What is the Single Best Form of Advertising you have Used?

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For me Yellow Pages listing has really given me an uptick in business. I got a 3-4 line boxed add listed in 2 books under 2 headings for $34 a month. It has paid for itself already.
 
My best advertising has been the two cheapest:



1) Word of mouth from a repeat client. This is the best form of marketing IMHO..because of it I rarely have to rely on traditional methods.



2) Being out on a job site cleaning a high end vehicle...especially at a corporate park. People always come up to me and ask for a card and a price sheet...some will even book appointments right there on the spot.
 
Yes same way here. word of mouth and people seeing you working your a*s off and thinking i really dont want to do that lets have that poor sucker do it instead. (what they dont know is that im thinking (im actually getting paid to do this i could do this forever)
 
Yes I agree with word of mouth is the best. Other ways may include advertise on you vehicle I have mobile business as well as the shop I get more phone calls from my vans then anything well next to word of mouth of course...
 
Word of mouth and a single advertizing sheet hung in the window of my buddies barber shop ..( its a guy thing ) I also enter my car in local shows and have a 8 x 10 sheet in a plastic upright frame standing in the corner of my windshield ..



I have also had good luck dropping my fliers off at local corporate offices/real eatate / law offices etc.. For high end stuff I offer the business man a pickup/delivery service. Works in a small town.
 
If I were to mathmatically equate the # of flyers to the number of responses it would be like 1:500. It is hard in smaller cities like here where there is a small population of middle age professionals and alot of conservatives. I am lucky that I maintain 4-5 cars a week. I know it is time to really write out a specific plan for targeting the right groups of people. Another thing that sucks is not having the dough to do direct mailing or other large scale advetising. If I could afford radio and print adds it would be on. I tried the classifieds what a bust. I tried pizza boxes, no response. I tried free GC's for charities, just did a free detail. The fitness center I use has generated a few responses from flyers.

It's tough but nose to the grindstone knowing it takes about 1-2 years for any small business.
 
1 Clean WS6 said:
My best advertising has been the two cheapest:



1) Word of mouth from a repeat client. This is the best form of marketing IMHO..because of it I rarely have to rely on traditional methods.



2) Being out on a job site cleaning a high end vehicle...especially at a corporate park. People always come up to me and ask for a card and a price sheet...some will even book appointments right there on the spot.
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Same here. Putting out flyers when I first started generated some interest but doing good work and keeping customer and having them recommend you is the real key in this business.



A sign on your vehicle also helps.
 
Flyers work very well for me, we get a pretty low return rate but we get calls months after we pass them out.
 
I don't polish as a professional, but I do professional quality work as an "Obsessed Detailer". My clients do all my advertising for me. So does MY vehicle.
 
:idea I wonder if anyone has posted a full detail on eBay...they sell everything else there :D Seems like that could be an interesting way to get noticed.
 
I'm not a professional, so referrals from customers and my car are the two biggest means of generating business for me. Plus most of the cars I've done this fall said that they will bring their cars back in the spring. So next year looks to be filled with repeat customers. That's fine, because the cars will need very little work since I just detailed them recently.
 
I have worked a full year on my flyer to get it right. It take time to get things where you want them. I am now starting to pick up after 1 years time I am close to keeping my weeks full with 5 -6 customers which is perfect. It just a matter of time and effort, no parking lot is left untouched and no car is safe. If it generates 1 lead it is worth it. I have cards at Nevada Bobs golf, never got a call!! Then the other day a guy picked up my card there and gave me 3 cars, so you never know?

Here are my current packages, I work off of 3 packages although I only really sell the $125 package. I've learned to keep the flyer simple and get on a level for those people that may not understand what "detailing" is.



AutoNova Detailing

Certified Detailing

Wash, Wax, Clean Interiors & Exteriors, Remove Scratches, Clean Paint





1.Wash Nâ€â„¢ Wax $39.95

(Suggested every 2 weeks)

Time: 1-1.5 hours



q WASH

q WAX

q VACUUM

q CLEAN WINDOWS

q CLEAN AND DRESS TIRES

q WIPE-DOWN INTERIOR



2.Full Detail $125.00

(Suggested every 3-4 months)

Time: 4-5 hours



q Includes Wash Nâ€â„¢ Wax

q CLAY SURFACE (REMOVES CONTAMINANTS)

q CARANUBA WAX

q DETAIL INTERIOR

q DETAIL EXTERIOR

q SHAMPOO MATS AND CARPETS

q SPOT CLEAN UPHOLESTRY

q PRESSURE WASH ENGINE

q RAIN-X FRONT WINDSHIELD



3. Full Detail Plus $160.00

(Suggested every 6 months)

Time: 6-7 hours



q Includes Full Detail

q 2 COATS OF WAX

q POLISH WHEEL RIMS

q SCOTCHGUARD CARPET AND MATS

q CLEAN ENGINE & DETAIL HOSES AND PARTS
 
The detailer I first used and who mentored me prio to my finding Autopia gave a seminar for the local BMW club. They also sold Mequire's products, so I ordered a PC through them with a 10% club discount. This detailer turned me on to #80, and would let me come and watch him work. Probably doing something like this for a local car club would generate some business.



I personally have owned a veterinary hospital for 20 years, and other than word of mouth my best advertising has been a good yellow page ad and the sign on my building. Other advertising was hit and miss and took too much effort.
 
The single best form of advertising I have used has been my repeat customers telling their friends and family about my detailing services. That alone has been responsible for the majority of the growth of my detailing business.
 
mirrorfinishman said:
The single best form of advertising I have used has been my repeat customers telling their friends and family about my detailing services.
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Word of mouth is always the best advertising, IMHO. To that end, you should make it easy for your customers to tell their family, friends and associates about your service. Think about giving your clients serialized coupons to hand out in trade for discounts (e.g., 4 referred customers with coupons = free wash).
 
DavidB said:
Word of mouth is always the best advertising, IMHO. To that end, you should make it easy for your customers to tell their family, friends and associates about your service. Think about giving your clients serialized coupons to hand out in trade for discounts (e.g., 4 referred customers with coupons = free wash).
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Honestly, if your work is good enough that isn't necessary after you are established. It is a good idea initially, but once you have a nice client base the only real discounts you may need are ones for rainy days so a wet week doesn't equal no income.
 
DavidB said:
Word of mouth is always the best advertising, IMHO. To that end, you should make it easy for your customers to tell their family, friends and associates about your service. Think about giving your clients serialized coupons to hand out in trade for discounts (e.g., 4 referred customers with coupons = free wash).
Click to expand...



This is a great idea.



The key here is making it easier for customers to tell others. Of course customers will enjoy the reward of a discount for the referrals, however the greater returns will come from giving your customer a goal of 4 referred customers before they get their reward.



Until now I have been offering my current customers a one time cash referral reward of a $20 Off Coupon for every referral of a new customer. I think I am going to go with something along the lines of serialized coupons for multiple referrals. That should help to keep my customers thinking about telling more and more people.



DavidB, thanks for sharing a very good idea!
 
That is exactly what I do. I gave a new customer 4 referral coupons that she then filled out and passed around her church. All 4 booked a detail within 3 days and now I am the local church's detailer of choice.
 
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