Advertising my Ferrari Service business in New England ?

I would vote for FCA and FORZA magazine. With those and WOM, you should be 'national'



FWIW, Rob Lay should be paying YOU to be here, not vice-versa. Consultants should get some bennies around here for posting useful information besides a "oh, that's nice".

 

Wait, he isn't even listed as a consultant anymore. Does Rob not think these guys are worth enough to the board to be supporting them?

 

I believe word of mouth is still the best way and perhaps focus on amplifying that.

I think you have the F-Chat crowd covered but maybe being able to get a link through to your website by being a sponsor is a good thing (ie I read your comment then can click through to your website). I've reads loads of your posts but visited your website twice.

Anyone reading F-Chat knows we LOVE to follow projects and the sight of a neat workshop showcasing high quality work is just so, so, so compelling. I think you might show a few of yours on Facebook which is great but as a side comment not everyone is on facebook. I'm not and have no plans to be but I'll regularly visit websites or blogs I like to follow the details. Perhaps I'm the exception here.

Another tangent on this. Choosing the person to look after your (broken) steed is quite an emotional decision. It's gut wrenching to, say, ship a car or engine all over the place to find out that the person you've sent it to really doesnt give a hoot. Crushing. We want to make an emotional connection with that person. Not saying you need to be a sweetheart but when many clients might find it a challenge to get to Bedford and meet you they need go on whatever is at hand (references, Fchat posts, pictures of projects etc). Im not a pyschologist but I will bet most clients are trying to build an image of you in their mind to help them make their decision.

So....get yourself in a few photos with the work - we still have primitive instincts, we like to see the person. When I see the whole thing - the car, the workshop, the amazing work, the craftsmen - it's just a hook. You think - I wish that was my car he was laying his hands on. I always like to see the PERSON.

Also, what's stopping an F-chatter using you services? I do feel that for some of us with less impressive cars (eg my ropey GT4 instead of a nice BB getting the 5 star rebuild) there is a level of apprehension in approaching the top shops. A bit like the zitty teenager I was being fearful of approaching the hot girl at a party (I never did - hopeless). They dont need me, they are rebuilding supercars there!

However, we still want things done right. How do you communicate that you would be happy to receive carbs for rebuild or a pair of dizzys to get the advance set? (if indeed you do want that business).

Finally, Bedford is some distance away for many - is this a reason people go with a closer option. You may know how to get a car or engine to Bedford better than the client - can you communicate that on your website.

Anyway, just some thoughts.

 

David,

As a 12 year marketing guy I vote for mesh, MMR http://www.motorsportsmarketingresources.com/ and an FCA sponsorship in the early spring. I would also look into event sponsorship like Tutto Italiano.

Also highlight your expertise in 80's cars and the Bosch systems.

 

If your business is primarily local area I recommend having a booth/tent at relevant shows/events. Hosting get-togethers and weekend drives is a way of boosting word of mouth. Spending money on nation-wide advertising is probably not cost-effective.

 

Well, there's a fundamental FLAW of the NE Section right there....

 

That is some funny ***** right there.

Rob is of the opinion that the only one worth anything is him.

I was trying to help someone here the other day and needed to post a picture. Ooops. Can't do that anymore. Oh well. Not my loss.

 

In answer to your question,

FCA local works but many want a club discount.

If you have a local, targeted upscale magazine advertising luxury, upscale products and services that isn't a bad idea. The one we have around here will let you pick and choose which zip codes to deliver it to but around here we have about a hundred zip codes. Also it is distributed in the most dense Ferrari population on planet Earth. Where you are a single zip code might be the whole state and not a lot of Ferrari's per sq. mile.

The web sites are a waste.
I won't comment on the magazines.

Remember about advertising, a very small minority of Ferrari owners look here and a small minority are club guys and chances are most of the people I just described already know you. You need to get to the others.


Fortunately for me I don't advertise and I am turning work away. Must be my personality.

 

BTW

All the above is presupposing your focus is the same as mine, that being late model cars and that is presumptuous.

My feeling is any shop that trys to be everything to everybody isn't going to pull it off well.

What age group of cars are you focusing on? That make a big difference on where you promote yourself.

 

What do you mean that FastRadio isn't a consultant on the boards anymore?? What kind of back-alley shakedown is this?

What draws people like me to the boards is the wealth of knowledge and experience people like FastRadio offer... without them, this board would be nothing but trolls and people asking when to change their belts!! Rob needs to recognize where the "real value" of this community is - and get behind it! Making someone pay to have a title - so that they can then provide free, professional advice is really biting the hand that feeds you...

 

That's good for him, I guess, but bad for all of us.

+1. That's where the real value is here.

 

You need only go back about 2 years to see how much the level of advise has fallen off from the Pro's. Wonder why? I keep reading that "Change is good".... that might be coming sooner than later. Hell, I also read that some 'consultants' are paid..... how much you making David?

 

I was one of the 1st 3 consultants. Someone must be cashing my checks as I've never received one.

 

I hear ya Dave,... it's more about the "business of the site" rather than the passion for the cars... It appears to me that allowing a bit of self-promotion is reasonable given the value provided.