Waze Puts Your Auto Repair Shop on the Map

Since its introduction in 2007, Waze has grown to be one of the most popular apps in the world, attracting over 65 million active users in 185 countries worldwide. It is a navigation app that allows users to add traffic reports, police sightings and other hazards to the map for users to see. Waze users are not only abundant (to say the least), but they are also very dedicated to the app with the average user spending about 438 minutes per month on the app.

With such a vast audience using Waze daily, why not make them aware of your auto repair shop? By adding your business to Waze’s map, drivers are alerted when your location is nearby and your auto shop will also show up in Waze search results. This can bring a whole new audience of people in your local area right to your front door.

Picture This

John Doe is driving down the highway using Waze, because John likes to make sure he’s avoiding traffic on his way home from work. As John passes Main Street, “Bob’s Auto Shop” pops up on Waze and he sees that it’s only one street over from his normal route home.

After noticing this, John is reminded of the pesky noise his car has been making for the past few weeks. John’s regular mechanic is so far out of his way and he hasn’t had the time to spend driving all the way over to that shop. Once he sees that Bob’s Auto Shop is not only close to his home and work, but also offers lower rates than his usual mechanic he decides to give Bob’s Auto Shop a try.

If Bob hadn’t added his shop to Waze, then John would have continued driving and eventually used the same old mechanic without knowing that Bob’s Auto Shop was closer to his area. Adding your business to Waze helps take your walk-by traffic to a whole new level.

How to Get Started

Waze is free and easy to set up for businesses. You can either add your auto repair shop on the mobile app or through the Waze Map Editor on your desktop. We recommend using the Waze Map Editor because it allows you to customize your listing by adding things like your website and phone number, making it easier for potential customers to reach your business.

Follow the steps below to get your business listed on Waze:

1. Once you’ve registered your Waze account on the app, go to waze.com/editor and log in to the Waze Map Editor.
2. Enter your shop’s address into the search bar and zoom in on the location on the map.
3. Click the icon on the menu bar in the top right hand of your screen. On the drop downmenu, select your industry (ex. car services) and then select the icon to the right of the highlighted industry. You can then click on your shop location to add the place to the map.
4. After selecting your industry, a side bar will pop up to the left of your screen. There you can enter your shop’s name and a brief description.
5. In the “More Info” tab of the sidebar, you can enter your website URL, phone number and hours of operation, as well as select all of the services that your shop provides.
6. Under the “photos” section of the sidebar, you can upload a picture of your storefront. You can also make your listing more captivating by adding other pictures of different areas in your auto shop.
   • Pro photo tips:
     1. Make sure your pictures are clear and well-lit (avoid blurry, dark or overexposed pictures).
     2. Only show one building in the picture (i.e. your storefront).
     3. Avoid having full license plate numbers and clear faces in your pictures, as they will not be approved.

Go the Extra Mile

Waze Local is a paid advertising option that is completely customizable to make sure you get what’s best for your business. It is a great way to ensure that you get your auto shop’s name out there.

With Waze Local you set a daily budget that you’re comfortable with (starting at just $2 a day) and if at any point you decide that you want to adjust your daily budget you can do so with ease. Whenever a driver is near your shop, a “branded pin” with your logo will pop up on the driver’s screen. When the driver clicks on your logo they get a more detailed description of your business and are prompted to change their current route so that their final destination is your shop.

Waze Local also offers a personal online dashboard where you can keep track of your campaign, make updates to your advertisements, and see your success through the number of people who are seeing and engaging with your ads. Because Waze only promotes your ads to drivers when they are near your location, the impressions are guaranteed to be from drivers who are already close to your area, making them even more likely to stop by your shop.

Navigate Customers to Your Auto Repair Shop’s Front Door

Waze offers numerous ways to expand your business’s reach for advertising. Whether you have the budget for paid advertisements or you’re just looking to gain customer attention in your area, Waze offers a great solution for you to expand your market and bring new customers right to your door.

Do you want to grow your shop?

Scan your website today for a full report that will provide insight into how your can find more customers online!