Advertisement Strategy?

I just started my business mobile recently and trying to determine the most effective way to advertise. I`m curious as to see what works and doesnt work for everyone.



I currently have the following : Flyers, Business Cards, and a Website, I`m getting ready to place an ad in a local paper. I`ve limited myself as to "there`s only so many places" you can hand out or post a flyer or business card without talking to someone.



I know theres not TOO much more you can hand out.. but im open for ideas and curious to see what others biggest return for advertisement as been.

word of mouth is really the only effective way. I`ve tried it all. A few hits here and there but mostly money tossed out the window. Get a good website to showcase you`re work and let the word from satisfied customers spread like wildfire.

Go around to local auto businesses, and let them know what you do. You`ll get some referrals here and there. Forget the yellow pages, the biggest waste of money ever.





John

If you`re mobile, then you could wrap your car/truck with your business logos/design. That`s usually the most eye catching.



Josh

Similar to Josh`s idea, a cheaper alternative would be the magnetic door hangs. Only thing is if you got that advertisement right on the vehicle I would make sure your vehicle looks tip top at all times.

-Website (if you need help pm me)

-Business cards

-Clean detailing rig

-Nice logo on your rig

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Originally Posted by qwkgtp

Similar to Josh`s idea, a cheaper alternative would be the magnetic door hangs. Only thing is if you got that advertisement right on the vehicle I would make sure your vehicle looks tip top at all times.

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Now I totally agree with tip top, but in my case I got a 95` Chevy silverado 4x4 for a work truck, driver`s side was wrecked.

So it has a dented up bed and twisted front bumper and mirror missing. I have been worried about this lately on how I present myself.

Just having a website won`t as you`ve discovered create a huge number of customers.



You should appear easily enough in very specific searches such as for a detailer in your area.



But generally its more a place to showcase your work, somewhere where people who`ve already heard of you, by word of mouth, signage etc can go and learn more about you before they commit time or money.

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I`ve limited myself as to "there`s only so many places" you can hand out or post a flyer or business card without talking to someone.

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Interesting turn of phrase. You are in a people business, why would you not want to talk to potential customers?

Thanks for the general response so far everyone, good ideas!



As for the question above about the "phrase"



I was trying to make a reference of ways to distribute flyers, cards, etc without being able to talk to everyone in say... an big office building, or doctors office.. places of that nature. I think handing one flyer or card to a receptionist is a waste of time, (Don`t get me wrong, I still hand them out to the receptionists) for the fact that you don`t know if they actually hung your cards or flyers in the break room or what not.



I`d much rather talk to my potential customer :)

We get a fair share of business online. But, I have yet to get one higher-end detail - $3-5k - anywhere but word-of mouth. I think most are going to be hard-pressed to find someone with a $220k - $2m car willing to turn it over and be prepared to pay that kinda jack to someone they`ve gotten from an ad.



Andy

This a good question. Even though its somewhat costly, I prepared packets/packages in the 8x10 envelopes that I send to prospective customers that I know will be coming in for the lower-end details, anything higher than an exterior detail gets face to face meetings and inspections etc etc..