Do you want to promote your taxi business and increase your ride time? If YES, here are 20 unique, affordable marketing ideas to attract customers to your taxi.
It is an obvious fact that the success or failure of a business depends heavily on the client base of the business. Irrespective of how good the product or service your business has, if no one knows about it or is willing to spend money on it, then you will definitely go out of business sooner than later.
On the other hand, having a steady stream of people who are willing to patronize what you have will ensure that your business survive, thrives and will ultimately lead to the fulfillment of the company’s vision and goals.
No customers, no business. QED! However, a lot of businesses (taxi business inclusive) fail not because customers are not interested in what they bring to the table, but because they don’t even know that such a product or service exists in the first place.
If you have hopes of starting a taxi company that will grow to be a success, you will need to have several marketing and promotional strategies at your fingertips. Different aspects need to be considered if you intend to market your taxi company.
However, in order to start your tax business and get it going, you will have to be creative and think outside the box, marketing wise.
When starting your taxi business, the first step to marketing and rooting your business properly is to make sure that it complies with all laws concerning marketing and licensing of taxis in your locality. But licensing has absolutely nothing to do with marketing a taxi business right? Wrong.
Your potential customers will feel very wary of an unlicensed taxi because a lot of undesirable things can happen to them. You should find out the licensing law in your area for taxi, obtain the license and then make sure that you display the license in a conspicuous corner of your taxi to put the mind of your customers at ease.
The next big step towards marketing your taxi business is the locality you intend to operate in. The environment you find yourself in and its practices will have a huge impact on how you will market your business.
For instance, if you live in large urban areas like New York City where taxis are common, there may be a minimal amount of marketing necessary- just driving up and down the busy streets where taxis are always needed could be enough to get you more business than you can handle.
However, if you live in a small town where almost everyone has cars, coming up with a good marketing scheme is going to be essential if you want your company to be a success. In no particular order, here are 20 unique marketing ideas to attract customers to your taxi.
Best Marketing ideas to Attract Customers to your Taxi
1. Exclusives
You can partner with some hotels, restaurants, bars and other public places in your city to set up “exclusives” with particular operators to guarantee they will have transportation quickly when they need it. If you can go into this type of arrangement with other businesses, it will be a great solution to getting a constant flow of orders.
2. Online Promotion
Popular social networking websites such Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram are now giving you the ability to create communities, which is an added bonus since your customers are probably already on these social media channels.
You can take the initiative to create business pages to boost your company’s awareness and get customers. You should make sure that your social media page is constantly updated with relevant, informative and entertaining content. The page should display some appeals to your new customers, promo codes, viral videos, contests, etc.
3. Online booking round the clock
In addition to using the internet to promote and market your taxi business you should also make sure that you have a web page with your contact (phone number) which will have an option to order online. A lot of our customers will love to have an online booking tool.
4. PR & Media
You should make your company recognizable by reaching an even wider audience and eventually converting them to your clients. The key is PR in local media. Share your story through local publications. The media often publishes for free, as they are constantly looking for local news, especially if you have a good reason for it.
5. Add Credit Card Payment
In today’s world, people are getting accustomed to leaving their houses without cash. Customers like being able to complete transactions quickly and easily without having to run to the ATM for cash or write a check, both of which are limited to their available funds. By including this form of payment in your taxi business, it will help to attract more customers.
6. Local bars
One of the most common times when people need a taxi is after they have been drinking. Talk to local bar owners and see if you can make a deal with them to be “on-call” for customers who have had too much to drink.
Give the bar owners your card and perhaps offer a special promotion to customers or a commission to the bar owner if they will call you first when someone needs a taxi trip home (before you do this, make sure this is permitted based on the rules for taxis and taxi drivers where you live).
7. Market your business to senior citizens
Be creative when thinking about people who might use taxis; for example, those at a senior citizens home who are no longer able to drive might need a taxi too.
While some of these people may need special handicapped transportation, others are mobile enough to use a regular taxi but just can’t drive anymore for various reasons. Talk to local senior homes in your area and see if they have a relationship with a taxi service or want to form one.
8. Email
Making use of well-targeted emails to your customers can generate some really good business and bookings at low cost. For example, promoting airport transfers that lead up to school holiday periods and over the summer holidays can generate lots of high earning work.
9. Website
As a local company, your website can be a key tool for new (and old) customers to find you. A simple, attractive and well-designed marketing website gives you a marketing advantage.
10. Create Branded Booklets/Leaflets and Spread Them Out
Booklet and leaflets which carry your brand is a very excellent way to get the word of your business out to the general populace. You can also consider making up flyers with promo codes or discounts to attract more customers and leave or hand them out in public places.
It will work effectively in crowded public places such as cinemas, exhibitions, sport and art events. Make sure to include your contact information (company name, mobile/cell number, website URL) on all marketing materials.
