How to Connect With Service Department Customers Through Social Media
An aging car normally goes hand-in-hand with frequent service visits, especially when a driver is hoping to maintain the vehicle for years to come, warding off a new-vehicle purchase.
And according to survey results released in August by research firm Polk, the average age of all light vehicles is 11.4 years, with the number of vehicles older than 12 years on the rise.
These statistics bode well for the automotive aftermarket, Polk stressed.
That said, service providers are going to be competing for these new customers, perhaps forcing many dealerships to assess the way they market their service departments.
Though service departments might not see social media as the first or best way to reach customers, scheduling software provider Appointment-Plus, contends it can be both an effective outreach and referral tool.
From Twitter, to Facebook and more, Appointment-Plus took a look at Polk’s results, and offered the following tips for service departments to reach customers on social media.
- Promote discounts.
Appointment-Plus stressed that one of the “main reasons people follow a business’ social media pages is for coupons.”
The company suggests that service departments give customers “a reason to visit and share your social media sites” by consistently posting discounts and coupons.
2. Build relationships.
“Many customers ‘like’ or ‘follow’ social media sites for the interaction with that business,” Appointment-Plus explained. “By responding to posts or messages in a timely fashion, you’ll develop sound relationships with customers. And as any business owner can attest to, good relationships turn into sales.”
3. Market your referral program.
“Customer referrals continue to be a great way to generate new sales. Used in conjunction with social media, a referral program can be a powerful avenue for building a strong and growing client base. Be sure to actively promote referral programs through posts and tweets,” officials said.
4. Offer online scheduling.
“Today’s customers prefer the convenience of booking their service appointments online instead of over the phone. Implementing automotive appointment scheduling software on your social media pages can generate instant sales and greater customer satisfaction,” Appointment-Plus concluded.
Continue the conversation with Auto Remarketing on both LinkedIn and Twitter.
