In the middle of the night, the dispatcher for a large fleet is trying to find their drivers fuel, food, and parking. They’re searching to find the ideal stop, some place that won’t take their drivers more than five miles off the highway and has all of the services their drivers need.
How do they find your truck stop? When they do find you, how do they know what sets your stop apart from your competitors?
Here’s an important realization: it’s not just your bright ten-thousand-dollar LED sign. Dispatchers, fleet managers, and truckers are pulling up your location on their phone or computer and researching what you have at each of your locations.
We’ve created a digital marketing checklist for truck stops that contains everything you have to do to communicate where your stops are, what services you offer, and why fleets should visit them. Read on to learn more.
Create a Business Profile on Google
Though you should have a website for your stop, you don’t need one to make your locations searchable on Google.
Go to Business.Google.com and click Manage my Business Profile. Type in your business name and agree to the terms of service. The next window will ask you if you want to add a location customers can visit. Click Yes.
Add Your Address to Make Your Business Searchable on Google Maps
Your business profile isn’t finished. Now, you need to provide an address.
The next page will ask you if you serve customers at this location. Click Yes. Add the areas you serve and choose a category that fits your business best. Then provide contact information for the location.
When customers look for a truck stop in a specific area, your location will now show up with an embedded map.
Start a Website
A website is kind of like business card for your truck stop. It offers more than basic information about where it is and how the on-site staff can be contacted. It demonstrates professionalism, shows which services are available, and explains your value proposition. It also drives digital–and physical–traffic to your truck stops, improving your truck stop’s search results on Google.
If You Have a Strong Marketing Budget, Use a Web Developer
If you have the budget to outsource this task, do so. There are web developers that specialize in designing and publishing site specifically for the trucking industry. If you can afford it, choose a firm that has some industry expertise. The developers will understand how to connect with your audience and build a navigable site for them.
Small Budget? Use a Freelancer.
Don’t worry if you have a limited budget. Try reaching out to web design professionals on Fiverr and other freelancer platforms. Prices will be negotiable. Have a clear idea of what your budget is and build in a buffer for overtime as the project progresses.
Even Smaller Budget? Build It Yourself Using a Template.
If you don’t have any budget, don’t put it off. You can DIY a website with WordPress or Squarespace. Choose a mobile-friendly template, remembering that most of your audience will be looking at your site on their phone.
If possible, upload recent photos of your location and include basic information about the services you offer.
Schedule a Consultation with Financial Fuel Services
By following the steps in our digital marketing checklist for truck stops, you’re going to make it much easier for customers to find you, but this is just a start. Digital marketing needs to be ongoing, calculated, and focused. We can help guide you. Contact the experts at Financial Fuel Services today to learn more about industry best practices.
