FREE WINDSHIELD REPAIR *ask or details

[harrellbenjamin]

My marketing plan is actually very simple.

Work breeds work. In other words, get out there and do something! Spend your time that is not occupied with repair jobs selling new potential customers. Don't sit at home or under a tent waiting for work to come to you! Make a list of every potential customer in your market area and start cold calling them. Fleets, dealers, school districts, city vehicles, State Dept. of Transporatation, Bus Lines, Utility Companies and other service companies with mutliple vehicles, etc. Introduce yourself to all of your area insurance agents (in person) and get to know them over time.

I do mobile service in spite of high fuel prices because like I said, work breeds work. When on site, expecially at someones place of business, be visible. Check other vehicles in the lots and let your customer know that others have damage too. On a regular basis I get new jobs while on site doing jobs. You should be looking for that at every stop you make. You can double each days income just by looking for new opportunities at every stop.

Each and every day you can find a new customer. All you have to do is make the effort!

And once they are your customer, keep them your customer by doing high quality work, giving them excellent service, presenting yourself in a professional manner and befriending them. They WILL give you future business as well as sending relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers to you. They will become LOYAL repeat customers.

Join the insurance networks, SGC, Lynx. Harmon, etc. It is worth being a member shop. Insurance referals account for a large portion of my business as well.

The old saying beat the bushes holds true, especially in the beginning. YOU are your best advertising! The more you are out there working, the more business will come your way. If you are sitting under a tent twiddling your thumbs waiting for someone to come along, you are wasting valuable time that you could be using to locate customers!

Building a successful business will not happen by waiting for customers. You have to always be thinking about opportunities to present yourself and your business to others.

Join your local Chamber of Commerce. Attend their socials and meet the other area business owners. Give them a hand shake and a card and explain what you do. They are all potential customers. Their employees are all potential customers. Their relatives are all potential customers. Their neighbors are all potential customers. Each new job you do has the potential of bringing you more business. Don't burn your bridges. Treat everyone you deal with, with respect.

Is it hard work? Sure it is. Is it harder than sitting under a tent with a FREE WINDSHIELD REPAIR sign? Of course it is. But in my opinion, it's the best way to build a successful business. And when the bottom drops out of insurance paid repair bucket, you'll be a step ahead of the FREEBIE guys.

Hey check out the "Free W/shield Repair "t-shirts in the FOR SALE forum.LOL

[ProView WR]

My marketing plan is actually very simple.

Work breeds work. In other words, get out there and do something! Spend your time that is not occupied with repair jobs selling new potential customers. Don't sit at home or under a tent waiting for work to come to you! Make a list of every potential customer in your market area and start cold calling them. Fleets, dealers, school districts, city vehicles, State Dept. of Transporatation, Bus Lines, Utility Companies and other service companies with mutliple vehicles, etc. Introduce yourself to all of your area insurance agents (in person) and get to know them over time.

I do mobile service in spite of high fuel prices because like I said, work breeds work. When on site, expecially at someones place of business, be visible. Check other vehicles in the lots and let your customer know that others have damage too. On a regular basis I get new jobs while on site doing jobs. You should be looking for that at every stop you make. You can double each days income just by looking for new opportunities at every stop.

Each and every day you can find a new customer. All you have to do is make the effort!

And once they are your customer, keep them your customer by doing high quality work, giving them excellent service, presenting yourself in a professional manner and befriending them. They WILL give you future business as well as sending relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers to you. They will become LOYAL repeat customers.

Join the insurance networks, SGC, Lynx. Harmon, etc. It is worth being a member shop. Insurance referals account for a large portion of my business as well.

The old saying beat the bushes holds true, especially in the beginning. YOU are your best advertising! The more you are out there working, the more business will come your way. If you are sitting under a tent twiddling your thumbs waiting for someone to come along, you are wasting valuable time that you could be using to locate customers!

Building a successful business will not happen by waiting for customers. You have to always be thinking about opportunities to present yourself and your business to others.

Join your local Chamber of Commerce. Attend their socials and meet the other area business owners. Give them a hand shake and a card and explain what you do. They are all potential customers. Their employees are all potential customers. Their relatives are all potential customers. Their neighbors are all potential customers. Each new job you do has the potential of bringing you more business. Don't burn your bridges. Treat everyone you deal with, with respect.

Is it hard work? Sure it is. Is it harder than sitting under a tent with a FREE WINDSHIELD REPAIR sign? Of course it is. But in my opinion, it's the best way to build a successful business. And when the bottom drops out of insurance paid repair bucket, you'll be a step ahead of the FREEBIE guys.

Definitely the best post I have seen by you, and I applaud everything you said here as it is the foundation for success in any area of employment. I'm sure the time will come when no insurance company waives glass claim deductibles and I will be glad that I have my eggs in all sorts of baskets. I just don't see the logic is bashing someone who chooses to run their business with the "FREE" windshield repair model. You have said it wasn't your intention to bash them and I accept that, just has seemed that way from previous posts. Again, thank you for this last post as it should be a foundation for anyone, especially those starting out in the glass repair business.

[splitpit]

I didn't bash anyone. I simply find that way of doing business amusing!

[SGT]

If "something" works for you great. If "something" does not work for you great, try something new. Thank GOD we live in America and you can do what you want and it none of my or anybody elses business.

[splitpit]

FREE WINDSHIELD REPAIR works for some people, but it is tied to a program that eventually will not exist. Don't die like a dinasaur. Be prepared for what lies ahead.

If they pulled the plug today and you had to abandon your gimmick marketing, would your business survive?

[StarQuest]

Splitpit,

I'm not overly fond of using the words "Free Windshield Repair" for advertising either but I have to be honest and tell you if all insurances stop waiving deductibles on repair you'd start to see many biz advertising repair at under $30? In my area it's already taking place. (Belle Tire chain with over 80 locations in Michigan pop out daily TV advertisements at $19.95) They don't say "free" but you can bet your booty when a covered insured walks in they then sell it as free!

So, what would aggravate you more? The "Free Windshield Repair" signage(where insurance is still paying me, you and everybody else $50-$70 a repair) or a tent setup that offers $14.99 when things go cash?

[splitpit]

If the tent guy drops to $19.95, I still won't change the way I do business or what I charge. I see it as their loss!

[splitpit]

I'm sure some fools will think that once they lose their FREE gimmick, that lowballing is the answer. They'll lowball themselves out of business completely!

[sunshine wr]

I don't personally use the free "gimmick". This is a boring and non-informative thread. My$.02

[splitpit]

Then why did you read it? My $.02