The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on thousands of brick-and-mortar businesses, including auto body and repair shops. If you’ve been struggling to recover your shop losses in the past months, we’ve got some good news for you. With a few clever marketing strategies and some changes in customer service, you can rebound and put your auto shop in a stronger position to weather the storm.
Offer contact-free transaction
In these trying times, it’s crucial to assure consumers that safety is the top priority in your auto shop to attract new and repeat customers continually. Consider the following contact-free strategies:
- Designate an outside area at your shop for no-contact vehicle drop-off and pick-up. You can also offer to pick up the car from your customer’s home or workplace to help them prevent the risks that come with going out to get a service.
- Train your auto mechanic and other staff to maintain the six-foot distancing requirement. You should also enforce the wearing of eye and face protection, as well as gloves, when interacting with the cars and customers themselves. Put these rules into posters to remind your staff daily.
- Practice sanitizing steering wheels, door handles, ignition switches, and any other touchpoints before and after working or driving on a vehicle.
- Offer online payment options and accept payments over the phone.
Offer coupons and discounts
This pandemic hasn’t been easy for everyone, putting people out of work or reducing their income. Show support to your clients by offering discounts and coupons. Waived tire installation fees or free leveling kits can be a huge help for someone who recently got unemployed but needs new tires to get to their next delivery gig.
Be sure to get the word out about these offers. Promote these special promos and coupons on your social media pages to not only show support to your customers but also reach more potential clients. With a strong social media presence, you can continue bringing revenues to your shop. The promos and discounts are a win-win situation: you get business while your customer gets a waived fee or free kits.
Make the most of digital marketing
Apart from social media advertising, maximize other digital marketing strategies. Most people now shop and look for services online, so make sure that your auto shop brand shows up on their Google search. Read up on search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, and even email marketing. As simple as sending out weekly email updates or weekly coupons can help bring in more customers to your shop. Using videos on your websites, emails, and social media platforms can also help attract customers. But for more cost-effective campaigns, consider working with digital marketing firms that cater to small businesses. They know how to bring in more work for your shop without having you to break the bank.
Maintaining a healthy bottom line in these trying times is possible if you continuously assure your customers’ safety, help them make sense of the new normal, and reach out to them on the internet.
