Auto Body Shop Marketing: Ideas and Resources

This is the final article in a five-part series that details exactly what you need to market your auto body shop and make it a success.

Creative marketing generates buzz, delivers value to your customers and increases profits for you. Find inspiration for marketing your auto body business in the following ideas:

Creative ideas

Host an event - Invite customers to a professional car waxing, where you can optionally sell the supplies so they can wax their own cars or offer to provide the service yourself.

Partner with others - Non-competing, complementary businesses can fuel profit. Auto mechanics, tire shops, detailers, and other businesses might prove to be perfect partners in profit. Develop a multiple service package or offer a discount to those who have purchased from your partners. This is also a great way to build your mailing list.

Promote unique angles - Instead of simply saying you repair collision dents, try giving your services unique and memorable names: "DentBeGone" might work, for example.

Resources

Links to auto body shop marketing resources you can use to bolster business.

PsPrint - Full-service printing, direct mailing and mailing list generation.

Direct Marketing Association - Information on direct marketing.

Small Business Administration - Helpful guides, forms and sample marketing plans for small business. The SBA also supports Small Business Development Centers throughout the United States.

SCORE - The Service Corps of Retired Executives provides free advice in the form of online information and business counseling. Simply contact one of SCORE's volunteer members for business mentorship.

AASP National - Alliance of Automotive Service Providers.

ASA - Automotive Service Association.

CCRE - Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence.

Collision Industry Relief

NABC - National Auto Body Council

Association List - An extensive list of auto body trade associations, including listings by state.

Return to the first article in the series: Auto Body Shop Marketing: Branding

Since 1990, PsPrint has provided better printing and service to nearly 500,000 small business marketers and graphic designers. PsPrint combines state-of-the-art Internet capabilities and the industry's best printing equipment with experienced print professionals and color specialists to deliver convenient online ordering, consistent color matching and 99.7 percent on-time delivery. By offering a 100 percent customer satisfaction guarantee, PsPrint also stands behind every order, every time. More than 70 top-quality and eco-friendly printed products and related mailing services are available online at www.PsPrint.com.