AutoInc., the official magazine of the Automotive Service Association (ASA), recently selected its annual "Top 10 Automotive Repair Websites," which were featured in the magazine’s January 2012 issue. Since its inception, AutoInc.’s Top 10 feature has been a guide to help shop owners understand the capabilities of the Internet in the automotive repair industry.
AutoInc.’s "Top 10 of 2012" includes (in alphabetical order):
Atlantic Motorcar, Wiscasset, Maine
Clark’s Car Care, Naperville, Ill.
Dave’s Car Care, Glendale, Ariz.
Fix Auto Portland East, Portland, Ore.
Hubbard Woods Motors, Winnetka, Ill.
Milstead Automotive, Spring, Texas
Motor Works, DeKalb, Ill.
Precision Auto Repair, Pleasanton, Calif.
Robert’s Auto Repair, Monterey, Calif.
Tony’s Service Center, Phoenix, Ariz.
"These ASA members have demonstrated the importance of having a Web presence to effectively compete in the digital age. It is no longer acceptable to hope that customers will ‘find’ your business, you have to proactively promote yourself, and these are excellent examples of cost-effective digital marketing. Congratulations to all the honorees for setting a great example," said Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive.
Each year, AutoInc. judges review scores of website submissions and narrow the field down to what they consider the best. The goal is to help other shops employ the Internet as a powerful tool and show them how fellow shop owners use the Web to improve productivity, enhance marketing programs and, ultimately, increase their businesses’ bottom lines.
Judges use set guidelines and a scoring sheet to evaluate specific features of each site uniformly. Sites are evaluated using the following criteria: first impression; objective/purpose; visual design; innovation; appearance; credibility; navigation; interactivity; consumer friendliness; encourages action; technical; and social media interaction.
More information:
The entire feature, with more in-depth information about each shop’s site, will soon be available online at www.AutoInc.org.