best ways to get new customers..

DownSouthDetail

DownSouthDetail

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I was just wondering what do you guys do to get new customers? What has worked best? What forms of advertisement?
 
DownSouthDetail said:
I was just wondering what do you guys do to get new customers? What has worked best? What forms of advertisement?
Click to expand...

My opinion always ,just let your work to speak ,your results to the car, .i dont say that sites or any other form dont work ,but mouth to mouth for me works better.

(and dont be cheap , this is common trap , find your rates and try to explain to your customers why you charge these rates)
 
Nice website, Google adwords, pricing yourself right, explaining the differences in your services and others. Great phone skills helps a lot.
 
I've made thousands from advertising on buy sell trade Facebook pages.
I've spent zero on marketing apart from business cards & magnets for my truck. When I first started I would just knock on doors & offer a free car wash in hopes they would use me again or tell friends about me.

But I agree, nothing beats word of mouth. Once you get business going & people start talking about what you do... Enjoy the ride.
 
Business cards are great to give someone a way to contact you, fast - just grab it from your pocket and lend it. But it'll not market you anyhow.

Like already said, best thing is word of mouth - people telling other people something NEW, different, detailed, respectful, etc is happening at your place.

However, you're better covered if you have something to show potential customers, like a site, portfolio, or even threads in a forum like this may work. You can say you've worked on a lot of exciting cars, but I'm sorry to tell you - it's worthless without pics.

Document your work and find a place to share it. Whenever I receive a call, I forward an e-mail to customer before he / she comes for evaluation.

(Sorry if it makes answer long, I'm trying to share ideas so you can adapt to your way of doing it)

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The e-mail is something like this:

Preto / Black

Mercedes 2012 C180 Preto - Detalhamento, Correção de pintura e Vitrificação.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...80-3-steps-pinnacle-black-label-coatings.html

2014 BMW 320i Preto detalhamento e vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...w-320i-full-pinnacle-black-label-coating.html

Kia Sportage 2013 Preto vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ge-black-correction-black-label-coatings.html

2014 GM Tracker Preto detalhamento e vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...acker-new-car-detail-black-label-coating.html

Prata / Silver

Mercedes C280 detalhamento e vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...280-detailed-coated-pinnacle-black-label.html

Corolla 2012 detalhamento e vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ll-detailed-pinnacle-black-label-coating.html

Civic 2013 Prata detalhamento e vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...c-full-detail-pbl-coating-coating-booster.htm

PT Cruiser Prata reparos, retoques, detalhamento e vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...uiser-fully-detailed-black-label-coating.html

Branco / White

2013 Pajero TR4 Branco detalhamento e vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ull-detail-pinnacle-black-label-coatings.html

2011 Citroen Aircross - Correção de Pintura, Detalhamento e Vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-correction-coating-pinnacle-black-label.html

Azul e outros / Blue and Others

2013 ford Ranger Azul vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...e-full-detail-2-step-polish-pbl-coatings.html

Audi A1 Dual-Tone Azul/Prata Detalhamento, Correção e Vitrificação.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...correction-detailing-black-label-coating.html

GM Zafira 2011 Full Detail + Vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...e-makeover-pinnacle-black-label-coatings.html

Fox 2013 Descontaminação, Polimento e Vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ion-detailed-coated-pinnacle-black-label.html

Gol 2013 Preto correção de pintura e vitrificação
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...most-popular-car-brazil-corrected-coated.html

Corsa - remoção de resíduos de cola
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ck-corsa-popular-car-removing-super-glue.html

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They can look at cars by color, or any other they have curiosity.

Sharing my work here is beneficial to what I do. I'm better showing my work to whoever knows better or really enjoy the craft. You must be 'brave' to show the greatest a little of what you're achieving, thanks to them.

Another good thing is to always get suggestions and new ideas to improve the work you're doing.

Also, they can access AG store and knowing what I use (products and techniques always shared) understand why my quote is higher than the guy next corner.

