Happy New Year!

Before we get into the exciting digital marketing tips for 2023, we want to remind you why digital marketing is essential for your shop. 

In the auto restoration and performance industry, there are a lot of shops out there, and most of them have gotten online to reach more people around the country. 

The race is on to get the attention of potential clients and attract them to your website before your competitors can get their hands on them. 

Without digital marketing on your side this year, you might find yourself falling back while somebody else takes first place. Nobody wants to lose the project of a lifetime, but without a solid digital marketing strategy behind you, the finish line could be further than you think. 

So, to avoid being left behind, use these five tips to enhance your digital marketing strategy today.

Why is digital marketing important for auto restoration and performance shops?

Before we get into the exciting digital marketing tips for 2023, we want to remind you why digital marketing is essential for your shop. 

In the auto restoration and performance industry, there are a lot of shops out there, and most of them have gotten online to reach more people around the country. 

The race is on to get the attention of potential clients and attract them to your website before your competitors can get their hands on them. 

Without digital marketing on your side this year, you might find yourself falling back while somebody else takes first place. Nobody wants to lose the project of a lifetime, but without a solid digital marketing strategy behind you, the finish line could be further than you think. 

So, to avoid being left behind, use these five tips to enhance your digital marketing strategy today.

5 ways you can improve your digital marketing in 2023

1. Venture into video marketing

Video is the way forward - especially in 2023. People don’t have the same attention span as they used to, and video marketing is a fantastic way to ensure your potential clients engage with your content. 

People are much more likely to watch a five-minute video explaining the inner workings of a project or service than to read a two-thousand-word synopsis of the work you just did. 

Plus, 88% of people are more likely to invest in your services or products if they’ve seen a video about them. 

By having video on your website, social media, or even on a dedicated YouTube channel, you’ll be able to attract many interested clients. 

Another great thing about video marketing is it also helps you build trust with your potential clients. With video, your audience gets to know you and your products or services, making it easier for them to see you as the person behind the branding. 

For example, by creating a video detailing how you restored the latest car in your shop, you’ll be able to show them how they could get their vehicle restored to the exact factory condition. 

You can also do videos that offer them helpful information to assist them with their cars. This positions you as a knowledgeable and brilliant business and helps you build more trust with your clients. 

2. Build a modern website

Your website is the core of your company. Without a modern website by your side, you won’t be able to reach as many clients as you deserve. However, just having a website isn’t enough. It has to be a modern and professional website. 

From our research in 2022, we discovered that only 45% of auto restoration and performance industry businesses had a professional website. 

If your website is old and looks like it was made in 2003 instead of 2023, you’re going to run into issues. 

You should make sure your website has the following:

• An attractive design
• An easy-to-navigate design 
• User-friendly content 
• Clear contact information 
• All the details your clients need to know about your services
• Fast load times 
• Privacy/cookie policies 
• HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)
• Images and videos 
• An accessible design 

Do I need a website?

If you don’t have a website, then 2023 is the year to get you and your shop online to help you expand your presence in the digital space. 

But I have a social media presence - isn’t that enough?

Having a social media presence is fantastic, but it isn’t enough on its own. 

Having a modern website that works for your shop will help you get much further with your digital marketing efforts this year. 

Find out more about why you shouldn’t rely only on social media. 

3. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

You’ve got your website up and running, but it’s not just about the design and the content. Your website needs a lot more to get noticed by your target audience. If you want to get your website to the first page of Google search results this year and onto your clients’ radar, then you must start improving your SEO. 

With a fantastic SEO strategy by your side, you’ll be able to boost your website and help it get to the top this year. 

You can start enhancing your SEO by:

• Improving your content marketing by writing blog posts 
• Optimizing your Google Business Profile 
• Gathering high-quality backlinks from reputable websites 
• Including relevant keywords in your copy 
• Including meta titles and descriptions for every website page and blog post
• Guest posting for industry leaders 

You can do a lot to improve your SEO, but it can be a bit overwhelming if you’re not familiar with what to do. Our team is here for you. We’re experts when it comes to SEO and can help you get your site to the top in no time at all. 

4. Social media marketing

We did say earlier on that you shouldn’t run your shop on social media alone - but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use social media. 

Social media marketing is a massive part of your digital marketing strategy, and without a solid social media presence, you could miss out on many high-quality leads. 

How does social media marketing help auto restoration and performance shops?

Social media helps shops in a lot of ways. It puts you in a space where potential clients hang out and connects you with industry leaders. 

When you’re on social media, you can also start positioning yourself as the go-to company for your niche by showing your potential clients why you’re the right choice for their restoration project. 

How? 

Simply by: 

• Posting regularly and engaging with your followers
• Uploading helpful and informative content
• Sharing pieces of content from other shops, manufacturers, and businesses

Social media will also help you improve trust with your potential clients, and the more you post and engage with them, the more they’ll think of you the next time they’re looking to start an auto restoration project.

5. Invest in PPC ad campaigns for auto restoration shops

Our last tip for you today is to consider investing in PPC (Pay Per Click) advertising. 

PPC advertisements are designed to help your shop get straight to the top of the search results for your chosen keywords. Your shop will be displayed at the top as a beautiful advert, but there’s a catch. 

Unlike some of the other tips on this list, PPC can get a little bit expensive if you’re not in the right position for it. 

For example, you could pay for months of PPC and get a lot of people visiting your site. But they might not stick around if you don’t have an updated and professional website. 

So, before putting a heap of money into paid advertising on Google, Facebook, or other social media platforms, ensure your digital marketing is in order. 

You can do a lot this year to enhance your digital marketing and attract more clients to your website. 

We hope this blog has given you an idea of where to start, and if you need some help with your digital marketing strategy, we’d be happy to be there for your shop. 

Our team has years of experience helping automotive aftermarket restoration, performance, or race shops get noticed online by their target audience. 

Get in touch today.