By Mark Sawhook, Sales Implementation Specialist

Over 20 years ago, when someone referred to a storefront, they were talking about the physical appearance of your shop –– whether it was inviting, clean, and if your customer service team was friendly. But in 2024, the concept of a "storefront" has evolved to encompass far more than just a physical space. When was the last time you did a digital health checkup?

*75% of consumers pass judgement on a company's credibility based on their website design. Source

Your Digital Checkup

Before you start to tackle projects to improve your shop’s online presence, you need to take a few minutes to take a "health check" of the following:

1. ‍Your Google Business Listing
   • Is it claimed or verified?
   • Is all information accurate and up to date? (hours, services, address, etc.)
   • Do you have recent photos of your shop or completed work?
   • Do you respond to reviews, both positive and negative?
2. ‍Your Search Results
   • What happens when you Google your shop's name?
   • Does your shop appear on the first page of search results?
   • Are there negative articles or mentions you should be aware of?
   • Are there any recurring issues or complaints you need to address?
   • What do other top review sites say about your shop?
3. ‍Your Social Media Presence
   • Are you posting engaging content regularly?
   • Are you interacting on social media as your shop to promote the business?
4. ‍Your Website Health
   • Does your website look nice on a phone and a computer?
   • Does it load quickly?
   • Is your contact information prominently displayed?
   • Is the site easy to navigate?

A strong online reputation is crucial for collision repair shops. It attracts new customers through a modern digital experience, helps convert leads, and boosts your business' visibility.

What to Do Next

Taking a regular pulse of your online presence may leave you wondering "Okay, but what do I do now?" Even if you're short on time, here's what you can consider.

If you only have 5 minutes

1. Claim and update your business listings on all relevant online directories. This helps potential customers find you and ensure consistency across platforms.
2. Showcase your work and testimonials from your customers on your website and social media.
3. Deliver excellent customer service. Providing excellent customer service ensures that your customers have a positive experience leading to great reviews and word-of-mouth referrals.

If you only have 10 minutes‍

1. Encourage and reply to reviews. Set aside 10 minutes each week and respond whether it is positive or negative. Be sure to respond to negative reviews professionally. Maintaining a strong, positive social media presence helps boost credibility and allows connection to your audience.
2. Be responsive to questions, comments and messages on your website and social media. Quick, helpful responses demonstrate your commitment to customer service.
3. Build a website. You may be thinking "A website would NEVER be able to be set up in 10 minutes." Well, with tools like CCC® Amplify with reputation management, you can launch or update your website and manage your entire online presence right from CCC ONE®. If you think I'm bluffing, fill out this form and we can talk more!

Managing your digital storefront doesn't have to be daunting, but it does mean that you need to invest a few minutes every so often for a checkup. Because even the smallest improvements can make the biggest difference.