If your auto repair shop isn’t showing up during online searches, it can be very difficult to grow and attract new customers into your shop. While word-of-mouth is a pretty good strategy, it isn’t as sustainable (or as easy) as showing up when a potential customer googles ‘auto mechanic near me’.
However, if you’re not sure how to get your shop or website to show up online, here are four tips that can get you started.
4 Ways to Show Up When Customers Google ‘Auto Mechanic Near Me’
Set up Google My Business.
If you haven’t already, now would be a great time to set up a free Google My Business account. When potential customers are searching for an auto mechanic, having your business pop up on the side of the search results is a great way to grow your business.
Here’s how to set up your own Google My Business:
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Open Google My Business.
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Sign in to your Google Account, or create one..
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Enter the name of your business.
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Enter your business location.
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Choose if you want your business location to appear on Google Maps.
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Enter your business address.
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Use the search field to select a business category.
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Enter a phone number or website URL for your business.
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To complete sign-up and verify your connection to your business, click Finish.
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Select a verification option.
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Now that you’ve either claimed or created your listing, it’s time to verify your business. After you verify, your business information will be eligible to appear on Google.
Collect reviews.
As of the year 2017, 84% of customers trust online reviews as much as their own friends. That’s a lot of trust! And that’s a good reason for you to collect as many reviews as you can for your auto repair shop. The more reviews you have (if they’re mostly positive) the easier it will be for you to gain new business from online searches.
One way to collect reviews from your customers is to use a software like BAYiQ. While you can personally ask each and every one of your customers via telephone or in person for a review, that would take a long time and might not get you the results you want. There’s no need to add to your (very) long task list.
BAYiQ’s platform has a reputation management function that allows you to request customer reviews and manage reviews across all of your listings in one place. This is a good way to increase the number of reviews of your auto repair shop as well as address any negative reviews that might come your way. You’ll be able to see what your customers are actually saying about you, find areas to improve your shop, and improve the likelihood of showing up in future online searches of ‘auto mechanic near me’.
Optimize your website and listings with NAP.
And what’s “NAP” you might be asking? NAP stands for business Name, business Address, and business Phone number.
Make sure these items are correct and visible on your website and any other listings (such as Google My Business, Yelp, social media). This is so important. If your customers try to visit you and the address is incorrect or they can’t reach you using your listed phone number, it’s almost a guarantee they will never try to bring you business again.
Set up targeted Google Search Ads.
This last one is optional and really depends on the size of your marketing budget. If your budget allows for it, setting up targeted Google Search Ads is a good way to bring your auto repair shop to the top of the search results. We recommend targeting customers that are within a 3-5 mile radius around your shop.
Here’s how to set up your Google Search Ads:
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Sign in (or create) your Google Adwords account.
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Select your campaign type and name (in this case, your campaign type would be Search Network only)
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Choose the geographic location where you’d like your ads to show (3-5 mile radius around your shop’s location would be good!)
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Choose your bid strategy and set up your daily budget.
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Create your first ad group and write your first ad.
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Insert keywords into your keyword field (such as ‘auto mechanic near me’)
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Set your maximum cost-per-click.
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Review everything and enter your billing information.
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Now your ads will start showing!
It’s tough to grow your business if potential customers can’t find you online.
Showing up on the first page of search results when your potential customers are googling is super important for your auto repair business.
It’s important to get in front of your customers so they know who you are, where you are, and what you’re offering. Putting some time and budget into following some of these tips will go a long way towards helping your business stand out and be seen in the digital age.
Interested in more tips for growing your auto repair business? Every week on our blog we bring you powerful, easy-to-follow tips for growing and improving your auto repair shop. Click to subscribe today.
Resources:
https://www.inc.com/craig-bloem/84-percent-of-people-trust-online-reviews-as-much-.html