Last Month, we put out an article on how to use (see Part I below) to get repair leads. If you missed it feel free to go to the link above and take a minute to read it. The feedback on the article was positive so we thought it might be a benefit to write a follow-up and spend a little time writing about Google Maps. This program can help build your business and the best part is your listing is FREE, with no web-site required!
Today many people go to Google and click on the “Maps” link to find a service provider that is close to their home. Most industry data shows consumers will most likely select a body shop that is either close to their home or place of business when they need a repair. What the Google Maps product does for a consumer is to act as both a search engine and a geo-locator all in one.
To watch a 2 minute video on Google’s free listing, go to this link.
This short video is a great way to get more information. You can also set up a free account from the same page. Once on the web page, select “Add New Account” and get started. The forms are short and easy to fill out. When you are filling out the “Categories” section, think the way your potential customer would think by adding words that they would enter into a search engine to find a body shop, i.e. Body Shop, Body Shop Repair, Collision Repair and so on. It’s important to enter the services you provide as a category because those categories are how Google will index your listing.
Spend the time to get set up; 82% of people who use Internet Search Engines now use Google…that’s a lot of potential metal to touch! And learning is as easy as using collision estimating software, assuming it’s Web-Est! Yep, I got the plug in at the end…Good Luck!
