Business minded people - your help please!!

[Spencer2]

Hi,

Myself and my husband are about to open our MOT garage, it is a new location for us and too far for our previous customers to come so we are now trying to think of ways to build clientele.

So far we have come up with…

• Leafleting
• Dropping flyers into local cafes/coffee shops
• Putting announcements out on Nextdoor & Facebook
• Ensuring the entrance has flags and posters etc

It was suggested to us by a friend to contact local social media influencers and offer 50% off of a service or even a free service, in return they would recommend us on their socials.. but i’m not sure on that one yet.

I’m just interested to see if anybody has any more ideas in order to spread the word?

Thanks!

Maybe some kind of opening special offer with the leaflet? Or with every MOT X% off a service for the month of July to entice customers.

How did you build up your previous customer base?

Are there any garages in the area who dont offer mot? Or perhaps one that does but who is really busy, go and say hi and ask if when someone’s calls them and they can’t fit them in time, would they send them your way.

Is it a village or town location? Local Facebook groups. Advertise in village parish magazines. Any schools in the area looking for raffle or fair prizes?

Any businesses locally that you could set up an account for their company cars? Offer to collect and return. Or just for their staff if not company cars.

Not social media influencers, no. They gat paid a lot.

I wouldn't offer x off for recommendations. I would do everything cheaply for the first.couple of months, like half price mots etc

It’s a bit niche to bother with influencers. Could you sponsor something locally? Even a school fete? I would also recommend closely monitoring local social media groups, their constant MOT garage recommendation requests on our local FB and Next Door.

Target your marketing and pricing. Don’t offer cheap to everyone. Perhaps run a ‘bring this ad in for X% off if by a certain date.

Is there a cricket club, or rugby or similar club? Offer their members a discount.

Don’t make it cheap for everyone or it’s harder to raise your rate later. Make it that special people, get a special prices, and then they feel ‘chosen ones’