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Forum - Marketing advice required: London Taxi Company
Marketing advice required: London Taxi Company
Tue, 10/11/2009 - 12:02 — alexpnn
HI ,
We are a taxi company Hummingbird Cars in London. We provide Airport Transfer service from all london airports.
We have recently started our new business and we would like to expand our business. Can anyone suggest which is the best way of Marketing our business so that we can increase our business.
http://www.hummingbirdcars.com
Thank you
Alex
Founding partner
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Simple and effective method is Google ads. By paying some amount, you can list your site in the top spot in Google. So is some one check google" taxi cars in london" then your company will list in top. this could helps lots of tragic into your website.
Thanks
Pramod
www.twenty4by7.com
I think the images on your home page let you down slightly. A mocked up shoot with a photographer would instantly help. It would be more personable to potential clients. Get a few photos on there with different people and cars and locations..
I can help with the shots, though I don't want you to think that is why I am posting. This is not a blatant use me post... Just my instant thoughts...
One thing I would also do is drop the grey "London Airport Transfer Quote" box down so it is clear of the main image. Which would be better being a photograph ( as above). Makes it more believable etc.
hi
I would add to the excellent advice by suggesting that a brief customer feedback questionnaire administered online for ease would be useful, not only in gaining testimonials, but in ascertaining what your customers really value about an airport transfer service.
Sometimes it's the small details that make the marketing difference; often they are pretty simple to and cost-effective to implement. You could ask about where your service has exceeded or fallen short of alternative providers' services. Such information is powerful in determining the way you differentiate your service. Being seen to respond to feedback can be a powerful marketing tactic too.
Francine Pickering
Clarity Marketing Ltd - http://www.clarity-in-communication.com
I agree with both Alison's and Emma's comments.
The website needs a little more personality and some more pictures. Who is the team behind Humming Bird Cars? Why have you set up?
Why isn't your address on the website? I'm booking you from a foreign country and trusting you to get me from one airport to another so I don't miss my flight. I want to know that I'm booking with a company that actually exists and won't run off with my money and leave me high and dry. Where are you based? I've just found out what part of London you are in, and your license holder's name, from the PCO website - it's not on your website. Don't be shy.
Thanks for telling me that every car has satnav - please tell me that your drivers know their way around London!
I see you're angling for the international market - get a US phone number - Skype or any one of a number of other services, either to your PC or to your phone. Look closely at any per-minute billing if it comes to your phone. Maybe a French phone number too.
And you could translate your key pages into French, serving both our neighbours across the Channel and those in Canada who will appreciate you thinking about them.
You need a marketing system that includes bringing back repeat business and bringing in new customers. Reputation is a big part of any good marketing system. You're a new company with little baggage - what would you like to have a reputation for? It can be fun or funny - "Service with a smile or your money back" - because of what I saw a fortnight ago http://bit.ly/6mmi6B.
Testimonials also figure in a good marketing system, not just promoting them but also capturing them. You want to be getting a testimonial from every satisfied customer. A good system has figured out the best time to ask for a testimonial and the most effective way of providing/capturing it.
Capture customer's details for your CRM system, mailing list etc. Mailing and email address.
I would also add to your site some nice big buttons so that I can check which airports you cover. Do they do Heathrow? Where do I look? I don't want to have to assume anything.
For some immediate traffic, are you doing any pay per click advertising?
One idea that works great for American cab companies, don't know if it's been tried here - they have their details printed up on phone notepads and distribute them all over town.
Simon
Great post.
Hi
Have had a look at your website and a key element I think you may need to consider is differentiation. What does Hummingbird Cars do or offer that makes you different/better/more appealing than another operator. I know thats a hard question for a standard service like transfers but you need to think about what will make a potential consumer choose you over someone else.
Referrals and word of mouth are another great way to develop new business so consider who makes the most bookings with you - likely to be PA's, travel co-ordinators etc and communicate directly to them. Send them something to thank them for their first booking or offer an incentive if they recommend to a friend. Do something that helps them do their job easier/better/faster and that makes them look good to their boss.
I would also suggest a review of your website as its very copy heavy at the moment and again does not stand out from the crowd. Also consider what you offer for your customers, how can you exceed their expectations and go above and beyond what another company would offer, even if its simply water in the car or remembering a clients name. These things matter.
If you need further ideas let me know but hope this helps as a starting point. and remember, be different for all the right reasons!
regards
Emma
I agree with Emma.
Marketing is one area that always needs work within a business, however you have no social proof available - testimonials or a page - what our customers say about us?
This leaves the trust factor vacant.
Regards.
Alison
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