“You should create a website if you want more customers to find your shop.”

You’ve probably heard this more times than you can count. It’s almost cliché, but you’ve decided that today is the day. Where should you start? After a quick Google search, it’s understandably difficult to choose between hundreds of a website providers who design and manage your shop’s website based upon your specifications. Don’t let that stop you from creating your shop’s dream website.

We want you to choose the most suitable, reliable website provider to meet your shop’s specific needs! That’s why we have created a cheat sheet of questions you should be asking potential website providers. These questions will help you confidently sort through seemingly similar providers and determine for yourself who is the best. Although each website provider is unique and may answer these questions slightly differently, a reputable provider will answer these in a similar way to what is found below.

What to Ask

Should I work with a website provider who knows my industry or does it matter?

Working with a website provider who understands the auto repair industry is a huge positive. The undeniable advantage is that they know how your customer thinks. This allows the website provider to optimize your website in a way that is most relevant to your target audience so that potential customers find you!

If I am in a small town and have no competition, do I really need a website?

Your website is the face of your business. Without a website, potential customers don’t know exactly who you are, what your shop stands for and the outstanding work you’ve completed. Now more than ever, customers search online to see what has been said about your shop before calling. Chances are if you don’t have a website, a customer will still find your phone number or address online, but why not have this information tied to your website where they can get to know your shop so they feel comfortable calling in and becoming a customer?

How do I determine the budget I need to run my website?

If your shop focuses more on paid advertising, your budget will be based largely upon two factors: how many customers you want to reach and the amount of competition in your area. Each business faces a unique competitive environment with different goals. Your strategy should be context dependently and would a reliable website privider should be able to tailor to your shop’s needs.

What is the difference between PPC and organic SEO?

In a nutshell, PPC stands for pay per click which in essence is paid advertising. SEO stands for search engine optimization which is your website’s ability to be found online. While SEO is technically free, it is a slower way to get your website in front of consumers. There are pros and cons to each method of promoting your website and a trustworthy website provider should be able to help you select the best strategy based on your auto shop’s overall goals.

How long will it take for you to get my auto shop on the first page of Google?

Well, it all depends. It can happen as quickly as a day or two through paid advertising (PPC), or it can happen gradually by designing your website in a way that is both relevant to potential customers and easy for Google to understand, better known as SEO. Although on first glance, appearing on the front page through PPC would seem best, but realize that it will not be free. On the other hand, you can build your web presence by optimizing your site to be better read by Google and to be more useful for your customers which will lead to naturally improved rankings. Thankfully these two strategies are not mutually exclusive and, depending upon your needs, a mix of these two methods would probably work best.

How do I manage my reputation online?

The right website provider should coach you on how to appropriately respond to reviews. By monitoring and being aware of various reviews sites such as YP.com, Yelp or others, your shop will be sure to catch any situation before it gets out of hand. This also benefits your shop’s customer support by solving issues in a professional manner. Having reviews posted directly to your website provides your shop with a level of control that you cannot receive from third-party review sites. Make sure that this is a service that the potential website provider will provide as a service to your website. It is important to choose a company that works with you to ensure website success. 

Should I look at what my competitors are doing to see how I should craft my website?

Absolutely. It’s a great idea to see what they’re up to. Although you offer many of the same services, your shop may be offering products and services that they may not be. This is great way to capitalize and differentiate your site. Doing this may allow you to have a lower PPC budget with better results.

Once my website is built, what’s next?

This is one of the most important questions to ask a potential website provider. If the company builds out your website and then lets you run free, this is not a company that you want to choose. Make sure that you select a company that will work with you to make edits and optimize pages, after the website is created.  

Although this is not a comprehensive list, it should allow you to begin determining what questions to ask when shopping for the right website provider for your auto repair shop. Make sure to research your options before selecting a website provider. Online marketing is a process that must be kept up with in order to achieve the best results.

Do you want to grow your shop?

Scan your website today for a full report that will provide insight into how your can find more customers online!