Image via Wikipedia
When it pertains to online marketing for auto repair-service shops, there are 5 crucial tactics that will allow you to take full advantage of Google’s latest changes.
If you search in Google, as most people do, for auto repair, auto service, or (car brand) ex: Chevrolet repair, and your shop’s city, you will clearly see the latest changes.
Although I have written a few times about the importance of updating your Google Places listing and optimizing your website to appear at least on the first three pages of Google, not too many shop owners have paid attention. This can prove to be a very costly mistake for your business.
This time, if you read this article and implement the 5 changes, a.s.a.p.! I can guarantee, you will obtain results attracting new business to your shop, in the first three months.
If you would like to see “live” how effectively all of these work, see our Free Webinar mention at the bottom of this article.
Image by abraham.williams via Flickr
Beside the sponsor results, Google’s pay-per-click, at the very top and right columns, you will see the first few results showing from Google Places (AKA Google Maps, or Google Local Directory). If you haven’t taken the time to claim and update your listing by writing an effective marketing message explaining your areas of specialization, certifications and association logos, including pictures of your shop, hours of operation, methods of payment, etc, you are missing out big time to your competitors. You can even add Google Tags for a modest flat fee of $25/mo. The tags allow you to display a yellow tag below your listing which you can feature a special service every month or additional pictures, etc.
Your Shop’s Website
Needless to say, if you don’t have a professional website for your shop, you better get on the ball right now so you won’t be left in the dust. Your site needs to have a professionally written marketing copy that highlights years established, years of experience, professional certifications and association affiliation logos, pictures of the outside and inside of your operation, etc. Click here to see some samples.
Why is a website so important now?
Today, Google has implemented Instant Previews. When the result of a search is done, a magnifying glass will be next to your listing in Google, or you will see a graphic (an image of your website), which will highlight the most relevant sections (the most important sections of your marketing copy). Now do you see why this is so important?
Customer Reviews
Image via CrunchBase
This might be one of the most important elements. If you are not offering a simple way for your own satisfied customers to post reviews about your service, I would dare say that you’re missing out on at least 50% of effective online marketing for your shop. I am sure that by now, if you were going out to dinner, or were looking to buy a product or service, you would have first checked the reviews yourself. Everybody is doing it! There is a simple method to generate customer reviews, create a postcard with your shop’s logo, address and phone number as a header. In the body of the postcard, place the URL (web address) of the consumer review sites that you have a profile listing in. You only want to add a maximum of two links to the most important and relevant sites, such as Google Places listing, Yelp, Insider Pages. If you use more than two, customers won’t find the time it takes to write reviews in too many places.
You heard before, Fresh Content is King!
Since June 8th this year, the implementation of Google’s Caffeine indexes content almost instantly. The more fresh content you post on the Web via blog articles, videos, etc. The better chances you have for your shop’s website to be pushed to the front pages of Google and other search engines. How do you do it? Add a Blog to your website and start posting articles on a weekly basis. No, you don’t have to be a writer or get creative, sites like Car Care News Service, Car Care Council, ASE, provide you with Free articles for you to post. All you have to do is copy and paste! They even offer you Free videos to use in your Blog.
Videos
Image via CrunchBase
A video tour of your facility is a MUST these days. Statistics show that more and more consumers want to SEE the product or service they are seeking. Showing a car owner the professional operation you run in a short 5 minute video tour, might be one of the most effective ways to convince them to visit your shop. Besides the video tour, short 2 or 3 minute videos are popping up all over the search engine listings. You don’t have to be a professional videographer, or have a high end video camera, a pocket cam such as a Flip Video is more than sufficient.
If you would like to see how effectively all of the above works for some of our shops, fill out the form for our Free Webinar and we’ll schedule a time for you. There is no selling, I’ll show you live through our GoToMeeting service, and you’ll be able to see it all on our PC screen from your PC screen.
Don’t have the time, knowledge, or inkling to implement your online marketing? Check our services at: www.ecommnow.com, or give me a call (800) 299-8623.
Ed Burckhardt
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- New Local Opportunities: How To Rank Higher In Google Place Search (searchengineland.com)
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