http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/results.jtmpl?asl=y&make=FORD&address=97470
This one is sponsored by AutoTrader.com
$35 for basic listing
$45 for upgrade
$70 for best listing including 3 or 4 pics
Back in Jan of 2000 I helped a friend start a "CAR PHOTO" biz.
He had purchased a franchise biz where he was visiting car lots and making up "Window Stickers" for used cars.
These are sheets of paper with the dealers name at top and specs on the auto and placed inside the left rear window.
He got the info from the dealers computer and plugged it into his laptop and printed the sheets out and stuck them to the window.
The idea being that this allowed potential car buyers to see what the cars had when the dealership was closed or made it easier to find info when looking.
He charged each dealer $8 per sticker. He had a route set up where he would visit dealers each week.
He had 37 dealers and was making a nice chunk of change but 2 competitors came in and were practically giving away the program....so....he asked me if I had any ideas he could use to overcome competitors.
I discovered there were 3 companies offering this kind of franchise so if you got an "exclusive" from the company you bought the deal from...you couldn't keep someone who bought from the other 2 outfits from competing in your market.
So...I told him to ADD something of HIGH VALUE and LITTLE COST to HIS program.
So...here's what I told him to do;
"Put up a website and place PHOTOS, with descriptions. Charge dealers...not $4 per car...not $6 per car...not $8 per car....but $25 Per Car...which includes the Sticker AND a 3 PHOTOS OF EACH CAR on the website.
I then proceeded to get a Domain Name I thought was apropo, www.AutoFotoUSA.com (AutoFoto.com was taken)and set up a website.
Well...he got the thing going and WON BACK the dealers he lost to cheaper competition and...the kid was ROLLING IN DOUGH!
He got up to 30 dealers paying him $250 to $750 A WEEK for the STickers and Photos on the website. I mean this kid was making MOOLAH....BIG TIME. He had 2 helpers doing the stickers and photos.
Then...he discovered his wife was having an affair and almost killed her boyfriend.
During the ensuing legal hassle his biz went to pot and he left town. Last I heard he was in Alaska fishing for salmon.
Anyway...car dealers HAVE MONEY and are WILLING TO SPEND IT...for promotions that will help them make money.
Think about this;
1) Set up a website having to do with cars and photos
2) Offer to take photos of the trades that come in each week for $15 to $25each. 2 photos placed on the website for 90 days.
3) Promote the website locally thru local ad media, newspaper & radio
Could be a fun, highly profitable deal.
I don't have the TIME...but I do KNOW...car dealers WILL PAY $25 per car to have someone place PHOTOS of their trades on a website...because WE DID IT 3 YEARS AGO!
Don Alm
Some of my Unique Businesses
http://www.pjbux.com