11. Start a cargo service
Taxis that are currently not booked by passengers can also be booked to carry cargo from point to point. This will ensure utilization of spare capacity and attract new set of customers i.e. business customers. Most local businesses use local taxis to deliver goods to other local businesses. You can expand your business to include this service.
12. Free Rides for Police
To convey to people that your taxi company is safe, you can sponsor free rides for members of the police force to their police station for a week. Use PR and social media to spread the message and pictures.
Members of the Police Force only get few luxuries and have limited pay for their efforts. This will a sort of be like a ‘Thank You’ for keeping the city safe, and if well played can get you in the good books of both the police and the general public.
13. Carry business cards
Don’t ever leave home without your business cards. You never know who you might bump in to. Make sure your business cards contain all your relevant information, including your website address and any social media accounts you might have.
You should endeavor to make your business cards stand out. Also, you should make sure that your business card is memorable and unique. Get a business card design that makes you stand out and keeps you in people’s minds.
14. Make use of word of mouth
This is definitely the oldest form of marketing and advertising used by businesses since the world began. While it may bring slower results than radio or television, it still works very well. In recent times, there has been a growing apprehension and distrust towards paid advertising, but word of mouth still continues to be the most trusted method of marketing in the world today.t i
It is only natural that when a customer makes use of a service and he enjoys it, he will share his experience with his family, friends, colleagues, neighbors and even in some cases with total strangers.
A satisfied customer is one of the most effective marketing and advertising tools a small business can ever have. Satisfied customers become foot soldiers, evangelists and advocates for your business. It is amazing how many of your satisfied customers will go to great lengths to promote, convince, protect and defend your business outside. You can make use of word of mouth to market your taxi business by;
- Proving top notch service to your clients. If your taxi business delivers on its promise and does more than what it says, it’s definitely a winner!
- Giving them great customer experience. Most times, it doesn’t really matter how large or deep-pocketed your competition is. You can grow a successful business on great customer service. People like to buy products and services from businesses that treat them with respect.
People love to be given attention and treated well and will always return to enjoy that beautiful experience again. Always bear in mind that your customers are spending their hard earned money to board your taxi and as such a ‘Thank you” will not be out of place.
People hardly forget a great customer experience and will happily tell other people about it. Give your customers a reason to advertise and market your business. Sometimes, word-of-mouth advertising doesn’t come automatically; you have to encourage, motivate or incentivize your customers to do it for you.
15. Start a referral or reward program for your existing customers
The more people they refer to your taxi business, the more free services and discounts they will enjoy. The reward should be large enough to trigger their interest and make them take action. It’s a win-win method that always works. Like was mentioned earlier, word-of-mouth is powerful, so friends telling friends about your business is incredibly valuable.
16. Add a discount
No matter how small, people will always see discounted prices as a chance to save more money while still enjoying the services of your taxi. In fact, discounts and deals usually influence customers to even patronize you more than they intend just so that they can take advantage of the discount to the fullest.
They love to ‘take the opportunity’ because the same service may not be so cheap tomorrow. Offering deals and discounts are also a powerful way to publicize your brand.
17. Reward repeat customers
Do you want more patronage from an existing customer? Then you should reward them with your own loyalty strategy. How you reward them is up to you. Perhaps you could offer a discount. Whatever you choose, encourage loyalty by being loyal in return.
18. Have excellent customer service
Believe it or not, customer service contributes a lot to the success or failure of any business. Nothing beats referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations, so keep your existing clients extremely happy by offering superb customer service. Work that extra bit harder and you’ll reap the rewards in the long-term. Nurture your client relationships.
In a bid to get new customers, you should always remember to always prioritize and make your existing clients feel special. Make them feel like they’re your most important customers and bend over backwards to keep them happy. Keep the communication channels open and never be afraid to pick up the phone or arrange meetings. Nurture your relationships.
19. Listen to your customers
Your customers will give you the most helpful insights into how you can improve your business and ultimately get more customers. Listen to their feedback and put new systems in place to ensure your company thrives and survives.
20. Go green
These days a lot of people are very concerned about the wellness of the environment so you can take the initiative to go green so as not to only benefit the environment but to also get more customers. All you need to do is to go to town on your eco credentials and put an ethical policy in place.
Show people that you care about the world by ensuring you have corporate social responsibility. By doing so, you will be able to market your taxi business to environmentally conscious individuals.
In conclusion,
It is advisable to start local. You might be planning for a global network, but it all starts locally, a lot of big businesses that are household names today started locally. When you specify your target audience right from the very onset, you would have more chances of success.
Pick a specific target area and start from it. Once you conquer one, go to the next level. You should always bear in mind that the taxi business is local, but you can conquer as many cities as you like as long as you take it one step at a time.