The fact is, people are using social media by the millions. Participating in social media allows your shop to participate in the “conversation” that is going on online. People will see your point of view. That conversation is happening right now, with or without you. We think it’s better to be a part of it, to stay connected, so you know what’s going on and can have a hand in shaping your shop’s reputation. It puts a human face, so to speak, on your business. It also allows you to engage in ways that help build your shop’s “image” or “personality.” It’s a great way to let real people see that you are legitimately an expert, yet also approachable.

Another benefit that stems from this is that as your customers see your offers and become engaged with your messages, then their friends and family see your offers too. Some of their friends and family will live near enough to your shop to become customers as well. The engagement your customers have with your social media posts works just like an endorsement. It’s “word of mouth” advertising.

As a last point about social media, it’s important to remember you get search engine lift from your social media. Remember that everything posted on your page counts as “content” in the eyes of Internet search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. The things that are posted to your social media pages give these search engines and others like them additional ways to help guide would-be customers to information about your shop. Just having a website is not necessarily enough. You want your auto repair marketing to have as wide and as deep a plan to get found as you can have, and adding social media to your arsenal just makes good business sense. Given how easy and automated it is with CustomerLink’s smrt™ 2.0, there’s really no reason your auto repair marketing strategy shouldn’t include social media .