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April 16, 2019

3 Big Ways to Help Spread the Word About Your Laundromat

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There are a LOT of laundromats. In fact, there are currently about 29,500 coin laundries in the United States, according to the Coin Laundry Association. That includes the abundance of laundries in the Chicago area and even smaller communities around Illinois and Indiana. With so many laundry businesses to choose from, getting yours to stand out from the noise can be challenging. Here are a few things laundromats like yours can do to help get the word out about their business.

1. Host a fun event.

Sure, doing laundry is a necessity, but it’s not something most people actually want to spend an afternoon or evening doing. Consider giving people another reason to visit your laundromat by hosting a fun event that turns your laundromat into a destination. The options are really limitless and should be dictated by your laundromat’s target audience. A few examples include:

  • Study nights for students. Extend your hours, have some energy drinks and coffee on hand, and allow students to cram for exams while tackling their laundry.

  • Live music or comedy nights. A little entertainment can make doing laundry a little more fun. Plus the entertainers will likely draw in their fan base, which means potential new customers for you!

  • Kid craft/story time events. Have some staff or volunteers on hand to keep youngsters occupied with crafts, games, or stories while mom and dad do the laundry stress-free.

  • Grand opening. If you’ve recently opened your business, then a grand opening celebration is a great way to kick things off. However, you can also celebrate other big events, such as milestone business anniversaries or upgrading your commercial laundry equipment, to help get customers excited.  

Not many laundromats host events, so it’s sure to help differentiate your business and get people talking. Consider making your events a regular, consistent thing, and promoting them using social media, flyers online community calendars, and personal invitations. It’s a great opportunity to increase customer loyalty and attract new customers who may not otherwise have visited your business.

2. Revamp your online presence.

The internet is a powerful tool that you should be taking advantage of to gain and retain customers. Google receives over 63,000 searches per second on any given day. That includes people searching for information about nearby laundromats like yours! If it’s been a while since you’ve updated your website or you’re one of the 50% of small businesses that don’t have a website, it’s a good time to dive in. Even if you’re on the internet or are working with an online marketing guru, there are a few simple things you should pay attention to:

  • Make “must-have” information prominent. Important details like your hours of operation, address, directions, and contact information should be easily found on your site. It helps Google know when to show your site for all those “near me” searches and helps customers find you when they need to.

  • Update the imagery. The old saying that “a picture is worth 1,000 words” holds true. Let your commercial laundry equipment speak for itself with professional, eye-catching images that help to set your business apart.

  • Customer reviews. Never underestimate the value of a positive review. You can go on and on all day talking about how great your business and laundry equipment is, but it’ll never hold as much weight as a customer sharing their personal experience. Share positive reviews and testimonials prominently on your website and social accounts. (Unfortunately, negative reviews happen too, so check out our tips for responding to bad reviews.)

We also can’t talk about online marketing without talking about social media. If you’re not on social your customers definitely are.68% of U.S. adults are Facebook users, which includes your customers and potential customers for your laundromat. There are lots of online marketing resources to help you navigate the crazy world of social media and reach your customers on these platforms. Take advantage of those resources and start engaging with your customers where they’re at.

3. Partnerships and community involvement. 

Big things can happen when business partnerships thrive and businesses like yours get involved in the community. Collaboration and community involvement are great ways to reach new laundromat customers, spread goodwill, and strengthen the community in which you live and work. Here are a few ideas to help grow your laundromat business by serving your community:

  • Volunteer with your staff. There are lots of great volunteer opportunities that can help improve your community year-round. It’s a great opportunity to give back and spread goodwill while getting your business name out there.

  • Participate in community events. From community parades and festivals to official organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, there are plenty of ways for you to network with fellow business owners and potential customers in a fun, stress-free environment.

  • Collaborate with other businesses. Whether it’s co-hosting an event or cross-promoting each other through signs, brochures, and word-of-mouth, partnering with another business can be mutually beneficial in reaching new customers.

What’s next?

The laundry experts at Coin-O-Matic are always here to help laundromat owners in the Illinois and Indiana areas take their business to new heights. On top of offering high-quality laundry equipment from Speed Queen, we also offer layout/design services, marketing consulting, and so much more. We’re standing by to answer your questions. Contact our laundry experts today!

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