Often overlooked, word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways you can get more business. As many as 76% of customers will recommend a company they trust to their friends, family, and coworkers. Creating that trust between your customers and your business goes a long way, especially in the automotive industry. If you’re not sure how to harness the power of that trust for your shop, we have some tried-and-true methods below to help you get started!

Go Above and Beyond Expectations!

You’ve heard the phrase “underpromise and overdeliver.” Your customers want to be WOWed when they come to your shop for service. When you exceed their expectations, a customer is far more likely to be vocal about the experience both in-person and across social media. Think about ways YOU can deliver results and service that not only go beyond expectations, but also increase trust in your business. We’ve seen a few “wow” moments with these methods:

Ask For It!

You probably know which customers love you – they come back time and time again without question. While the customer knows you are their go-to shop, they may not realize just how much their recommendation would mean to you as a small business. It’s important to remind them every now and then, and even more important to thank them when they do. Consider asking your customers to spread the word in one of these ways:

Entice Them with Savings!

Whether you have a CRM with referral capabilities or you create an offer on your own, this can be an extremely effective way to drive more word of mouth. If you deliver quality service that customers are willing to refer, the hard work is already done! Try offering a discount or coupon to drive their referrals home:

At the end of the day, great service is the first step to great word-of-mouth, but sometimes your customers just need a small nudge to start sharing. Give some of these tips a try to boost your business, and let us know how they work!