Week 12 - Part 1: Online Business Tools

It is important for Fily Willy Auto Care to expand its online presence.  Social media is, as we all have learned, a great way to advertise our brand, get noticed, connect with customers and to network with other businesses.

 The lecture provides a great buffet of additional online tools that can be used for our business and allows us to be selective for our specific industry niche.  Specifically, we intend to incorporate the following into our marketing business framework:
  • Rating Site: Yelp!:  Yelp! is a huge repository for all things business.  It is my first choice when wanting to see the most reviews on a business as reviews can be scattered in various medium.  Yelp! is a quick way for a visitor to get a glimpse of our business profile and create visibility for our brand.  Our current thought is to drive our clients to our future Yelp! account to review and comment on our customer service and workmanship.  This tool will help grow the clientele and foster a positive business culture.
  • Google My Business: The account has been created and we are awaiting the confirmation postcard from Google to verify our physical location.  As mentioned in the lecture, it will be a great opportunity to be found on Google Maps and create a free website (https://fily-willy-auto-care.business.site/).  This free website is a great placeholder as we develop in more detail our website architecture and secure a domain. This tool also provides free analytics tools which is invaluable to learn more about the visitor reach, communicate with customers through reviews, and answer customer inquiries.
Further Future Considerations for Fily Willy Auto Care in the future:
  • RepairPal:  This is free downloadable app for smartphones. "The free app helps you find the best local repair shop, order roadside assistance with one click, keep a complete auto repair history on hand, save money by gathering estimates in advance, and much more." (Reference: The Krazy Coupon Lady)
  • OpenBay:  This is another free app for smartphones.  "Open Bay is there to handle repairs that are beyond the scope of your knowledge. With Open Bay you can describe your repair needs and allow local facilities to bid on your job. As offers come in through the app, you can pick the best price, book your service, and even pay in-app. You can also store your vehicle's complete maintenance and repair history from within Open Bay."  (Reference: The Krazy Coupon Lady)
Both these opportunities will be helpful for the future as we grow our business.  RepairPal offers great partner programs, a referral network, a tow program and the seal of approval from peer businesses certifying superb service.  OpenBay provides a way to connect with online consumers and keep competitive in the local auto repair market.

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