unique ways of getting new customers

[VP Mark]

I get tons of business from Facebook ads. Don't just boost posts, go into ads manager and pick specific demographics. Did you know you can have it shown ads to people who have bought sports cars within the last 6 months that have a 90k+ income? You can. The amount of specificity is massive.

 

[jarred767]

How do you guys track to see exactly how someone found you? Adwords specifically, do you just ask how they found you? One of my goals this year is to really nail down doing Facebooks ads correctly.

 

[RFrommann]

: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:

Definitely not too lazy to work for anything. I was working 50+hrs and still putting in 30+ starting this, and I left my job second week of November.
And when I said I wouldn't advertise such on facebook/Instagram I was referring to broadcasting situations like the one in my original post.
I actually haven't even made a business Facebook, as I was doing 5+ details a week up until Christmas week. And being how the market I've got myself in, I've been making over 1300/week.

Today I booked 2 customers, both of which had horrible experience with other local detailers, one of which was a dealership who burned through his paint.

 

[FinishingTouchA]

Definitely not too lazy to work for anything. I was working 50+hrs and still putting in 30+ starting this, and I left my job second week of November.
And when I said I wouldn't advertise such on facebook/Instagram I was referring to broadcasting situations like the one in my original post.
I actually haven't even made a business Facebook, as I was doing 5+ details a week up until Christmas week. And being how the market I've got myself in, I've been making over 1300/week.

Today I booked 2 customers, both of which had horrible experience with other local detailers, one of which was a dealership who burned through his paint.

Good job, glad you're doing well. Those 100+ hour weeks can be painful. I was just trying to say maybe you should give Facebook a try instead of saying it's worthless.

 

[RFrommann]

Good job, glad you're doing well. Those 100+ hour weeks can be painful. I was just trying to say maybe you should give Facebook a try instead of saying it's worthless.

i've never thought having a FB page is worthless, i just haven't had the time to create one, but i actually just did an hour ago.


i started this thread to see what other people have done to source new clients. i have more time than money at disposal right now.

 

[VP Mark]

Lack of customers is almost always due to obscurity. Facebook is a good way to fix obscurity.

 

[Stevedotmil]

Another way to get into the good clients is to make friends with some of the local, long standing, car clubs. This will net you some great word of mouth referrals and keep them coming once you get the right crowd in the shop. Word travels fast with that crowd. Offer discounts to members of most popular or largest club, say 10% off and watch how many people come knocking. This worked well for me in Europe. The car scene there is crazy during the nice weather. There's something going on almost every weekend.

 

[RFrommann]

Another way to get into the good clients is to make friends with some of the local, long standing, car clubs. This will net you some great word of mouth referrals and keep them coming once you get the right crowd in the shop. Word travels fast with that crowd. Offer discounts to members of most popular or largest club, say 10% off and watch how many people come knocking. This worked well for me in Europe. The car scene there is crazy during the nice weather. There's something going on almost every weekend.

that's pretty much how it is here in the spring/summer/fall. but in the winter people park their cars, and make changes for the new season coming up.


yesterday i talked to the owner of a driving school, and we'll be setting up a "test" on one vehicle, and if she likes my work i'll be doing the other 7 vehicles, and bi-weekly washes.

i am also going over details with the owner of Procom Racing, and will most likely be setting up a limited handful of details for his customers.

just figured i'd repot back with other unique things i've been coming up with.

 

[Willy Wang]

Lack of customers is almost always due to obscurity.

I definitely agree with this. And I think you are already on the right track talking to the driving instructor. Customers are the result of marketing and/or prospecting. Sales is a game of numbers.

How many people are you talking to per day? And are you doing it, every single day?

Customers can come to you, or you can go looking for them. It's hard to measure customers reached through advertising, but you can certainly control your own daily activity. Set a daily goal of the number of people you want to contact and stick to it. Every single day. Consistency is key.

Maybe you could start with 5 a day. So every week you will have 35. And every month you will have spoken to 140 prospects. That is 140 more people that know your business. After a year that will be 1820 people.

After you work on a customer. Before you leave, drop by the neighbors' home and just tell them what you were in the neighborhood doing and drop them a card. Ask them for their business. Set up an appointment on the spot if you can. There's nothing like hitting the pavement and getting your face in front of people. There are no short cuts in sales. Sales is a contact sport. How many contacts are you making?

Hope this helps!

 

[jarred767]

I definitely agree with this. And I think you are already on the right track talking to the driving instructor. Customers are the result of marketing and/or prospecting. Sales is a game of numbers.

How many people are you talking to per day? And are you doing it, every single day?

Customers can come to you, or you can go looking for them. It's hard to measure customers reached through advertising, but you can certainly control your own daily activity. Set a daily goal of the number of people you want to contact and stick to it. Every single day. Consistency is key.

Maybe you could start with 5 a day. So every week you will have 35. And every month you will have spoken to 140 prospects. That is 140 more people that know your business. After a year that will be 1820 people.

After you work on a customer. Before you leave, drop by the neighbors' home and just tell them what you were in the neighborhood doing and drop them a card. Ask them for their business. Set up an appointment on the spot if you can. There's nothing like hitting the pavement and getting your face in front of people. There are no short cuts in sales. Sales is a contact sport. How many contacts are you making?

Hope this helps!

You've got drive manrops:rops: You can hear it in the way you write. Sales come easier for some than others, but if you work at it consistently, you'll only get better at it (like anything else).

 

[Willy Wang]

Thanks Jarred! That is true! You can improve in sales skills. There are 2 stages before becoming a natural: 1) The awkward stage 2) The mechanical stage 3) The natural stage. Hypothetically let's say it will take 250 practices to progress to the next stage. So the question really is, how soon do you want to get through those 500? You can do it in a month or you can do it in 2 years.

"We must do what others won't do, so that we may have what others won't have." -someone

 

[onsite]

How do you guys track to see exactly how someone found you? Adwords specifically, do you just ask how they found you? One of my goals this year is to really nail down doing Facebooks ads correctly.

I can email you an example of how i track what my advertisements do.

I watch everything pretty close as I want to know where monies better spent. Lets say AdWords only generated me 3 calls a month and no customers! If im not spending a large sum I'd continue as it's exposure. However, if Im spending more than I'll ever get back or can justify then ill cut that avenue out and put that money into something more rewarding!

Op, For thinking out of the box think of what catches people's eye.

As an example: once my trailer gets wrapped, and we go shopping. More than likely my wife and I will drive separately! My mobile unit will be parked in parking lots by busy intersections. Which I know already which ones I can park at right near the corner with no troubles and get more exposure!

I'll go as far to go to a very nice reputable oil/lube/mechanic. As Ill need my oil changed, so why not go to the shop in the right locations drop my trailer while I sit and wait while talking to and networking with that particular facility. All the while I turned their parking lot into a spot for my rolling billboard!

Look at everything you do in a normal day and see what you can do to make it a means to advertise!

Im now trying to get the wife convinced to wrap her car, and in return I will detail it more often. Which thats not going well. Getting some resistance on that one since she brought up Ill detail no matter what, worth a shot though lol!

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