It's one of fastest growing social network sharing sites. 

The problem for repairers is understanding how to use it and what makes it valuable for Collision Repair marketing plans. 

Watch this 2 min video as we break down Instagram for Collision Repair 

Top 6 Tips For Blog Commenting

by Chris Sheehy | local marketing specialist…

For as long as I can remember, Memorial Day Weekend has always been the time to plant our family vegetable garden. As I was digging in the dirt this past weekend, it occurred to me that planting a garden is a lot like managing a social media campaign – it takes some skill, a lot of dedication and persistence, but the payoff can be plentiful.…

No matter what business you are in at some point you have to decide what you’re worth. For my business, that decision came this month. 

When deciding your worth there are many factors you consider. Basic economics would tell you to factor in your cost of business, potential growth needs and…

Since early 2011 one of the hottest debates in Collision Repair has been industry and OEM repair standards. 

Last summer I-CAR announced a plan during CIC to maintain a centralized database of OEM repair procedures only to announce last month they had changed their mind. It sent our industry back down into a debate on OEM vs. Industry procedures and who will be the guardians of right and wrong. 

As I listen to the debates and read the articles I…

ASI Claims Reaches 1 Million Claim Milestone

Audit Service Incorporated reviews physical damage estimates for accuracy, while ensuring compliance to industry standards, best practices and client…

Social Media is not a solution. 

Being from Arkansas I think I’ve heard every joke about Hope possible. The problem is that every week I find myself having to remind companies that Hope may be a place to believe in, but it is not a marketing…

Would you like to land more jobs? Demonstrating genuine care while writing an estimate goes a long way to gaining a potential customer's trust.

Here's 7 simple, practical ways to show you care:



1. Give them something - It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Try a Coke, a pen or a key chain. Do they have a spot that needs buffed? Do it for free. How about that door that's getting jammed up because the fender is pushed in. Why not spoon it for free on the spot so they…

DuPont Performance Coatings as completed the sales of its $4.9 billion sale to The Carlyle Group on Feb. 1.

On Feb. 4 they annouced it’s rebranding as Axalta Coating Systems a "a global supplier of coatings to the transportation and industrial sectors.”

"The new name reflects the company's complete focus on the coatings sector and our commitment to performance excellence," Axalta said on its website, still under development. "While our name has changed, the fundamentals of our…

I'm writing the start of this blog in the parking lot of our closed family collision repair business. While it’s been over 15 years since the sell of the property, I still find myself here from time to time to gather my thoughts. At the time of the closure I was unsure of the reasons for our “loss”, and too young to take over. As all children do, I idolize my parents for the business they created and the principles on which they ran that business daily. A few years, later we…

Choosing the wrong weapon can impact your personal and business visibility in your market.

If you always "compete" with the same weapons as your competition (business) or job applicants (personal) then it's hard to stand out from the crowd.

As you approach 2013 look for areas you can separate from the pack and stand out so you can stand up!

What…

The good news is you made it through 2012. The bad news is 2013 starts tomorrow. 

Today across the country countless individuals will make a list of resolutions covering their health, family and relationships. What about business resolutions? Our team…

We see it all the time; someone creates and maintains a Facebook Page for their business, without realizing that someone else has already created a Facebook Page for that business. How do you merge those pages together without losing the LIKES? How do you claim the unauthorized Page?

Facebook doesn’t like…

The best part of the holidays is how it can bring a community together. In towns across the country collision repairers have traditionally played large roles in all the activities of the season. 

What we typically don’t do well is allowing the community to celebrate and engage with us at our business location. Sure we build great parade floats and collect toys, but as a repairer you have so many other options to assist your community and celebrate your…

You’ve heard the old saying “Fight Fire with Fire”, but the best practitioners of Public Relations will tell you that’s always your worst response. If you want to win the war, fight fire with marshmallows. 

You’ve worked hard to grow your business by putting in so much of yourself in every…

For full access to links, please click  Mitsubishi…

Chicago, IL and San Antonio, TX December 14, 2012 – CCC Information Services Inc. announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire …

Press Release:

PPG to acquire AkzoNobel North American architectural coatings business

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 14, 2012 - PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the North American architectural coatings business of AkzoNobel, N.V., Amsterdam, in a deal valued at $1.05…

I’m asked frequently as I consult around the industry about adding texting or SMS campaigns to a repairers marketing plan. Many are surprised when my response is a resounding NO. 

To many it seems like I’m making a mistake to not capitalize on the benefits of texting. After all, studies show…