unique ways of getting new customers

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RFrommann

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how do YOU get new customers?

let's talk about outside of the box ideas.


i'm gearing towards the high end clients, coatings, ect. So the normal advertising ways wouldn't allow me to reach what i'm going after.

here are two things i have done recently:

local awesome burger place, made a joking comment about bartering some good detailing services for some good food. well, that lead to some talking with the owner and i showed him my rates/services and agreed upon an amount in gift certificate and cash.

they have a 2014 ford transit with vinyl lettering on both sides, so he can't go to a normal tunnel wash, so i figured it'd be a perfect sitting advertisement half a mile from my shop. they are a bit on the pricey side for food, and there's always higher end cars there.

yes, i am doing this for less than half price, BUT it's winter in NJ and half money is better than NO MONEY. i am confident in my work, and i'm almost certain this will lead to more vehicles, especially since he's already talking about having me do his personal vehicle.



so, what unique things do you do?
 
if there are any car meets around you, maybe you can hand some business cards out. wish you the best of luck in the 2016!
 
VISITOR said:
if there are any car meets around you, maybe you can hand some business cards out. wish you the best of luck in the 2016!
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i have gone to a few meets and shows. landed a coating job from 1 show, and 2 details from another show.

but, since it's winter there aren't any shows or meets going on anymore.
 
Start reading up on Facebook advertising. You can target by income, type and brand of car, etc. the power of paid Facebook advertising is way overlooked.
 
RFrommann said:
i have gone to a few meets and shows. landed a coating job from 1 show, and 2 details from another show.

but, since it's winter there aren't any shows or meets going on anymore.
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doh, forgot that you mentioned it's winter. is there anyway the owner would let you put business cards and/or a small banner inside somewhere?
 
FinishingTouchA said:
Start reading up on Facebook advertising. You can target by income, type and brand of car, etc. the power of paid Facebook advertising is way overlooked.
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that is something i will be looking into once winter passes, and will most likely shoot you a PM to discuss such since you have experience.
 
This made me think about the upcoming DC Auto Show. I wonder if I'd get thrown out for trying to hand out business cards there.
 
My youngest daughter always watches me and ask questions when I am doing a detail and she loves car show. Well when she was like 9-10 years old we were at a show. Her and her brother as well as some of the other regular kids were walking around. I guess she seen a guy pull in and get out right away and started using a QD on his hood. My daughter told him he should not do that cause the car is hot and it will streak. He laughed at her. Well about 20 minutes later he was walking around looking for her. She was sitting by me now. He came up to me and told me what happened and asked how she knew it was gonna streak. Well I told him I detail cars and she is always helping me and asking me why I use this and why I do it like that. He was shocked she knew what she knew and later that week I had his car over doing a 2 step correction job on it. She has gotten me about 6 jobs from car shows. Kids say what they want and plus she has my smart mouth. Lmao
 
RFrommann said:
how do YOU get new customers?

let's talk about outside of the box ideas.


i'm gearing towards the high end clients, coatings, ect. So the normal advertising ways wouldn't allow me to reach what i'm going after.

here are two things i have done recently:

local awesome burger place, made a joking comment about bartering some good detailing services for some good food. well, that lead to some talking with the owner and i showed him my rates/services and agreed upon an amount in gift certificate and cash.

they have a 2014 ford transit with vinyl lettering on both sides, so he can't go to a normal tunnel wash, so i figured it'd be a perfect sitting advertisement half a mile from my shop. they are a bit on the pricey side for food, and there's always higher end cars there.

yes, i am doing this for less than half price, BUT it's winter in NJ and half money is better than NO MONEY. i am confident in my work, and i'm almost certain this will lead to more vehicles, especially since he's already talking about having me do his personal vehicle.



so, what unique things do you do?
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Though I am a newb to the detail world, I have been small business for a number of years.

It's easy to discount services, but difficult to come back up in price. I caution anyone that drops price. Maybe consider a limited time mid-winter special. "If you order pkg X, you receive a complimentary coating" or similar. Limited time for this (include actual dwadline!) or first 10 clients or …. You get the idea.

NETWORK! I am not sure (yet) what industries detailers should get to know for referrals. (I come from a diff industry.)

Get active on a blog, Facebook, Instagram & Linked In. That would help your company grow organically. (If u arent familiar enough with them or time, you can hire aomeone / service for it. Just chiose approprately, these people are representing YOUR company.)

Sorry if I wasnt specific enough, I wanted to help get some marketing juices flowing.

Hope that helps.
 
AllanS said:
It's easy to discount services, but difficult to come back up in price. I caution anyone that drops price. Maybe consider a limited time mid-winter special.
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:iagree:
Another suggestion for winter is to advertise interior detailing. I'm even busier this winter than I was in the summer. Skate shops sell snow gear in the winter. Detail shops sell interior detailing in the winter. Rather than discounting your premium exterior services start pushing your premium interior services.
 
Mantilgh said:
This made me think about the upcoming DC Auto Show. I wonder if I'd get thrown out for trying to hand out business cards there.
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Be careful, some shows will boot you since you're advertising and didn't pay a vendor fee.

