant, include keywords, photo meta descriptions, and the data that Google’s search engine and other search engines algorithms rely on to match search queries with appropriate results.

Strategy 3 – Employ email marketing campaigns

You may utilize their email address to send them a highly tailored marketing campaign if you have it. While you should avoid overcommunicating with people via email after email, make an effort to provide relevant and useful information, such as as a service reminder or a limited time offer or promotion. Your digital marketing efforts will be much more effective if you’re able to segment your audience and deliver content that’s specific to their needs.

Marketing tools like MailChimp make it easy to design and send email newsletters, which is a great way to stay top of mind with your current and potential customers. Email marketing automation is also an option, which can save you time by sending emails on a schedule.

The most common and cost-effective approach to stay informed of the latest offers is through email marketing. Rather than sending out email newsletters that only advertise your business or request consumers to promote it, send emails that amuse or inform your audience. Custom content is beneficial to 90% of customers and has a favorable impact on them: about businesses who provide it.

Strategy 4 – Start a blog

Content marketing is an excellent way to attract new customers and keep your existing ones coming back for more. A well-designed blog not only improves your website’s SEO and search rankings, but it also allows you to interact with local consumers and establish your industry leadership as an expert. Creating a blog is one of the most effective methods to market your company. Ideally, you should publish approximately once or twice a week, alternating between informative and helpful content for car nuts and non-car dummies alike. The following are examples of content:

You develop a return audience when you offer immediate value and encourage people to visit your website. You create a readership that keeps returning for more by providing direct value and driving visitors to your website. Expert content improves trust, especially when readers have to put their faith in you with their vehicle. This also allows you to utilize blog postings to advertise special offers or remind customers about services they need on a regular basis.

A blog also creates the ideal platform for promoting and selling goods from your store online. Mobile marketing – 71% of Americans are now using smartphones, making them the go-to option for mobile internet users. Utilize this to your advantage by advertising your business on Google, Facebook, and other popular platforms with mobile ads. You can also take advantage of SMS marketing to send text messages directly to customers’ phones with updates about promotions, discounts, or appointment reminders.

Social media marketing

The internet has changed everything. Businesses may benefit from social media marketing by increasing their new client outreach and creating transparency between them and the consumer.

In order to showcase the apparent nature of your automobile repair business, you may utilize social media. Every organization has two kinds of important people: employees and clients. Customers and staff will have a mutual trust factor if the company is transparent enough. Photos of events, as well as gratitude to a specific employee on social media, can help customers see how things operate at the auto repair shop in a better light. They will develop a connection with them and will be more assured when they go to the shop next time.

With this in mind, the following social media marketing ideas below are all worth trying.

Strategy 5 – Drive engagement

Thousands of businesses find that a well-planned social media marketing strategy is the key to success. Creating highly engaging and informative content for these platforms allows you to connect with consumers on a more personal level than ever before. Instagram has several advantages over other networks, but there are certain drawbacks as well. Keep in mind that consistency is important when it comes to posting. The following types of material might be appropriate:

• High-quality photos and videos of the garage and services
• Before and after photos
• Car maintenance advice
• Promotions, specials, coupons
• Local car events and shows
• Customer reviews
• Driver safety tips

Also, consider offering incentives for customer interaction or user-generated content. In exchange for a discount, special offer, or the opportunity to win a prize, encourage consumers to check-in, give a review on Google, share on social media, or refer their friends and family to your company.

Strategy 6 – Host a YouTube channel

You may use your website’s content to promote your business. If you establish a YouTube channel, you have the opportunity to demonstrate your car knowledge as a shop owner to customers. You give potential customers free information by uploading instructional videos to both YouTube and embedding them on your website. They are far more open to your advertising efforts as a result of this. You may also indirectly advertise for services or repairs that need an in-person inspection by mentioning such services or repairs on your site.

Strategy 7 – Host events

If you want your garage to be part and parcel to the local neighborhood, you need to be a contributing member of that community. As an auto repair shop, you have skills and expertise that many people find valuable. Hosting events gives you a fantastic opportunity to impart your knowledge to others and establish trust. Examples of this might include:

• Auto enthusiast clubs
• Seminars about car maintenance
• Information meetings
• Hands-on walkthroughs for simple services such as changing your oil

Strategy 8 – Coupon advertising

Coupons are a low-cost, high-exposure auto repair shop marketing idea that engages both prospects and repeat customers. Examples include:

• Discount oil change
• Overall bill reduction
• Free service with another type of service
• A dollar amount off of a specific service

Whatever you settle on, let customers know the value they will get with your deal. . Even if it’s only a few dollars off, they will be more likely to engage if they think they’re saving money.

Strategy 9 – Partner with other local businesses

A good digital marketing strategy involves developing connections with other organizations, both rivals and non-competitors, as it is to establish relationships with consumers. Although you may be irritated by the phrase, you’ll be startled at how well a referral from another professional can work.

Say, for example, that your business specializes in automobile repair but lacks the necessary tools, technology, or personnel to complete a certain task. You may quickly establish an arrangement with another firm where you both advise customers to visit the other shop if the need arises.

Strategy 10 – Give back to the community

A final way that you can increase your brand’s presence and name recognition is by giving back to the community. There are a few different ways that you can do this:

• Hosting charity car washes
• Offering free or discounted services to those in need
• Donating cars or parts to schools or vocational programs
• Participating in food or clothing drives

These digital marketing strategies will not only make your business look good, but they’ll also help you connect with potential customers on a deeper level. Moreover, they’ll remind people of your company when they have a need for your services. There are many other marketing strategies out there for your auto shop, but these ten should get you started. If you implement even a few of these in your digital marketing campaigns, you should see a significant increase in both customers and revenue. So get to work and good luck!