The Mechanic’s Guide To Simple, Effective Advertising That Works

If the thought of you having to shake your booty on Tik Tok in order to get customers makes you cringe, then this article is for you. We are going to take a look at the most basic, simplest (and least embarrassing) forms of marketing, that will help attract more customers to your automative business.

Having been tried and tested, these methods are proven to work. But the best thing is, they don’t involve you selling your soul to the devil that is social media.

So let’s “shake our booty” and get right into it.

Get A Google Business Profile

As a mechanic, the very first thing you want to do is make sure you have an active Google Business Profile. You can do this be searching your own business name in google. If a photo of your business comes up on the right, along with your name, address and contact details then you are already well on your way. If not, this is the first thing you need to do, irrespective of whether or not you have a website. The reason this is so important for mechanics, is because most customers visit a mechanic within a 10km radius of their home or work. So you want to be ensuring that if someone in your area searches for a mechanic, that you are showing up. It can’t be underestimated how simple, yet important it is to have a Google Business Profile.

Own The Internet With A Website

If having a Google Business Profile is no.1, then having a website is number two. The reason it’s important, is because having a website basically doubles your chances of being seen in Google searches. Not only that, it opens up you up to using Google Adwords to drive more customers. But that is a more advanced strategy for another day. At the moment we are staying focused on the most basic of strategies. Now to some, building a website might sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. A mechanics website doesn’t have to be complex, in fact it should be as simple as possible. Have a look at some other mechanics websites. Find one you like and reach out to them to see who made it for them. Chances are, if the mechanic is not in your area, they will be more than happy to tell you.

The Humble Service Sticker

Alright, enough with the complicated online tech. It’s now time to get serious with some good old fashioned offline advertising. The humble service sticker. A mechanics favourite, these have been around for years and have stood the test of time. To be blunt, if you are not putting a service sticker, or lube sticker, oil change sticker or whatever you want to call them, on the windshield of every customer car you work on, then you are leaving money on the table. Having one of your stickers on the inside of a customer’s car, drastically increases the chances of them returning to your workshop. Meaning more repeat business, which means more money in your pocket, which means less stress, which means less thinking about having to sell your booty on social media. For a detailed rundown on service stickers, check out The Ultimate Guide To Service Stickers.

When It Comes To Networking – Look Within

10 years ago, I took my car to a mechanic across the road, who I ironically also met at a networking meeting. When I dropped my car off, I was greeted by the young apprentice. When I asked if the mechanic was around, I was told he was at a networking event. I picked the car up the next day, this time greeted by the receptionist, who explained that the mechanic was once again at a networking event. After driving the car home, I noticed that the original problem hadn’t been fixed. So I took it back to the mechanic the following day, and you guessed it. He was at another networking event. I walked away from that mechanic saying to myself “If the mechanic had of just been at his workshop, the chances are that my issue would have been resolved, and he would have kept me as a customer”. Whilst attending networking events might sound like an easy solution, an even easier and more effective solution is to just stay put in your mechanic shop and network with the customers you already have, not the ones you don’t. When it comes to networking, look within!

Good Old Fashioned Customer Service

Let’s face it—fixing cars is your bread and butter, but treating customers right is the oil that keeps your shop running smooth. Good old-fashioned customer service doesn’t need fancy apps or hashtags; it’s about being the mechanic people trust. Greet folks with a smile, explain what’s wrong in simple plain English—not car-guy jargon—and be upfront about costs. Don’t hit them with surprise fees upon pickup. Call them by name and look them in the eye. Little stuff like this counts. Most people won’t drive more than 5 or 10 kilometres for a mechanic, so make them feel like you’re their local go-to. Word spreads fast when you’re honest and friendly—before you know it, their buddy’s dropping off his car too. It’s simple, it’s free, and it’s been working since the days mechanics use to service horse and carts!

In Conclusion, Keep It Simple

You don’t need to be a marketing whiz or a social media star to grow your shop—just stick to the basics that have always worked for mechanics. Focus on treating customers like neighbours, not numbers, and make it easy for them to find you. These aren’t flashy tricks; they’re the tried-and-true moves that build a loyal crowd, one oil change at a time. Start small, stay consistent, and you’ll see those hoists fill up without ever stepping foot on TikTok. It’s not about reinventing the wheel; it’s about keeping it spinning steady. Now, grab a coffee and get back to what you do best—fixing cars and winning customers the old-school way.