Why you don’t need a website or business shirts when you’re starting off

I hate Facebook anyway, when I see that stuff, without a regular website - I think "free page". I could be wrong - I have no idea, but my perception is you have to be on Facebook to see someone's complete Facebook page. So, when it comes up in a Google search - I just ignore it. I feel most people who "don't Facebook" will do the same. Only thing CL is good for is getting a chuckle out of the casual encounter ads. I wouldn't hire anyone advertising their labor on there.


Like I said, this is all my opinion and I could be 100% wrong.. But it's my perception... And I'm part of the public and I spend $$$. I see people perusing CL for detailers as likely cheap skates...Someone looking for a $15 car wash. A real customer wants to see your website and see what you have done and if your clever enough to present it in a fashion that is appealing. It's all part of business and marketing.

They may be giving you their $100k car to work on - why would the pick someone who doesn't have what almost all successful business' have - a quality website?

I do understand having a website and a polo shirt with your name on it doesn't make you a pro - but NOT having those things doesn't make you one either. Sure you could be the best detailer in the world and not advertise or wear your logo on a shirt. However, the quality of your work is only 50% of success in my opinion.

The other 50% is how you market and present it. In fact, people spend years of their life studying marketing and can get advanced degrees in it. Public perception is everything for a business. New customers don't know your great, so they have to make a leap of faith based on *something* they can see - a nice website and a nice polo with your logo is just putting your good foot forward IMHO.
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everyone has there opinions :)

the point is if someone is wanting to start up a detailing business and they think they HAVE TO HAVE THIS STUFF is wrong..completely

no one is right or wrong here :dblthumb2:
 
77shovelhead said:
I dont have facebook. Never will.Don't care much what the detailer wears when he is working,but if they want high end work they better present themselves as better dressed than the typical hack. I'm not going to let any of my cars loose with somebody in old shorts abd an ancient T-shirt Sorry
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lmao, everyone is missing the point

but all good :dblthumb2:
 
I ask all of my new customers (ones not sent from customer referral) how they found me, and the majority say they found my website, and it looked very professional. The rest have either found my business cards or seen me working mobile and took the info off my truck. The time I've put into it this past winter has definitely been worth it for my business.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using AG Online
 
thebamboo23 said:
everyone has there opinions :)

the point is if someone is wanting to start up a detailing business and they think they HAVE TO HAVE THIS STUFF is wrong..completely

no one is right or wrong here :dblthumb2:
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:confused::doh:
 
In this day and age not having a website could, in the minds of consumers, make your business appear amateur VERY quickly...

Think about it.. we are at the point where people live their lives online. They do things, JUST to display these actions online....

I agree COMPLETELY that the quality of work should be the number one concern, but a website is paramount to ANY business in the world of 2014.

To be competitive and or relevant in any era, businesses need to establish a presence either in the contemporary media stream of that time or in avenues that are on the peripherial cutting edge.
 
I agree with OP totally.

First of all...I don't think you will start with high quality clients to begin with. And once you get there...most likely it comes to you from Word of mouth.
Not one high end client will believe you because you have a website. You need referrals

Second if you haven't done any work, what you are going to post to your website.

Third Facebook you will have up and running in 30 minutes. And if used correctly, can be worth more than website...you need to know something about internet marketing for website.

Fourth, if you meet with someone face to face and send them to your website...I think you lost them...you are already talking to them face to face. Unless they find you on the internet you website is useless.
When face to face, show them pictures from your phone...don't send them to internet to look for your info. Most people have a.d.d. and they will go and look for others in your area.

I don't like facebook and closed it, and opened it up because of the business...that's where your friends and everyone else is hanging out.

just my .02 cents
 
Christopher.Brown said:
In this day and age not having a website could, in the minds of consumers, make your business appear amateur VERY quickly...

Think about it.. we are at the point where people live their lives online. They do things, JUST to display these actions online....

I agree COMPLETELY that the quality of work should be the number one concern, but a website is paramount to ANY business in the world of 2014.

To be competitive and or relevant in any era, businesses need to establish a presence either in the contemporary media stream of that time or in avenues that are on the peripherial cutting edge.
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yes, once you get customers and start getting traction get a website. good point
 
If i didn't reply to someone's post.. my bad.. i try and get em all

antti@561detailing said:
I agree with OP totally.

First of all...I don't think you will start with high quality clients to begin with. And once you get there...most likely it comes to you from Word of mouth.
Not one high end client will believe you because you have a website. You need referrals

Second if you haven't done any work, what you are going to post to your website.

Third Facebook you will have up and running in 30 minutes. And if used correctly, can be worth more than website...you need to know something about internet marketing for website.

Fourth, if you meet with someone face to face and send them to your website...I think you lost them...you are already talking to them face to face. Unless they find you on the internet you website is useless.
When face to face, show them pictures from your phone...don't send them to internet to look for your info. Most people have a.d.d. and they will go and look for others in your area.