I would suggest correcting half your hood, leave other half untouched. And get a decal made with your Instagram handle and put it on your windshield. Then remove after show.

That is my plan of attack come spring time!
 
FinishingTouchA said:
:iagree:
Another suggestion for winter is to advertise interior detailing. I'm even busier this winter than I was in the summer. Skate shops sell snow gear in the winter. Detail shops sell interior detailing in the winter. Rather than discounting your premium exterior services start pushing your premium interior services.
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Can't really promote premium interior services since I don't have a steamer or extractor yet.

And I tend to offer free upgrades rather than discounted prices.


Being how I reached out to the owner of this restaurant, I had to offer some sort of "bait" to get him in the door. I wouldn't advertise this on Facebook or Instagram, as I'd be flooded with nasty dirty family vans and stuff of that nature.

I feel very confident with this leading to more jobs, and I have no problem spending half a day doing a 6 month old white van that just sits in a parking lot.
 
RFrommann said:
I wouldn't advertise this on Facebook or Instagram, as I'd be flooded with nasty dirty family vans and stuff of that nature.
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:bash::bash::bash:
Like I said, read up on Facebook advertising. You sound like you want more business but you are too lazy to work for it. Facebook advertising is very underutilized by the service industry. Did you know you can specifically target households that bring in 250k-500k a year, how about owners of sports and luxury cars less than 2 years old, and don't forget about marketing coatings to people who are looking to buy a new car? If you think Facebook is only going to bring you nasty minivans you are misinformed and I suggest doing some research before writing it off as a worthless marketing resource. :dblthumb2:
 
Eventually you will get sick of working for free and half price details won't be any fun. Facebook is a waste of time and advertising dollars.
Thinking outside the box is a good think but business fundamentals is what keeps you in business.
Word of mouth is the best way to get customers. Each year you will grow.
 
rustytruck said:
Eventually you will get sick of working for free and half price details won't be any fun. Facebook is a waste of time and advertising dollars.

Thinking outside the box is a good think but business fundamentals is what keeps you in business.

Word of mouth is the best way to get customers. Each year you will grow.
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Why is Facebook a waste of advertising dollars?
 
Have you had luck with it? I don't see how a place where people post pics of their food, cats and kids is a good place to spend advertising dollars.

Spend the money on what works- Google ad words express.

Detailing is a service, people search for a service when they need it.

People don't decide they need the car detailed when they are looking at their friends vacation pics or watching epic fail videos.

Facebook is where people waste time, not do commerce.
 
rustytruck said:
Have you had luck with it? I don't see how a place where people post pics of their food, cats and kids is a good place to spend advertising dollars.

Spend the money on what works- Google ad words express.

Detailing is a service, people search for a service when they need it.

People don't decide they need the car detailed when they are looking at their friends vacation pics or watching epic fail videos.

Facebook is where people waste time, not do commerce.
Click to expand...


Facebook is primarily for branding purposes, when someone needs their car detailed you want them to automatically think of you. Also with how Facebook lets you target new car buyers (for coatings) and more affluent homes your dollars are not going to waste. Yes, you should be on Adwords no doubt, but to leave Facebook at the bottom is ignorant. That's like saying newspaper articles and ads don't work because people just want to read about sports and politics. I've found great success both with Facebook targeted ads and press releases in the local newspaper.
 
rustytruck said:
Have you had luck with it? I don't see how a place where people post pics of their food, cats and kids is a good place to spend advertising dollars.

Spend the money on what works- Google ad words express.

Detailing is a service, people search for a service when they need it.

People don't decide they need the car detailed when they are looking at their friends vacation pics or watching epic fail videos.

Facebook is where people waste time, not do commerce.
Click to expand...

Using FB, you can create ads. I just spent $5 to boost a post and have 3700 views and climbing. I've gained 10 more followers from the paid post and two detailing jobs so far....The advertisement shows up on public pages of people who have automotive interests in your local area.
I've received work from FB posts I put up months ago. Doesn't have to be immediate results.

It's probably a waste of my time to explain this since you've made up your mind already about something you haven't researched. I'm taking my time to post this to help others because it's worked for me and isn't expensive.
 
I have spent a lot of time and money with facebook. So far I have recieved 1 new customer for every 100 that I get from ad words. Has anyone else received better results from FB?
 
The one i most use is go to a gas station Like QT in a wealthy part of town wait til a nice car pulls up then approach them with a card BUT dress nice and act confident...One thing all people have in common they have to get gas....It works guaranteed...Sir very nice car Do you have a personal detailer that takes car of your car?(This is where you shutup and dont say a word let him answer) well i have a well respected business as a auto detailer..... Heres my card Do you mind if i get a number from you because i have a special offer i would like to text you( Be quiet here also let him answer.... Say this with the highest level of confidence so they will give it to you without hesitation practice in mirror over and over....The people who say this is pushy ussally dont know their customer base wealthy people didnt get wealthy by being nice pushovers they appreciate go-getters someone like themselves.
 
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