how do you guys attract customers?

 

it depends on what you're selling and the demographic.

*edit* didnt notice this was in the wash and wax section....
so I'm assuming you're detailing....

I just started to detail, actually.
I'm lucky enough that acurazine Houston members are very active. I plug myself at meets. show off my work. and let people know that I do detail.

once people know that you detail cars, they'll come to you.

 

CliffNotes® Version

There are many important words in business but there is one that holds the key to entrepreneurial wealth and that word is 'Marketing.'

• Testimonials - Don’t under estimate the power of testimonials. They can increase your conversion rates by 30% or more.

• Social Media Sites - carefully used, it allows companies to build passion for their products and services by writing clear, targeted copy with concise text that speaks directly to the audience you wish to reach.

• Website -an Internet website is a very viable resource for marketing

• Using Video and Social Media - taking a video of a detail (seek owner’s permission beforehand) and then up loading it to YouTube, face book or other social media networks is a good and inexpensive form of marketing

• Networking - start attending local car club meetings and get to know its members.

 

I live in a smaller town so people actually communicate with each other so it was more word of mouth.

The other thing is the 3 other detailers in town all depend on volume so they use bulk supplies and horrid dressings that look nice until there is a bit of dust. None of them want to polish anything out .. just cover with heavy waxes. They also do a lot of washing with brushes and no use of M/F for drying so there is a lot of scratching. They also use a bunch of street kids who don't really care. They are my best advertizing.

 

Word of mouth, and posting write ups on different sites.

 

the interwebs are you friend...

 

Hey guys thanks for the info and tips! The weather outside is starting to get really ugly and i dont think many care right now what their cars look like. I am actually planing for the future (spring 2011).
I was leaving the gym one day and notice an older lady around 50-60years old who drove a really nice Cadillac. I thought to myself that i should offer her a free detail and in return hopes of her spreading the words to her friends which would benefit me more. What do you guys think of that?

 

Word of mouth. I'll do one guys weekend car than he'll have me do his DD and then his wifes car, etc.

 

Word of mouth is the most powerful, but if you're doing this as a side job, I'm assuming you're not looking at starting a website or anything big like that. Try putting out an ad on online sites like craigslist or kijiji.com. Put up one or two pics of what you can do (before/afters), and that should bring you more than enough customers.