I just started mobile detailing couple month ago It is running really slow. I have business card and post card. what is the best way to get customers? Plz any suggestions thank you
word of mouth is how im doing it.. I have business cards, but never gotten a detail by given them out.
be creative, but whatever you do ... DON'T do the Groupon thing. People pull these ads out whenever I do quotes for them. I explain them the difference, but most do the cheaper deal. At least this is side money for me and I just offer AIO packages.
I'm mostly through word of mouth. In my opinion thats one of the best way in a business where reputation means so much. Also, join some local car forums. Don't actually advertise your business, but post some of your details in the appropriate section, and if your work is good, people WILL pm you asking about it.
Forums. Word of Mouth, i've had 4 details in the last 2 weekends including a paint correction on this
best way I've found...go above & beyond!! always do the BEST job you possibly can & your customers will be your best advertising...we've been doing it 10 years now & have more than we can handle...always run 1-2 weeks out & people that have been referred to us are willing to wait for us.....Do GREAT work & more work will come to you!!:support::support::support::support::support:
get registered and insured if you aren't already. People especially those who are "monied up" won't let you near a car unless they know you are paying taxes and covering yourself if an accident happens. Walk the beat, if you aren't working you should be advertising. I hand out around 2000 flyers a year in the spring. I usually get 20 jobs or so. That's enough to pay for the advertising. It's the referrals that I get from those customers that adds to the bottom line. Go to car shows, car meets ect. You need to be actively handing out cards and selling yourself. The wait and see businesses don't last. Doing a good job should be a given.
As a detailer we are in a small minority of people that clean cars with a high degree of attention to detail. That means our customers are also in a minority for the services they request. The average person is happy going to a local gas station for a 'hand wash' (Californians) or to a Whip 'n Swirl automated car wash. These are not your target customer. They will tend to be the Groupon shopper; someone that will hammer you down on price and has no concept of poor technique. Do you intend to do mobile washes? Wash and Waxes? Or corrections? This will also affect who your clients will tend to be.
Bryan's response rate of 1% is pretty much on par with what anyone will get with direct response (in any industry). Fortunately, you can have 2000 fliers professionally printed for about the cost that one customer brings in (let say around $300).
yup, its still worth it for me. I usually get enough back from 2 customers to cover the printing costs, but I also include my time delivering them as well. It's good to get exercise though, I am a sunny day mail man. Also, go to chapters and pick up som ebooks on selling, advertising and marketing. I will do you a lot of good to educate yourself.
"Business Marketing" - http://www.autopia.org/forum/detailing-business-management-marketing/136437-business-marketing.html "Marketing on the Internet" - http://www.autopia.org/forum/detail...ng/136474-marketing-internet.html#post1447579 "Essentials for Starting a New Business" - http://www.autopia.org/forum/detail.../136439-essentials-starting-new-business.html "Becoming a Professional Detailer" - http://www.autopia.org/forum/detail...ng/136438-becoming-professional-detailer.html
fantastic info here guys. it's really nice to have forums like this where we all can share what is working or not working for us in any given type of market, Word of Mouth does work great once you start to build a name for yourself but it's hard to have word of mouth when you first start out. What i always do is have business cards on me no matter where i go be it to the mall, to the bank, out to eat etc . . . . and on my walk to my destination if i see some nice cars i will leave my business card on the driver side window. I tend to get a pretty good response from that. The bad thing is a lot of places here are cracking down and have security. Get a website and make sure to take photo's of some of your jobs, high quality photo's at that. Sometimes people like to see visuals vs calling you and asking question as they can read about your business and check your photo gallery out to see what kind of work you do. I personally am tired of doing messy interior jobs on cars though at the end of the day we all have bills to pay so sometimes we can't be super picky. I would love to set myself up to do correction jobs only but my market here may not allow for that. Advertise on your vehicle so that every time you hit the road you are advertising for your company. Appearance is a lot in this business so remember that. As for "BRYANSBESTWAX" i use to do the flyer thing back when i first started but i was pumping out tons of flyers. Usually about 400 per batch and that would be gone in no time. When i first started out i was a noob like anyone else and didn't know a ton about proper washing techniques but i made more money back then as appose to now. My prices were way cheaper back then and it was more bulk work where we were cranking out 2-4 details a day. Hopefully more folks chime in here as this could be a fantastic thread.
What about something like a nice trifold brochure that outlines some of the key aspects to get the idea of what we do and then they can always go to the website for more info if needed or even call? i have been thinking about doing brochures for a little while now
I start with word of mouth at my old job and got about 15 people there and the owners cars. From there it just got way to busy so I finally had to go legit. Now I when spring comes booked from march till oct. I do no other ads ether cause I don't want to hire anyone.
