Have you guys tried this marketing strategy...?

Rav777

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So I am sure that most of you have thought about this but while detailing my client/friend told me that I should try to advertise my company by giving people license plate frames with my website (soon to have one) on the frame. So the license plate frame would read something like, “Detailed and maintained by (Add Website here).” Or something of that sort, what do you guys think about this?

I asked a few clients and they said they would totally sport the frame since they have the stock dealership name frames. They also noted that it would help me out since people will be able to see my work.

Of course It would be an expense since I would not charger my clients to have these put on. But do you guys think people would even read them? Hmmmmm:rolleyes: Any thoughts or ideas would be gladly appreciated!
 
The only thing I would be worried about would be them driving around a dirty car and if someone did read it I think they would kind of be put off. But besides that it sounds like a great idea!
 
I thought about this, and just like shoeless said...it won't be long before their vehicle is dirty again.

The thing that I've used that has worked really well for me...is key chains. I attach them to peoples keys, and when they come back in...they're still there. I've even had new customers come in with them, and say that they were given the key chain by one of my regular customers.

It's about the only thing I buy to hand out to people other than brochures and business cards. It's a constant reminder on their keys. :dblthumb2:
 
The only thing I would be worried about would be them driving around a dirty car and if someone did read it I think they would kind of be put off. But besides that it sounds like a great idea!

Yeah I figured that would be the case. Thing is I would only put it on my weekly customers who get a wash and wax every week and have no swirls on their paint. But even afer a week the car is already dirty lol.

I thought about this, and just like shoeless said...it won't be long before their vehicle is dirty again.

The thing that I've used that has worked really well for me...is key chains. I attach them to peoples keys, and when they come back in...they're still there. I've even had new customers come in with them, and say that they were given the key chain by one of my regular customers.

It's about the only thing I buy to hand out to people other than brochures and business cards. It's a constant reminder on their keys. :dblthumb2:

Keychains sound like a great idea as well! I might look into that. Even better if they were beer openers eyy? lol.

Kris, have you thought about pens as well? I am always using countless pens of peoples companies, but then again I have never called any of the companies ha.
 
Keychains sound like a great idea as well! I might look into that. Even better if they were beer openers eyy? lol.

From a consumer's point of view if a freebee is cool then I will hold onto it, but most end up in the garbage.

You want something that someone is likely to have in their possession amongst their peers. The bottle opener is cool but you may want to have a simple/sophisticated one that someone is likely to hold onto.

On a side note the freebee I have held onto the longest is a plastic pizza cutter. Take that stolen hotel pens!
 
I don't know what they cost but a nice item is an led light that goes on your keys to help you find the lock etc. you could imprint your name and website on that. Also my garage gives away things and the ones we use the most are a magnetic calendar with their info on it, and a 4" round piece of rubber for opening jars, bottle tops etc. one other idea would be a tire air pressure gauge.
 
I don't know what they cost but a nice item is an led light that goes on your keys to help you find the lock etc. you could imprint your name and website on that. Also my garage gives away things and the ones we use the most are a magnetic calendar with their info on it, and a 4" round piece of rubber for opening jars, bottle tops etc. one other idea would be a tire air pressure gauge.

Honestly im not sure about this. I know the frames are expiensive and who actually takes time to look at other peoples frames?
 
The only thing I would be worried about would be them driving around a dirty car and if someone did read it I think they would kind of be put off. But besides that it sounds like a great idea!

I agree. So you would have to word it correctly, maybe something like ... "When CLEAN, this car detailed by So-And-So Detailing".

:xyxthumbs:
 
My business isn't detailing, but I still considered the plate frame idea. I ended up deciding not to go that route. I really like the keychain idea.
 
Getting your name out there is important but how many times have you ever called a business b/c you saw a plate frame? Me personally, zero.

Keychains are good b/c if a customer is aksed 'who does your car', they usually have your info right there w/ their keys. And some people have more keychains then keys. Just put one on & when you hand the customer back the keys, hand it to them by your keychain. This way they know it's there.

I like pens only if they are the nicer, retractable ones that write well. They cost more but imo, a decent pen will most likely be held onto & used more than say a Bic stic, which I usually find under the seats.
 
window cling..like the oil change stickers... This vehicle gets detailed by (company name, phone, website) or something to that effect...
 
Keychains sound like a great idea as well! I might look into that. Even better if they were beer openers eyy? lol.

Kris, have you thought about pens as well? I am always using countless pens of peoples companies, but then again I have never called any of the companies ha.

The same company I get the keychains from try to sell me pens. Honestly, I see those all over the place...but I've never seen anyone keep one because they like the company, or use the company. It's usually just "Do you guys have a pen I can use?", then out comes the company pen. You use it once, then it's lost, or you think it sucks so you toss it, ha.

I can't imagine them bringing me business. I guess it depends on the business...but for me, I don't see it. When someone finds a detailer they like...they are more apt to keep the keychain on them just in case. I've gotten good use out of them.

I keep them on my desk, and people grab them for themselves...so that tells me something. If pens were sitting there...I'm not so sure they'd be as popular. If you spend some dough, and got some high quality pens...then maybe. That would cost you though, ha. Probably a few bucks a pen at least...ouch.
 
