I’ve been a sponsor here for a bit and haven’t seen much business from it. I know I’m fairly specialized (3S, DSM, and Evo, with DSM and Evo parts being a bit sparse) but I know there are a fair amount of Evo and DSM guys here…plus there are a ton of more universal parts on the site.
Just looking for some feedback from you guys to let me know why. Maybe you don’t notice my advertising posts (there isn’t many) or maybe you think I’m an asshole, either way, I want to hear it. Just looking for an idea on how I can push more stuff on here and get more from this sponsorship other than the warm feeling of knowing that I’m helping keep the lights on here.
Yes, people are very cheap. Honestly until I clicked on your website, I never knew you carried items like seats that are universal. A lot of other people probably dont know that either. Maybe market those items some more?
Also, do you do powdercaiting, or just sell items that are already coated? Could be another area you could expand.
Thanks guys…I suppose I should push the brands on here more than the products. Just because I have, for example, Spec clutches for the 3S, DSM, and Evo listed doesn’t mean I can’t get them for any application.
Paul, I do offer custom power coating but to be honest it’s just through Justin on here…
Take advantage of your vendor section. As a fellow vendor, I have had decent luck on here. Some may disagree, but I found that you have to go after your business on here. I can honestly say, I didn’t know you existed on here until now.
Sites like these can be very valuable, but only if you market the right way.
Make a thread and maybe have a daily item that you talk about. Let us know why we should buy it. Let us know when you are having a sale on certain things.
Sorry to be abrupt, but try putting us in the market.
Exactly. I realize you specialize in Evo and DSM stuff, with pretty much steers me away from your company immediately. But now that I know that you have Corbeau seats, clutches, etc and can get them for vehicles that I own, I am suddenly more interested in your company and will therefore follow you more closely and you become and option when I need something.
It’s understandable to want to provide only to a specific market or car, but in this game you probably need to be able to provide to all brands to keep your business coming in, all while staying true to your Evo and DSM roots. I feel that’s how Innovative Tuning is…they specialize in Subaru brand but can tune and fix anything, IIRC.
So with powdercoating, to clarify, you do make money off of it even though Justin does it? Like outsourcing? if so, could you push powdercoating service and increase your revenue from that and helping out Justins’s business at the same time?
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I also find you need to “bump” your vendor thread to remind people you have the service. People say “I’ll totally call you in a month…blah-blah-blah…” and forget.
Agreed, I’ve been focusing on some other forums but wanted to start pushing on here some more and wanted general feedback on how to start. Seems like it might be as simple as this (as it is on most forums).
I focus on smaller sections because it would take me months to get all the parts for all applications listed on the site. There are solutions out there that will do it for me but they’re not cheap and probably wouldn’t be worth it with the small amount of non specific stuff I sell, that is without a large marketing budget also.
Traffic is huge. You think STM takes all the time to put together those pretty build threads with all the edited photos because it’s fun? They have 2 recent build threads, one with almost 2000 views and the other with over 1600.
Looking at their posts where they just posted a new product for sale vs posts you made about a new product for sale the view counts are similar.
People are assaulted by advertising so much that they tune it out. You need to make your advertising something people want to see, and on a car forum a build thread with pictures that border on car porn is a pretty good way to go about that.
Agreed. Only problem is we don’t do service, it’s strictly retail and a bit of manufacturing. With that said I’m sure there are interesting things we do (or events) that can grab some attention.