Before buying something or choosing a service provider, we usually look up reviews online and take opinions from people who are already using it—whether it’s a skincare product, a mobile phone or an auto repair shop. How you get influenced by the people around you and how much you believe their opinion to be unbiased is called social proof.

 

Social proof is an incredible marketing tool which includes testimonials, customer reviews, affiliate marketing and a range of other strategies that create your brand image. Using social proof as your central marketing strategy can help you improve your auto repair services and build a great reputation among your audience.

Online reviews are important for your business. But people usually don’t make it a point to go and write a positive review as quickly as they are to leave a bad one. If there are no positive reviews across your social media platforms and only the ones that talk about your auto repair services in a negative light, you might not be able to gain more loyal customers.

Here are a few ways to ensure that customers leave behind reviews:

Use Multiple Platforms

Your digital footprint should be extensive enough—but not annoyingly extensive—that your customers have access to the review tool everywhere. This means that solely depending on your business’ website for customers to leave a review is not a good strategy.

You need to build a brand image across different platform including Facebook, Twitter, Google My Business and more such readily accessible social websites.

Ask Customers to Leave a Review

Is a customer happy with the engine overhaul you just did for their car? Are they showering you with compliments?

Well, nobody except you would know about that. A happy customer can refer your auto repair shop to multiple people—their amazing experience can reach to more people if they go home and write a review on at least one of your social media platform. But they won’t. They’ll forget.

The smart way to go about it is to ask them to leave a review online before they leave the workshop.

However, don’t force your customers to write a review on the spot, you can request them. If you don’t see their review pop up the next day, send them an email reminder in case they’ve forgotten. Be courteous and thank them for all the appreciation they showered you with in person. You can then remind them to leave a review on your social media as well.

Incentivize Customer Reviews

Who doesn’t love discounts? For something as important as customer reviews, you need to make that sacrifice as auto repair shop—chances are that it will bring more profit than you’ll have to spend on the discounts.

You can persuade your customers to leave a review about your auto repair services by giving them a discount or a gift coupon for their next visit!

Here at Lankar Pro, we know how overwhelming it can be to run your automotive repair shop efficiently. Our automotive repair shop management software can streamline your services, market your brand and help you keep track of your profits and inventory. Get in touch with us today to know more about our services!