It's said to avoid being cheap (TRUE!), but remember you must start somewhere. Getting good cars from known people are a good way to start building your portfolio.

Hope that helps,

Kind Regards.
 
Starting out, I constantly got people telling me that my rates were not justified. Some would laugh at me and then would go to another detailing and would eventually be contacting me to correct their work. I agree with letting your work speak for itself.

Showing off my work and having customers rave about the amount of detail that goes into the work gets me the most new customers.

Word of mouth does wonders.
 
SPIROS ANTONIOU said:
My opinion always ,just let your work to speak ,your results to the car, )
Click to expand...

I believe you have to "Give your Work a Voice", by making it more widely seen

Facebook at a minimum

YELP maintain your page

Help your satisfied Customers spread the word by email or text them a good Before & After shot that they can easily share
 
VP Mark said:
Nice website, Google adwords, pricing yourself right, explaining the differences in your services and others. Great phone skills helps a lot.
Click to expand...

This pretty much sums it up. Google adwords is good and also facebook ad boosting is pretty good as well.
 
What most people don't under stand about this business is that it takes time to build a customer base. Took me 2 years of hard work and a great reputation. VP Mark gave some great advice on somethings to try. Word of mouth is still the best form of advertisement for us. A good website is good and Facebook is great.
 
For me, there are some cars I do for free only for advertising and learning. sometimes I get a new product, a new tool, a new technique(?), I would invite the worst of the worst paint that I could find among all my friends and offer them making sure I document every step and providing amazing picture of my work.

The best people to approach is those who doesnt believe your job will do their ride any better. they help to do the best advertising cause they are so amazed!

Like everyone say, let your work do the talking. slowly build your customer base. Have lots of friends recommending your services. I have to stress that you dont fluctuate your price. decide on a rate and stick to it!

On the other hand, I do have a facebook page to advertise my service and printed a business card. Anyone I see or meet I pass them the business card. :D
 
Not sure if this really counts but yesterday I did winter prep on an 07' Jeep Grand Cherokee and I suggested a rinseless wash, speedy prep towel and single coat of #476, she agreed to that and the price of $150, I also coated the tires and dressed the wheelwells. Once I was done I asked her if I could show her what paint correction would do for her finish, she agreed. I did the d/s strip of the hood and she was blown away!

Moral of the story, when possible, you have to spend a little bit of your time and product to just show em' the upgrade and have them look at the side by side everyday, standing out like a soar thumb;)

Sent from my SPH-M930 using Tapatalk 2
 
What really worked for me in this business was jumping in my truck and talking to owners of different local shops. I put together a portfolio of work I had done had a few polo shirts embroidered with my company logo and made a ton of business cards. I bounced from shop to shop introducing myself and my work all day long if I did not have a car scheduled. All that running around and burning gas eventually worked for me, I now have four Police departments five classic restoration shops and two large body shops that keep me busy between my regular clients. Another huge thing for me was cruise nights once I had done a few corrections on local cars it really got my name out. Its all in what you are willing to put in.
 
One thing never do is sell your self short of what your worth or you will never make it in this business. After 3 years I've over doubled my prices and will be raising them again in spring. This is hard work and you need to get paid for it.
 
Klasse Act said:
Not sure if this really counts but yesterday I did winter prep on an 07' Jeep Grand Cherokee and I suggested a rinseless wash, speedy prep towel and single coat of #476, she agreed to that and the price of $150, I also coated the tires and dressed the wheelwells. Once I was done I asked her if I could show her what paint correction would do for her finish, she agreed. I did the d/s strip of the hood and she was blown away!

Moral of the story, when possible, you have to spend a little bit of your time and product to just show em' the upgrade and have them look at the side by side everyday, standing out like a soar thumb;)

Sent from my SPH-M930 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

This, along with my people skills has been a great selling point for me. I'm still in the 'hustle' stage, where I'm having a client here, a client there. I fully expect that this time next year it'll be a different story.
 
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