Let’s be real—if your business doesn’t have a website, it’s basically invisible. Like Bigfoot. Or my motivation before coffee. a website Here’s why you NEED a website, like, yesterday: 🔥  Google Is King When people need something, they don’t go to Facebook. They go to Google. (Unless they’re looking for drama—then, yeah, Facebook.) Google runs 90% of all online searches. If you’re not on there, you’re missing out. Big time. 💡  Less Hassle, More Hustle Imagine getting paid through your website instead of playing “Which Cash App Works Today?” Or having people fill out a form instead of calling you at the worst possible time (like when your kid just went poop in his big boy undies). 📈  Look Legit, Get Paid More Your friends might trust you, but strangers? Not so much. A clean, pro-looking website makes people take you seriously—and pay you like the pro you are. 💰  What’s This Gonna Cost Me? DIY? About $300/year (if you’ve got the time and patience of a saint). Let an expert handle it? Usually $2K+. 🚨  “I Had a Website Once, and It Did Nothing” Yeah… because a website alone won’t magically flood your inbox. It needs to RANK. Otherwise, it’s like opening a restaurant in the middle of the woods with no signs. Great food, but no one knows you exist. I can help with that too.

Buckle up! It’s time to turbocharge your online presence and get more customers rolling into your shop. Follow this entertaining (and effective) guide to make your business the talk of the town—online and off. 1. Build a Website That’s a Well-Oiled Machine Pimp Your Digital Ride Must-Have Features : A “Call Now” button—because nobody wants to dig for your number. An appointment scheduler that’s smoother than a freshly waxed hood. A list of services so detailed, even the pickiest gearhead knows what’s up. Photos of happy customers and shiny cars (bonus points for cute dogs in backseats). Dominate Local Searches Add your shop to Google My Business —think of it as the Yelp for grownups. Sprinkle local keywords everywhere: “Brake Repair in [Your City]” or “Mechanic Near [Neighborhood].” Get rave reviews. Offer a free coffee or air freshener if they leave a 5-star review (who doesn’t love free stuff?). 2. Rule Social Media Like a Boss Facebook Post weekly updates like: “Top 5 Reasons Your Car Might Be Making Weird Noises (Hint: It’s Not a Ghost).” “Oil Change Special—Because Your Engine Deserves Better.” Go live and show off your shop’s coolest gadgets. People love behind-the-scenes content. Instagram Show off before/after shots of gnarly repairs. Post stories with polls: “What’s Worse—A Flat Tire or a Dead Battery?” Use hashtags like #CarTroubleSolved and #WrenchingIn[City]. TikTok or YouTube Post epic 30-second videos like: “How NOT to Change a Tire (and What to Do Instead).” “Fixing the Impossible: The Muffler That Refused to Stay Quiet.” Bonus: If you’re camera-shy, get your team involved. Someone’s bound to be a secret comedian. 3. Fuel Up with Paid Ads Google Ads Target searches like "mechanic near me" or "cheap oil change." Tease promotions: “Free Diagnostics for First-Time Clients” (because who can resist free?). Social Media Ads Hit local drivers with ads that pop: “Is Your Car Ready for Road Trip Season? Book Today!” Add a call-to-action that screams urgency: “Click NOW—Your Car Will Thank You Later.” 4. Add Some Extra Spark Plugs Easy Quotes Let customers request estimates right from your site. (Who wants to wait on hold?) Click-Friendly Scheduling Make it so easy to book an appointment, even your grandma could do it. Share Insider Knowledge Blog titles people can’t ignore: “10 Things Your Car Wished You Knew.” “The Secret Life of Your Transmission Fluid.” 5. Partner with Local MVPs Team up with tire shops, car washes, and gas stations for referral deals. Offer Uber and Lyft drivers exclusive perks—because those guys put their cars through the wringer. 6. Keep Your Fans Tuned In Email Marketing Send monthly updates with: “Winter Is Coming—Here’s How to Keep Your Battery Alive.” Coupons for returning customers. (Everyone loves a good deal.) Text Alerts Blast out quick promos like “Flash Sale: $25 Off Any Brake Job Today Only!” 7. Watch Your Metrics Like a Hawk Check tools like Google Analytics  to see what’s driving traffic. Test your ads. If they’re not getting clicks, tweak them until they do. Respond to reviews like a pro—thank the happy ones and resolve the grumpy ones. 8. Join Local Online Communities Find your local Facebook groups and join the conversation. Share tips, answer questions, and subtly flex your expertise. Be helpful first—customers will naturally come to you when their car throws a tantrum. 9. Be Consistently Awesome Post regular updates—ghosting your audience isn’t a good look. Stay on-brand with every post, ad, or video. (If your vibe is “fun mechanic,” own it!) 10. Show Off Your Wins Post transformation pics: “We took this clunker and made it purr like a kitten.” Share customer stories—people love to see happy endings (and happy cars). By following this guide, your mechanic shop will go from a neighborhood secret to an online superstar. So hit the gas and start building your digital empire—your customers (and their cars) are waiting! 🚗💨

