Car Count Daily
Welcome to Car Count Daily. Now, you’re probably wondering, what am I doing wearing this hot pink shirt in the video above? Well, it’s all about today’s subject, which is all about standing out and getting noticed in a crowd. Now, just think about this: while in my pink shirt, if I was walking in a sea of people wearing black and gray and white, I would pretty much stand out like a sore thumb. Everybody would notice me, and your eye would be drawn towards me. Well, that’s what we want to have happen to all the people that are driving by your shop every single day. We want them drawn to you so that they can see you again for the very first time.
What am I talking about? Well, think about it this way. You drove to the shop this morning, you passed by hundreds of businesses, and chances are, you never noticed a single one of them. Why? Well, because you see it every single day and your brain just can’t absorb the same information over and over again. It would drive you nuts. So it just kind of blocks that kind of stuff out. That’s the same thing that’s happening to your shop right now. You’ve paid a lot of money for your location and you have tens or hundreds or thousands of people that are driving by your shop and they’re not even seeing you anymore, because you’re not standing out.
What I want you to do is, do something different today, like right away. Do something different that’s going to get their attention. Sometimes, it’s a matter of just changing the reader board in the front of your shop, or changing the color of the sign that’s in front of your shop, or getting one of those spinning signs; something with some motion to grab people’s attention. Maybe it’s a matter of putting some flags out there, or going and renting one of those air dancers; you plug them in and the thing just kind of jumps all over the place, and sometimes that’s all it really takes. Or you could really go to the extreme and rent one of those giant gorillas and set it on top of your shop! It doesn’t matter what it is. What we want to do is do something different so it catches their eye.
Think about it, how many times have people come into your shop and said, “I’ve been by this shop hundreds or thousands of times, I didn’t eve know you’re here.” Well, that’s really what we want to be paying attention to, is we got to get them to notice you again. If your shop looks the same as it did last week, and the week before, and the week before, and the year before that, and the decade before that, you’re invisible to them.
So let’s make some changes. Stand out from the crowd. You don’t have to paint it hot pink like what I’m wearing today, although that would help, but it’s just a simple change to get them to notice that you’re there, because you’re paying extra money to get that drive-by traffic. It’s time to capitalize on the great location.
I really hope you enjoyed today’s episode. I want you to take action on it right now. Go and look outside of your shop and think, what can you do right now that’s going to make that change to get somebody’s eye drawn to your shop, not just with the blinders on, and have them go by your shop unnoticed.
If you like what you’re seeing, go down below this video. Let me know about it. Let me know your thoughts and give me some ideas for some upcoming episodes and I’ll be happy to do that for you.
Rob kirkham says
Good job funny you talked about today I’m painting my building and ever one has some thing to say about it all good
Ben Tallberg says
Hey Ron,
Great info! I got a question. I took over a shop where i had been a technician for 17 years this past Oct. How do I fire a long time customer (more than 20 years) that is getting too the point where he thinks he should get special treatment because of his loyalty and calls constantly to get my help (immediately), then is right there too complain when something is not gonna happen, (price, or right away, or whatever). I am at the point where he does not respect me as new owner or as a equal human. (I am 20 years younger, and feel talked down to add years have gone on). With all your talk about positive reviews though, how do I tell him he is not worth the “kiss ass” anymore and not expect the nasty backlash? Thanks Ron!
Ron Ipach says
Ben, sounds like you need to have a sit-down with him to let him know how you feel about this. If he doesn’t know what an ass he’s being, he doesn’t have a chance to correct the behavior. If he doesn’t change, you have ZERO choice but to remove him from your life (aka, fire him).
Don’t worry about the negative review if you need to fire him. If it happens (and that’s an ‘if’), you’ll get a chance to write a very nice and professional response that can win any potential customers that might read it back over to your side. Most reasonable folks realize that you can’t please everyone all of the time.
Ron Ipach says
I hope it isn’t as bright as my shirt was! 😉
Gary luscher says
Ron, excellent thought. I’m on a dead end street off the main road . May have to fly some big balloons 🎈
Ron Ipach says
Yuuuup!
Ken Schrum says
I’ve been wearing a tie, button down shirt & nice pants for 10yrs now. Other shop owners tease me. However I have been called the Best Dressed auto mechanic in town. I get a lot complemnts from new clients they can’t believe I dress this way. Just 1 way to stand out