Question about gaining more customers

Dugdug

Dugdug

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Now that I've gotten pretty much everything I need, I'm currently looking for more customers. Here's my strategy so far,

I hand out business cards, strike up conversations about my business, offer free car washes to owners of high end vehicles. sometimes if I see a nice vehicle in a parking lot I leave a business card with a personal message on the back about how I appreciate their vehicle and want to offer a free car wash.

I'm planning on going to a few dealerships in town, do a demo on headlights and interior/exterior detailing... I'm kinda nervous lol but I have confidence in my abilities and I'm pretty good at selling myself.

My questions for you guys:

Where do the majority of your customers come from?
How do you acquire higher end vehicle customers?
How much free work did you do at the beginning of your business?
What else could I be doing?
 
It isnt easy to jump into high end vehicles and your phone ringing off the hook.

Something that I have done is put together a nice book that includes high quality pictures and detail related articles written by me. Not copy and pasted from other sources, but in MY words, how I would explain to a potential customers. This portfolio is always with me. I attend car shows and walk around and talk shop. If I can get the conversation going about detailing, Ill share my book with them. Being too pushy can really turn people off.

I would not continue to put your business cards on high end vehicles. That is not how you will land a client that owns a $90k + vehicle. And, you don't want your business cards all over parking lots around town.

If you don't have a website, make one. Being a top search results can work wonders!

Visit medical parks, country clubs, ask to sponsor forums or car clubs.

There really is a ton of more ideas, but there are a few that work.
 
I would also be careful with "free" work or discounted work when getting started. Charge what you KNOW you are worth. Your prices will often reflect what types of vehicles you work on.
 
Gotcha, I've done away with putting my cards on vehicles in parking lots for the most part, but it's hard when there's an unattended lamborghini that looks like it needs help lol Especially in wichita kansas lol there's not many exotics here

I have a website, I'm in the process of getting it listed on google places and formatting it to show up better in search results.

The book/portfolio is a good Idea, I'll look into that.

Thaks for your advice!
 
Isn't there a college near Wichita? Maybe you could drop by there, maybe post some things on their community bulletin. I'm sure there are some guys who would want their car detailed to pick up some chics or just for it to look good.
 
Remember to make your website Mobile-Phone friendly... many of us use the cell phone for those types of things.

I am not sure how to go about it but make sure your business adress shows up on google maps.
 
Malls; hair salons; medical buildings; go door to door checking to see what employees (car there all day). Golf clubs cars are there 4+ hours so you will find plenty of business if permissible (usually is, especially if you give those in charge a good rate).
 
Dugdug said:
offer free car washes to owners of high end vehicles.
How much free work did you do at the beginning of your business?
Click to expand...

nothing is free !! you loose it right there ...
 
There's a million ways you can go about jump starting. But, if you ask me...you want to target daily drivers. It's MUCH easier to get involved with average vehicles rather than chasing around every high end vehicle in sight.

Even people with high end vehicles still don't want to pay up for services. The customer has to want your service. Leaving a business card does nothing for somebody who could care less about the appearance of their vehicle. For all you know...it's a lease, and they could give two terds about it.

What I would do...is look into something that will save you out of pocket expense. Something like Groupon, or Living Social is a great way to START. Not so great when you're busy. But, to start out...it's a fantastic way to make some quick money, and bring in a bunch of new potentially regular customers.

Just run a good deal through them...and customers will buy the deal. They usually keep 50% of the sale, and give you the other half. Sure 50% sucks...BUT, would you have had those customers otherwise? Probably not. You also have to think too, that one customer leads to another most the time. That next customer won't have a coupon...and it's straight profit.

Also, you can look into radio ads that will sell gift certificates to your business in trade for advertisement. This method is tough without a reputation, but may work.

Just don't spend money on advertisement. Without a reputation...paid advertisement will just put you in a hole. I really think your best jump start would be Groupon or Living Social. Your phone will ring, and you'll be working in no time.
 
Kristopher1129 said:
There's a million ways you can go about jump starting. But, if you ask me...you want to target daily drivers. It's MUCH easier to get involved with average vehicles rather than chasing around every high end vehicle in sight.

Even people with high end vehicles still don't want to pay up for services. The customer has to want your service. Leaving a business card does nothing for somebody who could care less about the appearance of their vehicle. For all you know...it's a lease, and they could give two terds about it.

What I would do...is look into something that will save you out of pocket expense. Something like Groupon, or Living Social is a great way to START. Not so great when you're busy. But, to start out...it's a fantastic way to make some quick money, and bring in a bunch of new potentially regular customers.

Just run a good deal through them...and customers will buy the deal. They usually keep 50% of the sale, and give you the other half. Sure 50% sucks...BUT, would you have had those customers otherwise? Probably not. You also have to think too, that one customer leads to another most the time. That next customer won't have a coupon...and it's straight profit.

Also, you can look into radio ads that will sell gift certificates to your business in trade for advertisement. This method is tough without a reputation, but may work.