Picture this: you're online, scrolling through search results, trying to find the  business that gets what you need. But how do businesses get on top of that coveted first page? Welcome to the world of SEO, or Search Engine Optimization—a place where keywords, Google, and a bit of digital wizardry combine to make or break your online presence. Here’s the deal: SEO isn’t some mystical internet spell. It’s a carefully crafted strategy—a combination of online presence, reputation, and activity, all graded and measured by search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Basically, if SEO were a high school, your website would be the overachiever competing for straight A's to make the honor roll. And just like with report cards, getting top marks in SEO takes dedication, strategy, and maybe a little extra help. That’s where a digital marketing agency like Vex Funnels  comes in. What Exactly is SEO, Anyway? SEO is an ever-evolving blend of technical know-how, content creation, and online connections. Think of it as a digital scorecard that reflects your business's online reputation. From your website’s code structure to your social media following, from the accuracy of your business info on sites like Yelp to how often your brand name gets a shout-out—every bit counts. SEO has a magic ingredient: it’s essentially free. No pay-per-click fees here. But don’t be fooled—getting SEO to work is no “set it and forget it.” It takes effort, strategy, and a truckload of patience. If your SEO outshines the competition, you can earn a top spot on Google (and yes, that means more eyeballs on your business and more potential customers). However, in ultra-competitive markets, even top-notch SEO sometimes isn’t enough. In those cases, paid advertising and strong personal branding come to the rescue. SEO: A Battle Worth Fighting (Especially If You’re in East Texas!) For businesses in new or emerging markets (hello, East Texas!), SEO can be a golden ticket. Not everyone is fighting tooth and nail in these spaces, so the opportunities to rank high and get noticed are wide open. Hyper-competitive industries, on the other hand, are like running a marathon with top athletes: tough, crowded, and exhausting. If you’re in a niche where everyone has “beyond perfect” SEO, paid ads and savvy social media become essential tools for making waves. Vex Funnels' Fast Track to SEO Success At Vex Funnels , we’ve cracked the code on building out a fast and effective SEO strategy that actually works—without months of trial and error. Here’s how we do it: 1. Get Listed Everywhere To make an impact, you need to be seen. That means getting your business on every directory and social platform you can think of. Think Yelp, Google My Business, and Google Search Console, and all the social platforms that let people know your business exists. 2. Grow Your Social Following Building a strong social presence isn’t just nice to have—it's essential. And it’s not just about looking popular; there’s a theory (one we’re pretty convinced of) that Google and social giants like Facebook may be working together behind the scenes. Having a big, engaged social following could give your SEO a significant boost. 3. Create Content That Solves Problems The internet loves useful content. From blog posts to videos, every piece should answer questions, solve problems, or offer tips related to your business. Think like your customer, and write content they actually want to read. This keeps visitors on your site, gives you more authority, and signals to search engines that you know your stuff. 4. Consider Paid Ads (Because SEO is S-L-O-W) Let’s be real: SEO is a long game. You’re planting seeds that take time to grow. So, while you’re waiting for that organic traffic to take off, pay-per-click advertising can give you an instant boost. We’ll help you get the best of both worlds—quick results with PPC, long-term growth with SEO. Ready to supercharge your business online? Vex Funnels  has the expertise to make SEO work for you, whether you're fighting for page one in a tough market or looking to dominate a growing niche in East Texas. Let’s talk strategy, streamline your SEO, and help you get the attention your business deserves!

