Preparing for October's Marketing [E168] - The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast

About this episode

Thanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueledReady or not, October is right around the corner, and Brian Walker and Caroline Legrand are here to help auto repair shops get a jump on fall marketing before it sneaks up.They cover fall-focused campaigns like Breaks for Breasts and Trunk-or-Treat events, along with practical reminders for promoting services like winterization and snow tire prep. The conversation also highlights creative ways to use national months and quirky holidays like Squirrel Awareness Month, National Pizza Month, and Name Your Car Day to create fun, engaging social media content that still reflects your shop’s professionalism.Whether it’s encouraging community involvement, sharing behind-the-scenes shop moments, or reminding customers about safety during school and holiday season travel, this episode is full of ideas that help your shop stay visible, build trust, and keep the bays full as the season shifts.Perfect for shop owners looking to market with intention and stand out in their local communities.Lagniappe (Books, Links, Other Podcasts, etc)October Social Media Content TopicsDays of the YearNational Calendar Show Notes with TimestampsIntroduction and Sponsor Acknowledgments (00:00:01) Brief intro to the podcast, hosts, guest, and sponsor messages.October Marketing Planning Overview (00:00:56) Discussion about the importance of planning October marketing strategies in advance.General Shop Topics & Breast Cancer Awareness (00:02:10) Covering general shop topics, "Brakes for Breasts" campaign, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.Trunk or Treat & Community Events (00:02:36) Ideas for hosting Trunk or Treat and other community events at the shop.Winterization, Tires, and Preventative Maintenance (00:02:58) Promoting winterization services, tire changes, and preventative maintenance for colder weather.Educating Customers on Fall Car Care (00:04:01) Tips for educating customers about tire pressure, coolant, and battery checks as weather cools.October National Months & Food Themes (00:05:10) Overview of October’s national months, especially food-related themes like National Pizza Month.National Women's Small Business Month (00:05:49) Highlighting and promoting women-owned auto repair shops.Squirrel Awareness Month & Automotive Tie-ins (00:06:08) Fun discussion on Squirrel Awareness Month and how it relates to brakes, tires, and rodent damage.Other October National Months (00:07:27) Mention of additional food and transportation safety months, and creative ways to tie them into shop marketing.National Go on a Field Trip Month (00:08:03) Encouraging partnerships with schools for field trips to the shop, including virtual options.October National Weeks: Safety Themes (00:08:55) National Teen Driver Safety Week and School Bus Safety Week, with tips for educating customers.October National Days: Green City, Name Your Car, and More (00:09:51) Ideas for celebrating National Green City Day, National Name Your Car Day, and other unique days.Engagement Ideas: Naming Cars & Social Media (00:12:50) Encouraging customer engagement by sharing car names and stories on social media.Fun and Unique October Days (00:14:12) Discussion of National Fire Pup Day, International Off-Road Day, Kick Butt Day, Motorcycle Ride Day, and more.National Gumbo Day & Regional Food Debates (00:15:08) Playful debate about National Gumbo Day and regional food preferences.Be Bold and Be Free Day & Tire Safety Content (00:16:37) Creative content ideas for Be Bold and Be Free Day, including trending tire safety videos.National No Beard Day & No Shave November (00:17:01) Ideas for shop participation in National No Beard Day and prepping for No Shave November.National Make a Dog's Day & Shop Pets (00:17:21) Ways to celebrate shop dogs and create fun pet-related content.Support Your Local Chamber & Get to Know Your Customers (00:17:57) Promoting involvement with local business groups and customer engagement days.National Make a Difference Day & Food Bank Week (00:18:29) Highlighting community service, car giveaways, and National Food Bank Week.Candy Corn Day, Halloween, and Divisive Treats (00:19:19) Discussing National Candy Corn Day, Halloween, and other divisive seasonal treats.October Conferences & Shop Training (00:20:03) Promoting shop participation in industry conferences and sharing training achievements.Holiday Planning and Announcements (00:22:37) Encouraging early promotion of holiday events, shop closures, and community drives.Seasonal Promotions & Fun Fall Ideas (00:25:19) Ideas for spooky savings, road trip tips, pumpkin carving contests, and seasonal coffee promotions.Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks (00:28:08) Summary, upcoming episodes, and closing thoughts from the hosts.How To Get In TouchJoin The Auto Repair Marketing Mastermind Group on FacebookMeet The ProsFollow SMP on FacebookFollow SMP on InstagramGet The Ultimate Guide to Auto Repair Shop Marketing Book Email Us Podcast Questions or Topics Thanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueledThis episode is sponsored by Shop Boss. You know, other shop management software makes you work, but Shop Boss works for you.  AppFueled at appfueled.com. “Are you ready to convert clients to members? AppFueled™ specializes in creating custom apps tailored specifically for auto repair businesses. Build your first app like a pro.”Aftermarket Radio NetworkRemarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open DiscussionDiagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.