It’s one thing to talk about marketing for auto repair shops. It’s another to actually do it and see the results.
That’s why we sat down with two shop owners who are in the thick of it. These guys are showing up, doing the work, and growing like crazy.
This isn’t a theory. It’s straight from real shop owners who have partnered with a team that understands how auto shop marketing really works. We pulled together four key takeaways from their podcast episodes and backed each one up with a video clip that brings each point to life.
Let’s get into it.
1. Marketing Only Works When Your Shop Works
Here’s the hard truth: if your shop’s a mess, no auto repair marketing company in the world is going to fix that for you.
Before you start pouring money into Google Ads, SEO, or any other form of auto repair digital marketing, you’ve got to fix your internal processes. That means solid systems, trained staff, and a great customer experience. Marketing turns up the volume on what’s already there. Make sure it’s something worth hearing.
2. Spending on Marketing Isn’t the Scary Part. Not Getting a Return Is.
We hear it all the time. “Marketing is expensive.” But the truth is, bad marketing is expensive. Good marketing pays for itself.
Both shop owners invested heavily in auto repair shop marketing because they had a plan, a solid shop, and the right marketing partner. One of them shared how scary it was to commit to that kind of spend, but once the ROI showed up, it became a no-brainer. The other is spending 8 to 10 percent of his target revenue because it works and he’s not losing sleep over it.
3. Google Ads and LSAs: Real Tools That Bring Real Cars In
If you’re running a smaller shop, every dollar you spend on marketing has to count. One of these owners uses Google Ads and SEO to make sure people in his area are finding him when they need help. It’s the kind of marketing that leads straight to the phone ringing.
The other is using Google Local Service Ads, and it’s been a game changer. These listings show up at the very top of search results with a “Google guaranteed” badge, and the leads are solid. We’re talking people calling in, ready to book, with lead costs as low as seven bucks.
You don’t need to understand every little detail of how it works. You just need to know this. Both of these tools are working. If you’re not using them, you’re missing out.
4. Brand Building Still Works (And It Pays Off Big)
If people in your town don’t know your name, they’re not calling you.
That’s why both of these shop owners focus on brand building. One of them hears it constantly. Customers walking in saying, “Hey, I saw your ad on Facebook.” One of his techs is basically a local celebrity because of how visible the shop has become. The other gets regular feedback from people who keep seeing their content pop up and remember the name when it matters most.
You want to be the first name people think of when something goes wrong with their car. That’s what strong brand awareness does. And when you combine that with a shop that delivers, that’s when things really start to take off.
Marketing Isn’t Magic. It’s a Partnership.
None of this works if you’re checked out.
Parker and Chris don’t treat marketing like a “set it and forget it” task. They show up. They give feedback. They challenge their marketing partners to get better. That’s what separates average results from real growth.
If you’ve been searching for the best marketing companies for auto repair shops or wondering who the right marketing partner for your shop might be, it starts with someone who gets it. Someone who does this for a living and actually understands your industry.
Ready to grow like the shops you just read about?
At Shop Marketing Pros, we don’t just run ads. We build marketing strategies that get real results for auto repair shops. Whether you need help with Google Ads, SEO, or just want a team that actually understands your business, we’ve got you.
Want to hear more from shop owners who are doing it right? Check out these podcast episodes:
“You’re Not Spending Enough Money On Marketing” featuring Parker Branch
“We’re Gonna Beat This Horse To Death” featuring Chris Cotton
Both are packed with real talk, smart strategies, and lessons you can apply in your shop today.
Schedule a no-pressure discovery call and let’s build a marketing strategy that actually works for your shop.
Brian Walker
“Digging in and figuring out why a business’ marketing isn’t working is a lot like it was when he was elbows deep into a car that no one else could fix. When you figure it out, there’s nothing else like it.”
To get to do this for auto repair shop owners combines his passions, and he couldn’t be more excited about helping shop owners.