Just don't spend money on advertisement. Without a reputation...paid advertisement will just put you in a hole. I really think your best jump start would be Groupon or Living Social. Your phone will ring, and you'll be working in no time.
Click to expand...

groupon... i hear about it on the radio.... im gonna check it out thx
 
I signed up, they said they will let me know. Do you think, if I ran a coupon for car wash/interior vacuum only, would be good?I imagine I could up sell a few of them I don't want 20 people getting full details for 20 bucks lol Id probly die.
 
I just do it on the side right now. No time with school goin on. But from my experience 90% of my business comes from word of mouth. Like people have mentioned, the hard part when starting off is getting your name out there. But a good friend of mine who lives around here who owns a full time detailing business, he ran a living social deal and it did get him a decent amount of customers. When he ran his he just offered a wash and interior for $30? I think. So he was only get $15± per customer it kind of sucks but it gets your name out there even if your not making much profit you can up sell a wax, 1-step, ect. Good luck!

Sent from my DROID Pro using Tapatalk
 
At least half of my customers come from a Google search. Make sure you spend time signing up for every free business listing service on the internet; local.com, merchant circle, angie's list .... Keep posting pics on Facebook too. Try to "tag" the customer (if you befriend them) in your pics too. Great pictures sell!
 
Dugdug said:
Now that I've gotten pretty much everything I need, I'm currently looking for more customers. Here's my strategy so far,

I hand out business cards, strike up conversations about my business, offer free car washes to owners of high end vehicles. sometimes if I see a nice vehicle in a parking lot I leave a business card with a personal message on the back about how I appreciate their vehicle and want to offer a free car wash.

I'm planning on going to a few dealerships in town, do a demo on headlights and interior/exterior detailing... I'm kinda nervous lol but I have confidence in my abilities and I'm pretty good at selling myself.

My questions for you guys:

Where do the majority of your customers come from?
How do you acquire higher end vehicle customers?
How much free work did you do at the beginning of your business?
What else could I be doing?
Click to expand...

You talk like ppl with high end vehicles think differently then the average man? This simply is not true

STOP offering free car washes. It makes you look desperate

Beat the pavement if you want more work and STOP offering your services for free
 
Dugdug said:
I signed up, they said they will let me know. Do you think, if I ran a coupon for car wash/interior vacuum only, would be good?I imagine I could up sell a few of them I don't want 20 people getting full details for 20 bucks lol Id probly die.
Click to expand...

You signed up where?

STOP giving away your work!!! :bat:
 
Dugdug said:
I signed up, they said they will let me know. Do you think, if I ran a coupon for car wash/interior vacuum only, would be good?I imagine I could up sell a few of them I don't want 20 people getting full details for 20 bucks lol Id probly die.
Click to expand...

Do you have a website? If not, they may not approve any kind of coupon with you. Groupon and Living Social tend to be picky about what they allow in the system. Mainly because they can, ha.

But, if they let you in...what you want to do is offer something entry level. Nothing crazy. No full details, or anything like that. A Wash & Vac may be a good idea. Come up with a price, and let people buy them up. Then when they come in, or call to redeem it...you can upsell them to a full detail.

What I typically do is offer to allow them to use their coupon as cash value instead of for the service. So, say you charge $35 for a Wash & Vac. The Groupon customer buys it for $17.50 which is 50% off. Groupon keeps $8.75, and you get $8.75.

Customer comes in, or calls...you upsell them, and allow them to use the coupon for $17.50 (as a favor, that's key). They're happy, cause they didn't waste their money, and you're happy cause your making money, AND a new customer. Basically, you gave up $8.75 to get a new customer to spend well over a hundred bucks...being that they upgrade.

Groupon will usually sell a couple hundred or so of coupons for you. So, say they sell 200 coupons...that's a $1,750 check in your name that comes in the mail.

If you ask me...this is the quickest, best, and free way to get your name out there, and start building clientele. Just my opinion. I know some people have had bad experience with things like Groupon...but to start out, it's ideal. That's IF they work with you though. They like to seek out companies or businesses with a reputation cause they will obviously make more sales.
 
some good stuff in here

my only comment is regarding 'free' work. People are saying not to do free work, and I agree with that, to a point

I will do free work for close friends only. And when I do, I try to be seen. Take your time, smile to the neighbors as they're walking the dog etc. Sometimes people stop and ask questions. Usually work generates more work
 
Just keep working at it one vehicle at a time. The absolute best way to get new business is from old business. Keep your existing customers coming back with a loyallty card and give your existing customers a reson to send them their friends and family with a different promo. A Shine and Dine promo worked very well for me in the past. I would go to a very well known restaurant in the area and do a trade with them for example {$250.00} I then would give a new customer a $50.00 gift card for a free dinner with a complete detail. Remember if you do what everybody else does you will be where everybody else is. You must think outside the box today and everyday I have been doing this for 38 years now and I have not done any advertising for years.
 
@detail man, I like the way you think
 
If you insist on working for free, why not volunteer. There are LOTS of oppurtunitys here, plus I think you'll find most ppl who do this have discretionary income, so maybe you could land an account or two that way

You could also tell potential newbs that you will donate 10% of your sales to your local food bank. If I have to buy a potential customer dinner, I would just as soon not have them at all
 
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