How to get more business

FrogKnowledge · 08-17-09, 02:47

So I have been Mobile now since July 1st and since then I have gone to over 300 business pitching my packages and leaving flyers behind, I have posted on craigslist, and even started placing flyers on cars.

I've really only got 17 customers and most of them were just basic exteriors for $45

What else worked for you guys? I think tomorrow I am going to go back threw parking lots and pick out cars that have problems and write notes to individuals letting them know I can fix their imperfections or maintain their current shine.

Any tips would be great.

yakky · 08-17-09, 03:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrogKnowledge

I have posted on craigslist, and even started placing flyers on cars.

I've really only got 17 customers and most of them were just basic exteriors for $45

What else worked for you guys? I think tomorrow I am going to go back threw parking lots and pick out cars that have problems and write notes to individuals letting them know I can fix their imperfections or maintain their current shine.

Any tips would be great.

If I catch you touching my car, lets just say you won't be getting any business. A few years back, you'd have gotten more than you wanted. Flyers on cars piss people off. Take the flyers and put them on (not in) mail boxes in a nicer neighberhood if you have to do anything with them.

detailingnmore · 08-17-09, 03:29

I agree with Yakky. I know it pisses me and my wife off, as well as everyone I know when I find flyers on my car. Not only that, but when the car owners throw it on the ground, YOU may get a call from the police and be charged with littering. Attractive flyers made on Publisher or another program using YOUR photos and a professional logo. If you don't have one, you can buy Logoworks for $60 and easily make a cool looking logo. Put the flyers up in anyplace that will let you. Mailboxes and doorhangers are another decent marketing item. Things are slow all over the country but continue putting your name out there and when things start to turn around, you will be the first one they call.

MaksimumAuto · 08-17-09, 04:56

Here is what I contribute 70% of my business to.

1) Get about 50 pictures of the work you've done. I'm talking before and afters, in process shots, afters, glamour shots, whatever looks great.

2) Have the developed in 5x7.

3) Get a simple yet elegant photo album and place the pictures in there.

4) Wherever you go, always have the album with you.

Here's how it works.

When your making the sales pitch to somebody, you can hand them the album to look through, and narrate your services and what you can do.

such as..."We do anything from the basic wash n wax to headlight restoration, extreme paint correction, and even mild swirl removal." Things along those lines.

When their looking through the album, tell them little pieces of info about the picture their looking at.

Such as:
"It took us 12 hours to do this car"
"I now do this BMW 525i every two weeks for the client. She was thrilled with how it turned out and wants it to keep looking that way"
"This client works at *insert name of local body shop or car dealership*" (Throwing out multiple names of local businesses makes you sound and look credible. Just be sure to be able to back it up)

Good Luck!

brwill2005 · 08-17-09, 05:28

Do you have a website? These days 80% of my new business comes from the Internet. I use Google Adwords, specifically targeted to the county I live in. I also have listed my business in several free local online business directories. The rest of my business comes from referrals or my phonebook listings.

ReLoaDeD BuLLiT · 08-19-09, 01:13

to be honest bro, what I do is whore up the local forums with detailed threads on my work. my pm box BLOWS up with people asking for pricing, and I offer them 25-30 bucks off their detail if they refer me someone first (not everyone has the money for a 3-step polish)...word of mouth is the key to any business. when I first got started, I had to charge less than 100 for 3-step polishes and do a couple for free just to build a portfolio and prove to people I was very good at what I do.

just my 2 cents. hope this helps.

quamen · 08-19-09, 02:31

take a plastic bag and some landscape rocks and your flier. Put them all together and go pitch them onto every lawn. My clientele consists in the hundreds now.

FrogKnowledge · 08-19-09, 06:29

Thank you guys for the advice

I am going to start hitting houses tomorrow and see how that goes.

Forums as much as I am on them I never thought about that.

I do offer 15% off 2 or more cars but referrals I know I need to push that.

yakky · 08-19-09, 07:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrogKnowledge

Thank you guys for the advice

I am going to start hitting houses tomorrow and see how that goes.

Forums as much as I am on them I never thought about that.

I do offer 15% off 2 or more cars but referrals I know I need to push that.

How about a deal where if an existing customer refers a new customer you give them a big chunk off? If you told me you would give me 1/2 off if I brought you a customer, I'd work pretty hard to con a friend.

Jakerooni · 08-19-09, 07:23

Don't give them a chunk off. If they are returning customers they already value your service at your set price. Why screw yourself out of hard earned cash.. And detailing is very labor intensive so it's definatly hard earned. Instead of giving away money left and right give them a free upgrade on the next level of service or a free upgrade to a higher end product. etc etc... Don't take away your bread and butter when you already have a client that thinks your serivce to price value is a good one... So good in fact that they have told others and have recommended you. It's like tossing money out the window then.

bufferbarry · 08-19-09, 08:33

just remember not to buy your customers! your in this to make money

getcha · 08-19-09, 08:36

One of the things is marketing the correct packages to the correct people. My clientele consists of basically 4 groups with a couple offshoots.
The enthusiasts who love their enthusiast cars who are floored everytime with paint correction and fall in love again, expensive car drivers who can say what I do and what they paid which is helpful to me because they all want that guy doing their cars, the value group who are maintained with mild 1step(AIO), wash and wax and a thorough interior once or twice a year, and the new vehicle preparations(from fantastic referrals that continue)

You have to see what the market will give you and you need to tailor your packages or services to what people want. Some areas may look at your 200 dollar package and say I "well i dont need that and that(which may only be priced by you as something 30ish dollars) soooo im not interested eventhough at 200 dollars its still a killer value. Its a tricky game but keep trying if you are stagnant. Give them what they want