Growing from a single auto repair shop to multiple locations is a significant step. However, with growth comes complexity – especially in your marketing tactics for growing auto repair efforts. What worked when you were a one-shop operation may not work across several sites. Worse still, some strategies fail when you attempt to scale.
The key is finding marketing tactics that help grow auto repair businesses alongside you. You need strategies that are repeatable, trackable, and flexible enough to adapt to each new location without having to reinvent the wheel every time.
Here are three scalable tactics that can help growing chains attract more local customers, build trust quickly, and maintain business flow across every shop.
Key Summary
- Multi-location shops need consistent branding but localised visibility.
- Utilise location-specific SEO pages to optimise each shop’s ranking.
- Centralised ad campaigns allow better budget control and performance tracking.
- Automated email follow-ups drive repeat business without requiring extra administrative effort.
- The right tech stack saves time and keeps your marketing lean and efficient.
- Measure by cost per lead and store-level performance, not just clicks.
Why Scaling Marketing Gets Harder as You Grow
When you’re running one location, marketing is relatively straightforward. You set up your website, run some local ads, and monitor a single Google Business Profile.
But when you open multiple shops, suddenly you’re dealing with:
- Different suburbs, search terms, and demographics
- Various sets of reviews and business listings
- Ads that need to speak to local audiences but follow central branding
- Staff at each site who may or may not know how to handle leads
It’s easy to get stretched thin or lose track of what’s working. That’s why scalability matters. You need marketing that grows with you, not against you.
Tactic 1: Local SEO at Scale
Each location should have its dedicated landing page optimised for local search. That means a page like:
Logbook Servicing in Newcastle | [Your Brand Name]
Brake Repairs in Ballarat | [Your Brand Name]
These pages should include local keywords, photos from the actual location, reviews, and a map. This helps each shop appear in its local area’s Google results, not just the main head office.
Also, create and optimise a Google Business Profile for each site. Add real photos, opening hours, and collect reviews separately for each shop.
Tactic 2: Paid Ads With Centralised Strategy
You don’t need a separate Google Ads account for every location. You can run multi-location campaigns from a single account by segmenting your campaigns or ad groups by suburb or store.
This gives you control over the message, budget, and reporting while still targeting each local area with the right keywords and location-specific landing pages.
Facebook and Instagram ads can also be managed from a single Business Manager, allowing you to A/B test creative across stores and push promotions by postcode.
Tactic 3: Automate and Personalise Email Follow-Ups
If each shop has its staff manually sending service reminders or chasing bookings, it won’t scale.
Use an automated system that connects to your booking software and sends personalised follow-up emails or SMS messages after service. Messages like:
- “Thanks for booking with us in Newcastle – your next logbook service is due in 6 months.”
- “How did we do? Leave a review for our Ballarat team.”
This keeps your customer experience consistent while saving hours of admin across every location.
How to Measure What’s Working
Don’t just track clicks or impressions. Track how many calls or bookings each tactic is generating for each shop.
Use call tracking numbers on each landing page and link Google Ads to Google Analytics. You’ll get precise data on which locations are getting results and which need a tweak.
Even if your marketing is centralised, your reporting needs to be local.
Build Smarter, Not Just Bigger
Scaling your marketing doesn’t mean doing more – it means doing better. With the right tools and tactics, you can grow your auto repair business without doubling your time or budget.
Focus on local visibility, centralised control, and automation where it counts. That’s how Australia’s fastest-growing auto repair chains keep leads coming in across all their locations.
Need help building a scalable strategy for your shop? Book a call with Josh to talk through how these marketing tactics can help grow your business the smart way.