Let’s face it, running a business is tough, but not doing these six things is basically like hitting the self-destruct button. So, if you don’t want your business to go poof in 2025, here’s what you need to be doing yesterday . 1. Google My Business (GMB) Profile – Your Free Ticket to Fame Look, if your business isn't on Google My Business (GMB), does it even exist? Claim your profile, or Google will slap together some Frankenstein version of your business that’s probably outdated and embarrassing. Imagine someone searching for you and finding out you're closed on Tuesdays (when you're definitely not). The internet doesn’t sleep, and neither does Google. So get that listing locked down and keep it accurate unless you want your competitors to enjoy your traffic. 2. Facebook Business Page – Yes, Even If You Hate Facebook Okay, we get it. You don’t “do” Facebook. But guess what? Google does care. In fact, Google sees your Facebook followers like popularity points. The more followers, the more your business looks like a big deal. So, even if your cat has more Facebook fans than your business, it’s time to make a Business Page. Plus, it’s free—what’s not to love? And please, for the love of all things digital, sync up your info with the rest of the internet. Don’t confuse Google. It’s cranky when confused. 3. Instagram – Not Just for Influencers Instagram isn’t just for food bloggers and people who post an embarrassing number of selfies. It’s a visual goldmine  if you’re in the right biz. Landscapers, beauticians, restaurants—get on it! Sure, lawyers and accountants may not be ‘gramming their latest spreadsheet, but if your business has any visual element, Instagram’s your jam. Plus, Meta (Facebook’s cooler cousin) owns Insta, so it’s like getting double points for the same effort. Oh, and bonus: millennials and Gen Z still hang out here, so you can charm your next wave of customers while they scroll. 4. A Website – Seriously, You Still Don’t Have One?! It’s 2024, and if you still don’t have a website, where have you been? The internet is the marketplace now, and your website is your front door. And guess what? Websites are stupid easy to make these days. If you can order coffee from your phone, you can build a site. (Hello, drag-and-drop editors!) No website = no Google love. Don’t let your competitors be the only ones in the game. Get a site. Now. 5. Google Analytics – Spy on Your Visitors (But Not in a Creepy Way) Okay, Google Analytics sounds super techy, but trust me, it’s easier than figuring out your kids' math homework. With it, you get to peek behind the curtain and see who’s visiting your website, where they’re from, and what they’re up to. It’s like becoming a mind reader for your business. Want to know why you’ve had 1,000 visits from Boise, Idaho? Now you can! Most website hosts have easy ways to integrate it, so no, you don’t have to be a coding genius. 6. Lead Magnet – Because Who Doesn’t Love Free Stuff? Lead magnets are magic . Basically, you offer something cool for free (an eBook, a discount, maybe a free llama with every purchase—your call) in exchange for someone’s email. This is how you turn window shoppers into paying customers. You’ve already got people on your site; don’t let them leave without giving you something back! Plus, once you have their info, they’re in your sales funnel. Nurture that lead, and voila, you’ve got yourself a future customer. Bottom line: businesses are made up of complex systems (and sometimes mild chaos), but if you nail these six things, you’ll be scaling your business like a boss. Trust me, the future you will thank you