I don't like facebook and closed it, and opened it up because of the business...that's where your friends and everyone else is hanging out.

just my .02 cents
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Yep, most people that are talking down on facebook dont know how to maximize the use of it

good post :dblthumb2:
 
Christopher.Brown said:
In this day and age not having a website could, in the minds of consumers, make your business appear amateur VERY quickly...

Think about it.. we are at the point where people live their lives online. They do things, JUST to display these actions online....

I agree COMPLETELY that the quality of work should be the number one concern, but a website is paramount to ANY business in the world of 2014.

To be competitive and or relevant in any era, businesses need to establish a presence either in the contemporary media stream of that time or in avenues that are on the peripherial cutting edge.
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good input Chris :xyxthumbs:

it comes down to 2 things:
1) people finding your business
2) if you can solve their problem
 
I agree,in principle.... with some of the generalities you've addressed. And that may be fine for many out there, as we all know..... word of mouth drives the detailing business to a great degree.

That aside, (and not getting into what you need to do once you grow the business), other steps should be made.

What I really don't agree with these days (with the new Facebook policies) is trying to run a FB Business page. If you want traffic on a FB page these days you'll have to pay out the nose. Anywhere from updates, posts, even for people to SEE your messages you'll have to pay, and they are reaching for your "organic reach" to end up down at 1%, (unless you pay PER post, and perhaps per PERSON. :dunno: And this is for a company that had over $7 BILLION in ad revenues in 2013 (that didn't include this new formula, just plain old ads that bug you at the top or sides of your pages. Time Magazine has even done an article on it. :rolleyes: (Many threads both here and elsewhere can be found on that subject.)

What I'd suggest instead is a Google Business Page. Google is a lot of things these days, both good AND BAD, but their business pages are still free. (Last time I looked.) ;)

I do agree however that your work is what speaks for itself. Doesn't matter if your part time, full time, or have a crew of 10. Placement within your market segment is what'll make your business work. Trying to sell $1000 paint corrections to a market that drives $8500 used cars isn't going to work. Just as working 14 hour days doing $20 "full details" will put you in the poor house as well.

Ya' pays ya' dollar, and ya' picks ya' poison. ;)
 
good point on the shirts lol. Its nice to have to separate you. However, I dont think people care. I was going to wear at least an old collared shirt to do some cars, but people looked like they did not care and I just said let me wear older clothes that are not the same color
 
Here is my take on it...

IF YOU ARE STARTING OUT... You don't need all these things, i know go as far as buying pens, and frisbees with their logo/name on them. THAT is not necessary, in my opinion.

I started out in 2008 through word of mouth and some free business cards from VistaPrint. I had nothing else.

I now have a FB page dedicated to showing my work, i still don't have a shirt or any other forms of ads (although a shirt would be nice).

If this was my full time gig and starting out, i'd spend that money on ads rather than shirts and other pointless stuff..

Now if i was the king of detailing, i'd spend the extra $$ on the stupid stuff.
 
I agree with the OP if you are just starting out... Starting out meaning that you do this on the side in a very casual manner (family, friends, and acquaintances etc.). You may get a few jobs by word of mouth, but regardless the volume would be too small to support yourself on. Therefore, you don't need a website and business attire.

I have a full time job. I like detailing and taking care of my personal cars too. Right now, it's a hobby. However, I have always dreamed of owning my own business for years and continue to do my research. I want to eventually work for myself and a detailing business is something I could see myself doing, among other things.

I could make a legit business, buy some polos, business cards and start handing them out next week like I have a business worth all those things. However, before I did any of those things I would focus on learning the trade, gaining experience, and truly becoming an expert in the business before it was ever a "business". Truthfully, anyone can learn this trade and everything is relatively easy to afford, but you owe it to yourself to invest in yourself first. Websites, looking professional, spending money on a cool vehicle/trailer wrap, extra top notch equipment etc. do not matter, but they do make a difference...

The point is, that you do not need all the extra stuff to get started. However, if you really want to reach your highest business potential you have to understand your customer. In the corporate world, do you think colors of logos, images, locations of items within the store and having every employee clean, shaved and friendly is by accident? Customers expect results regardless, but an aesthetically pleasing, well thought out website will get more calls than a poor, amateur looking one. It's science. It may not be your cup of tea to look "corporate", but trust me it's what your customers want/prefer...
 
OP what is your business schooling background that help you discover these things?
 
cleanmycorolla said:
OP what is your business schooling background that help you discover these things?
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what are you referring to?...

the blogging, case studies, train of thought?

i dont want to give the right answer to the wrong question :props:
 
I also disagree. If you are starting a service business you absolutely need a website. When people are looking to have a service performed people reach for a computer and do an internet search. It's 2014, no one is thumbing through the yellow pages. Your website should be up and running long before you book your first detail.

You should always look professional. I always wear a t shirt with my logo when I'm working. My next customer is always a neighbor of the house I'm currently at.

If you are not ready to get some cards, order a few t shirts and go live with a website then you certainly not ready to be in business.

Full time or part time makes no difference, You're either a pro auto detailer or a kid with some wash buckets and rags. Trust me, good customers know the difference.
 
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