I have magnets that look the same as my business cards. Who does'nt want a magnet?
 
How about a usb memory stick? Our company recently bought a bunch for customers/prospects. They have our logo on the outside, and we had our website and videos put on the stick. You could take some before/after photos of the car and put them on the stick to give to clients. They can keep them on, or clear the stick and use it for whatever.
 
I don't know what they cost but a nice item is an led light that goes on your keys to help you find the lock etc. you could imprint your name and website on that. Also my garage gives away things and the ones we use the most are a magnetic calendar with their info on it, and a 4" round piece of rubber for opening jars, bottle tops etc. one other idea would be a tire air pressure gauge.

Oh wow I never thought about those LED keychain lights. They do come in handy, I know this from experience. Not sure were we got it from, I think it was from a chiropractor.

I was thinking bottle openers for the younger crowd and wine openers for the older crowd lol.

Honestly im not sure about this. I know the frames are expiensive and who actually takes time to look at other peoples frames?

Not many do, I do because I look at everything, but I can see this being a problem. Only time I really stare at peoples frames is at a stop light or in Los Angeles traffic.

I agree. So you would have to word it correctly, maybe something like ... "When CLEAN, this car detailed by So-And-So Detailing".

:xyxthumbs:

Yeah I figured this would be a problem, anything can happen when you hand the keys over, bird bombs, bug attacks, dust storm.

Getting your name out there is important but how many times have you ever called a business b/c you saw a plate frame? Me personally, zero.

Keychains are good b/c if a customer is aksed 'who does your car', they usually have your info right there w/ their keys. And some people have more keychains then keys. Just put one on & when you hand the customer back the keys, hand it to them by your keychain. This way they know it's there.

I like pens only if they are the nicer, retractable ones that write well. They cost more but imo, a decent pen will most likely be held onto & used more than say a Bic stic, which I usually find under the seats.

Thanks Boris, yeah I think the Keychain method would work better. I get a lot of time to think at work and for some reason that stuck the most. Keychains do seem like they will have a better use.

I think I will eventually have some nice pens done for my real good clients, as a pen enthusiast (lol) I know how handy a nice pen can be.

The same company I get the keychains from try to sell me pens. Honestly, I see those all over the place...but I've never seen anyone keep one because they like the company, or use the company. It's usually just "Do you guys have a pen I can use?", then out comes the company pen. You use it once, then it's lost, or you think it sucks so you toss it, ha.

I can't imagine them bringing me business. I guess it depends on the business...but for me, I don't see it. When someone finds a detailer they like...they are more apt to keep the keychain on them just in case. I've gotten good use out of them.

I keep them on my desk, and people grab them for themselves...so that tells me something. If pens were sitting there...I'm not so sure they'd be as popular. If you spend some dough, and got some high quality pens...then maybe. That would cost you though, ha. Probably a few bucks a pen at least...ouch.

Alright Kris you convinced me on the keychain idea. Did you get the Led type keychains or a rubber type? If you are willing to show us some pictures I would greatly appreciate it. If not no biggie!

I usually work by word of mouth, or handing out business cards but I want to at least try the keychains. If anything it would be small thank you for using my services.

I have magnets that look the same as my business cards. Who does'nt want a magnet?

Very true, Only thing is you can have crazy ocd people like me not wanting to put magnets on the stainless fridge lol. But yeah I think the place were I made my cards can turn them into magnets. They already have the card in their file.

How about a usb memory stick? Our company recently bought a bunch for customers/prospects. They have our logo on the outside, and we had our website and videos put on the stick. You could take some before/after photos of the car and put them on the stick to give to clients. They can keep them on, or clear the stick and use it for whatever.

This is something that would really come in handy. The only thing I would want to look into is the cost of buying these ha, I know some can get pretty pricey, but a very great idea nontheless!
 
I have magnets that look the same as my business cards. Who does'nt want a magnet?


I'm looking into doing magnet business cards. A guy that owns his own tire shop that is a regular told me to do this. He said when people pick the magnet up they keep in their hand till they get home then stick in on the fridge. This stays on the fridge unlike a business card that goes from the dresser to the drawer then to the trash...seems like a pretty good idea to me.
 
I just get the rubber kind. The LED type is more expensive, and it does the same thing. The rubber does just fine.

I'd take a picture but I don't have one on me. It's literally just a piece of rubber with my business info. Name, slogan, phone number, and address.
 
No worries on the picture. I guess the magnets and keychain are going to be the way to go. Once I get my website up I am going to update everything and turn my business cards into magnets as well as get some keychains made.

Thank you all for your suggestions!
 
I like the idea!

How many do you have to purchase and what is the price per unit?
 
I like the idea!

How many do you have to purchase and what is the price per unit?

Hey Flash!

Are you talking about the license plate frames? Most brought up a good point that the car will not be %100 clean all the time. They might read the plate, if they do, and the car will be at its filthiest point lol.

However after thinking about it some more, I am going to research the plates and only get some for my show cars. I do hot rod shops and these cars stay fairly clean. I can also make some nice chrome ones that my clients can use/borrow if they take their cars to a car show.

As of now I am going to research into the cost of making my business cards into magnets, and getting keychains for my customers.
 
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