I have designed and printed some very nice TRI-FOLD brochures which basically introduces my company, displays my prices and services and gives a professional feeling to my work. I was wondering what is the normal type of ADVERTISING you guys participate in. Magazines, AD's , Flyers, Business Cards? anything and everything which you have seen results from , I am interested in hearing about. It would be awsome if you guys could share some stories about how you had gotten started and what you would of done differently. Thanks guys! :thumb:
Hey just wondering, where did you get the brochures from and for how much? I'm looking into getting some, I'm just starting to advertise. Thanks!
My best form of advertising for me has been word of mouth. It's really the best advertising you can get.
I've considered trying Craigslist. It's free, after all, so it can't really hurt. A really interesting angle came to me last weekend. I was at a charity concourse that the local Porsche Club of America chapter was hosting. On a lark, I entered my Honda S2000. I don't mean to sound like I'm boasting, but my car had the nicest looking paintwork of any car there. I had *loads* of Porsche people come up and ask me about it...who details it, how did I get the engine bay so clean, that kind of thing. And, I won the "Honda/Acura" category. Anyway, none of this counts until my phone rings, but I handed out probably a dozen business cards that Saturday. Additionally, as most on here know, I autocross my S2000. Our club had a charity event of its own a few weeks ago, and I signed on as a sponsor, offering a substantial discount on a single service. That discount was given away in the raffle. I won't make much on this deal, but am hopeful that word of mouth will follow as a result. Agreed. Really knock one out of the park for one client, and they almost always run out and tell their friends. Their friends then call. I've also had luck with clients who own more than one vehicle, or who have other vehicles for their wives. For one guy, I've done three of his cars, with a fourth on the way, and have done one for his girifriend too. I leave a couple business cards in the center console, by the handbrake, for just this purpose. One for the original client, and another couple for him/her to hand out. I've also just now started offering referral discounts.
Advertise at a golf course. Usually these guys have at least a little bit of cash to play with, and they are like 8 year olds. One guy gets his car detailed, they all want it. People always showing each other up. I worked at a golf course, I know how they are. When the wife is away, time to play. Do a promotional thing maybe, hole in one gets a free detail. Rarely happens, but your "sponsorship" might get some inquiries.
some good ideas, I am a member at a couple nice gold clubs so that should work! For now i am running around newport to fine diners and retail outlets, picking Bentleys and such to put my brochure onto. I have detailed around 20 customers cars, and 10 of those have been from referrals, so word of mouth is VERY important as i have seen first hand. Im a creative sunofa so ill figure something out. thanks guys -Grafton
Hey Karl, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on your referral discounts as I'm thinking of doing the same or similar thing (i.e. forum discounts, friend discounts, etc.). Feel free to PM me if you don't want to respond in this thread, thanks.
Well, my two (more) cents: personally, I avoid leaving anything like a card or flyer on a car in a parking lot. Why? Because when people do it to me, it really, really makes me angry. And I'm "only" driving an S2000. If I drove something like a Bentley, I'd be even more upset. I just don't like people touching my cars unless I tell them it's okay. That might be just me though, perhaps I'm missing out on an opportunity here. :shrug: Denzil, I wish I could give you a structured sort of thing that I do, but I can't. I sort of wing it. One customer of mine, who has given me a handful of referrals in addition to some other vehicles of his, I told him I'd take $25 off the next car I worked on for him. And, I told a guy in our autocross club that I'd fix his headlights for $25, where I'd usually charge $40. So, nothing firm just yet :sorry:
Now THIS sounds like a winning idea. I'd love to do this if I had the time. Also, my car isn't exactly the cleanest right now...
Ah well I'm kind of getting there somewhat but sometimes I feel like winging it as well. Don't hesitate to PM me if you have any questions or want to discuss options. :thumb:
The best way is to advertise yourself. Put your business card on any nice cars you see. Go to any events that car people would be at, etc.
I think you need to be careful when putting business cards on cars. It is an inexpensive form of advertisement, but also in the same respect it looks like your fishing for business.
