How do YOU advertise?

[Cole Ziegler]

I'm curious how other detailers advertise. Today I spent a couple of hours planning and making an ad I will be sending out to previous customers offering them a discounted "mini-detail"/quick handwash to clean off all this nasty pollen!!

Here was my process:

One dirty car, complete with my girlfriends writing all over it. She knows better than to ever touch my paint so the windows were OK.







Masked Off:





After the Wash:







And the final Ad:





Not bad for a few hours work. Now I just need to get some glue dots. Hopefully it will bring in some customers!

[eyezack87]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

Nice job! I like that idea a lot

I rely on word of mouth since its a side-business for me since I'm still in school. Might start advertising soon but I'm not in any rush yet

[DetailArtist]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

Yellow Pages best bang for the buck.
Make friends w/ hi-end auto repair and restoration shops, auto body shops.

[Ryan_Bihun89]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

Thats a really good ad, i like how your paint looks.

Remember that part of the bussines is what eyezack87 sayd talking to the customer is really important.

Try to get some of those voice recorded post cards

[Cole Ziegler]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

Nice job! I like that idea a lot

I rely on word of mouth since its a side-business for me since I'm still in school. Might start advertising soon but I'm not in any rush yet

I understand. I'm still in school too, but I usually advertise to the school community/friends of friends. Previously, we relied on word of mouth as well. I even managed to get us a cheap ad in the yearbook this year, (being technical editor has its perks). I don't know what I plan to do with the business once I leave off for college...

Yellow Pages best bang for the buck.
Make friends w/ hi-end auto repair and restoration shops, auto body shops.

Good tip. I think being friends with high-end shops like that would rake in some expensive cars and their owners!

Thats a really good ad, i like how your paint looks.

Remember that part of the bussines is what eyezack87 sayd talking to the customer is really important.

Try to get some of those voice recorded post cards

Thanks! Any idea where to get those/how much they cost?

[Ryan_Bihun89]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

Good tip. I think being friends with high-end shops like that would rake in some expensive cars and their owners!

Thanks! Any idea where to get those/how much they cost?

Here is what i was talking about

http://www.amazon.com/Voice-Recording-Photo-Postcards-Customize/dp/B002NLQ1UW

They are called "Recordable greeting cards" google it.
Your gonna be able to find the recording and sound module aswell youll find the complete cards it all depends on your pocket

Btw im also a college student wich passion for detailing but i already own a bussines Its called R1 Professional Auto Detailing.

The idea of beeing friends with high-end body shop really worth it. I recieve at least 20 cars a month from a body shop nearby my bussiness. And arround 10 cars from another one.

When your offering your service tell people your gonnale make a test panel for them to see what your able to do.

Make the baggie test and let the customer feel their own paint. People really dont see their needs until they truly believe they need something. So let them feel the paint, make them love their paint as well to love your jobs.

After all if a customer likes your job he/she gonna recommend you to their relatives and your gonna have a whole bunch of clients.
Thrust me i have customers even on Sunday.

Btw im only 20 years old and i live in a 3rd world country.

Keep it up.

Hit me up anything you need brother.
PM, Email... whatever is your need, as far as i can help, im there for all of my fellows here in MOL

Ryan

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

Nice ad. Hope it gets you a lot of business.

Best of luck, to you.

[LelandGray]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

Right now I'm just starting out and using word of mouth. The university I work at is having two charity auctions coming up, and I'm entering a full detail for each auction. Hopefully that'll get me some business. But also, I'm doing friends and family cars and they're telling their friends/co-workers. I just did my uncles Mustang, and he's going to enter it in a car show on May 1st and is planning on advertising my services at the car show.

[Newguy]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

I made friends with a guy who has his own body work shop. I have gotten maybe 3 replies. I rely heavily on craigslist. A great way to list everything down and put a link to your website. Its free and then save up for the yellow pages. Im thinking about doing some flyers soon, but I am not to sure hot to approach it. I love your flyers and your ideas.

[Cole Ziegler]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

Thanks for all the suggestions and the really kind words gentlemen! I guess it is true the MOL has the best online community out there!

[Ryan_Bihun89]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

You can bet your life on it . Your welcome.
Did you looked for the voice things i told ya about?

I saw your website. REALLY NICE WORK THERE! keep it up

[Cole Ziegler]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

Those voice-recording post cards are cool! I'll definitely have to try one of those out and see if I can incorporate it into our other ads.

Thanks for the kind words!!! I hope business picks up.. granted we just do weekend details during the school year, I haven't seen a customer in 3 weeks ! My problem is I have had 4 or 5 flake out on me... time to step up my game.

[tonytee]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

try targeting younger adults and older all of my flyers have a DVD to show what i do to a car also will have i ad on myspace facebooks and on twitter
for my area I look at the other shop in my area Akron Oh what they do and don't do to a car from a car wash to a detail go to some shop in your area look at what they do and don't to a car this will be a plus for you and look at they're
prices offer you customers a better service at a price that will have them ready
to deal will you. example here in Akron and wash I listed all the things they do not do in a car wash from the vents to dressing the wheel wells and making any chrome look good and shine think about these thing and add them to your service trust me my ads show what i do and my service and the target market
is very profitable for washing and detailing also I've add extra services like
paint chip repair window chip repair and I let my customer know that no job is rush through I give them a time frame on when the job will be done since my
business is home base they know that the job is done right and my price is better than the other shop here I've have two cars on my DVD one is Classic
old school yellow ford Ltd and the other is a black grand am one section
is on complete detail for the Ltd and the other is a buff and wax with Interior
cleaning and interior dressing the DVD how what i do and how i do it and my
prices are lower than the other detail and car wash shop here remember
pick you market give them a reason to see you and they will come and refer
there friends oh did i mention my refer a person get and get so much off you nexts wash or detail the more you refer the more you get for less or get paid
a % after they send me over so many new customers think about this bye for now tony from the Auto Spa

[Krzemienr]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

The best bang for my buck has been becoming a vendor on local car forums (I wouldn't spend money on a forum that is nationwide, unless you sell products), attending as much local car shows as I could and talking to people... you see someone driving down the street with a nice car, or someone is getting gas next to you in a clean car ask them where they got it detailed, tell them you have a company, hand them a card/flyer/whatever. Good luck!

Rafal

[JG_Detailing]

Re: How do YOU advertise?

Right now the way I get customers is from one customer to another. I do alot of people's vehicle's from my job and my girlfriends.