The Coronavirus crisis has accelerated society's move towards doing everything online. Taxi businesses wanting to attract more customers must embrace this change, as there has never been a better time than the present to promote a taxi business for no cost or little cost.
Social media
Social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offer free or inexpensive ways to market products and services to potential customers, while LinkedIn provides free access to the business community.
Online booking and payments
An online presence, especially one with an online booking and payment capability is an excellent way for a taxi business to grow its customer base. To be most effective, the online booking system needs careful integration with the taxi dispatch system but this is clearly the way forward, as early-adopters will have a valuable advantage over their competitors.
Local partnerships
Partnering with local businesses such as bars, coffee shops, and restaurants will help provide a constant flow of orders. Similarly, partnering with convenience stores where customers may have mobility issues and heavy shopping to take home can give taxi businesses a welcome boost.
Creative marketing strategies
Decorating vehicles at Christmas, Easter, and other key times of the year, to give the cars more visual impact will raise the profile of the business. In the same vein, using cabs for publicity stunts, like highlighting eco-friendly issues or local matters that are in the news, will have a similar positive effect. Allowing local businesses to use taxis for their publicity stunts such as delivering Santa to a store will also raise the profile of both businesses.
Finally, it is far harder to gain a new customer than it is to keep an existing customer, so concentrating on getting the basics right remains the key to long-term business success. Clean and tidy cars, smart and polite drivers, efficient booking systems, and an effective taxi dispatch system, are key elements in ensuring future business growth and increased profits.
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