Exciting News from Advance Auto Parts! Find Unbelievable Offers Here!

LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck and Motorcycle News ALWAYS works hard to bring you the BEST, unbeatlable offers anywhere and when I saw this one, I had to stop what I was doing and get it up here RIGHT NOW!

Advance Auto Parts is now offering the following!  And, trust me, you won't beat this one ANYWHERE!

From now until March 28th.....   Save $15 off orders of $40 or more with code BIG1540 at AdvanceAutoParts.com!! Offer ends 3/28!  Get that undone maintenance out of the way NOW and SAVE BIG DOLLARS!

Also, check this one out!  Offer only on till March 31st!  So what are you waiting for???

Save 15% Off Your AdvanceAutoParts.com purchase with code AAP15OFF (exp. 3/31/12)

And for the GRAND FINALE!  Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, here's one that'll knock your socks off!

Take $10 off $30, $20 off $50 and $30 off $100 orders at AdvanceAutoParts.com with code A123 (exp. 3/31/12)

This last one is only good till March 31st also, but, WOW $30 off of a $100 dollar order???  That's a deal no one in their right mind wouldn't consider in today's economy!  These offers are only available on line and only available to Advance Auto affiliates! 

Don't spend more money than you have to!  These prices won't last, so make sure you check to see WHAT YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT, and for goodness sake, don't wait till its over!  These prices CAN'T last!  We couldn't believe our eyes when WE saw them.  They are actually better than the wholesale prices we buy OUR parts for!

Thanks for checking out LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck, and Motorcycle News!  And remember, these prices are ONLY AVAILABLE HERE!  You won't find them at the store or on any other sites!

Good wrenching to all our do-it-yourselfer's out there!  And remember, LDJ Auto Body and Custom Shop now offers "labor only" estimates for our customers!  So, not only are we "open late", we also "open early", we have early bird drop off service AND late pick ups AND we're OPEN WEEKENDS!

YUP, you read that right!  LDJ Auto is now open from 8:00 AM till 5:00 PM on Saturdays AND we're OPEN SUNDAYS!  Our Sunday schedule is from 8:30 AM till 3:00 PM and we'll stay a little late to help our loyal customers get their work done on the weekend so you don't have to take time off during the week!

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS and LDJ AUTO BODY AND MECHANICAL SHOP!  The answer to your vehicle maintenance and repair problems NOW 7 DAYS a week!  We ARE your "ONE STOP SHOP FOR EVERYTHING AUTOMOTIVE" now everyday of the week!

Happy shopping!

Larry and Dee Blackman
LDJ AUTO BODY AND MECHANICAL
ldjautobody@yahoo.com
(813) 644-4497 to speak with a technician 24/7....even if you just have a question....we've got the answer!

More about → Exciting News from Advance Auto Parts! Find Unbelievable Offers Here!

Exciting News for All Our Truck Owners! Please click on the "For Truck Owners Only" page button!

We have dedicated a whole page to our truck owners!  Great news for all our do-it-yourself truck owners out there!  Click on the "For Truck Owners Only" page button at the top of this blog to find your own page exclusively for truck owners!

The best products, the best prices, and the best "labor only quotes" for our truck owning customers can now be found there!  You asked for your own page and here it is!

Here, you'll find great news about one of our newest parts affiliates, Stylin Trucks!  They have got a complete site of everything you guys could possibly ever want or need for your truck or suv!  At prices that will make you smile, a big smile at that!!!!

We didn't forget about you, just had to wait for the right supplier to help you with all your truck accessories.

Click now and get ready for Spring....... "Truck Owners Only Page" or just click on the page tab at the top of the home page!

Larry and Dee Blackman
LDJ Auto Body

More about → Exciting News for All Our Truck Owners! Please click on the "For Truck Owners Only" page button!

Mid week escape

What’s better than a day off work? A day off work and going for a ride! I decided it was time to get new tyres on the CB1100. Actually I have been waiting eagerly for the Dunlops to wear sufficiently that I could replace them as they were rubbish, coud have gotten more miles but decided I had had enough. The CB I rented in Japan wore Bridgestone tyres and when I got mine here I immediately

More about → Mid week escape

Unbelievable Savings on ALL AUTO PARTS! Exciting News for Our "Do-It-Yourself" Crowd!

LDJ Auto Body is excited and proud to announce our newest parts affiliate, Advance Auto Parts!  As I'm sure you already know, Advance Auto Parts is one of the largest suppliers of auto parts in the United States!  Not only are they one of the largest auto parts suppliers, but, you'll also find that they have some of the most knowledgable sales people anywhere!  And best of all....you'll find the lowest prices available on auto parts and accessories! Call Now: 888-848-1317to speak with one of their sales people right now!

At LDJ Auto Body and Mechanical, we're as excited about this news as our customers are!  As our regular customers already know, LDJ has always given our customers the option of supplying their own parts for any job they need done.  Our "labor only" estimates are the lowest around and our ASE and I-CAR certified technicians provide the best service in town!  Combine that with the low, low everyday prices from Advance Auto and you've simply got an unbeatable combination for ALL YOUR AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS!

LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck, and Motorcycle News has always been the place to go for help with your auto body and mechanical work.  Our expert technicians are always available at (813) 644-4497 to answer your body work, painting, or mechanical questions.  Whether you are tuning up the family vehicle or working on the restoration of your dream car, LDJ will help you get the job done right whether you do it yourself or you have us do it for you.  And now, you also have the comfort of knowing you'll be getting the lowest prices possible on all your parts needs from the best auto parts supplier around, Advance Auto Parts!  Even when our techs are busy, you can still get the best advice about your vehicle and the parts you need from Advance Auto! Call Now: 888-848-1317  Be sure to mention code CC20 when you call and you'll receive an additional 20% off!

When it comes to auto parts, Advance Auto Parts has some of the most knowledgable sales people out there! Even our own technicians rely on Advance Auto's expertise when it comes to ordering parts for our own customers.  So, not only will you find a friendly, knowlegable staff, but, you'll also find the absolute best prices on all your auto parts needs!

Now that you know where to get the best prices on your auto parts, rest assured that LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck, and Motorcycle News will keep you up to date on all the sales and specials that Advance Auto Parts has available to you.  If you're not already registered for updates from our newsletter, please take a moment to register now and you'll receive notices on the best sales opportunities as soon as they become available!  AND, you'll find links to those sales right here on this page! Just like the ones you see here!

No endless searching and relying on the Internet to keep you up to date.  We'll do it for you and it's free!  Yup, that's right!  We said "free"!  By registering with us, you'll get an email sent right to your inbox alerting you to the best sales and promotions as soon as they become available.

LDJ is honored to be able to work with Advance Auto Parts and happy to know our customers will be getting the best prices AND the best service!

LDJ Auto Body & Mechanical AND Advance Auto Parts.....truly, your one stop shop for "everything automotive"!

Use the links below to start your shopping experience at Advance Auto Parts!
Save Up To $30 Instantly When You Shop Online At Advance Auto Parts. Use Code AFF123 At Checkout. Shop Now!



And don't forget, you can place your order online AND have it ready for pickup at your favorite Advance Auto location so it's ready when you are and you'll save your valuable time for the more important things in your life!



No hassles, no waiting!

Thanks to all our loyal customers.  We are always looking for new ways to save you money and ensure your vehicle is always running at it's best!

Happy motoring!

Larry and Dee Blackman
LDJ Auto Body and Mechanical
ldjautobody@yahoo.com

More about → Unbelievable Savings on ALL AUTO PARTS! Exciting News for Our "Do-It-Yourself" Crowd!

Automobiles ARE Beautiful, BUT, Check Out These Photos of Some of the Most Beautiful Cars Made...AND the "Beautiful" People That Owned Them!

Cars have always been a "thing of beauty"!  But, the evolution of the automobile has been a wonderful thing to observe.  Seems as though things just keep getting better and better.  BUT, let's not forget about the beautiful vehicles of the past!

Enjoy these nostalgic photos of some of the most beautiful cars ever built AND the beautiful people that owned them!

Babe Ruth with his 1926 Auburn Roadster!

Here's Babe Ruth and a beautiful "gift"!  (Must be nice!) A 1926 Auburn Roadster.  What a beauty!

John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara in 1914 Stutz Bearcat

A wonderful picture of "The Duke", John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara taking a Sunday drive in a 1914 Stutz Bearcat.  One of the "premier" sporty's of the era!











Fatty Arbuckle and 1919 Pierce Arrow




Who could forget "Fatty Arbuckle and Blackie, of "Little Rascals" fame!  Shown here is Fatty and Blackie with his 1919 Pierce Arrow!


What a great vehicle!

Tyrone Power and his Jag

Jaguar has ALWAYS been one of the most beautiful vehicles ever made!  Here's Tyrone Power showing off his Jaguar!








Ginger Rogers shows off her 1937 Dodge!  These old vehicles just have sooooo much charisma and charm!  You can almost "smell" the new interior and the wonderful smell of brand new rubber!  We certainly weren't worried about gas prices then!  These "huge" beauties spared no metal back in the day!  Seems like the theme was "the bigger, the better".  Room was NEVER a problem back then!

Who could forget "Laurel & Hardy"!  Probably the most famous duo of the time, shown here with their 1930 Buick Series 30 Model 3045 Phaeton. Avehicle that "disappeared" after being discontinued shortly after this picture was shot!



Paulette Goddard is shown here getting into a Rolls Royce Phantom II belonging to her husband, Charlie Chaplin, one of the MOST FAMOUS faces in Moving Picture History.

Jean Harlow and her Cadillac.  Cadillac was one of the most popular vehicles ever to grace the American pavement and remains so today!  I bet Jean would have done backflips had she been able to view a Cadillac STS!

William Powell admiring Gary Cooper's Duesy

Ah, the good 'ol days!  Kind of makes you want to turn back the hands of time!  I wonder what these folks would have to say about today's gasoline prices! LOL 

Hope you enjoyed today's time machine!  I love looking at these great cars and just imagining their engineer creator's faces had they been able to view todays vehicles!  I wonder if they had any idea of the traditions they started.  With today's car manufacturer's rolling out replicas of the old muscle cars, I wonder if replicas of these greats might not be far behind!

Dee Blackman

LDJ Auto Body and Custom Shop

Gibsonton, FL  33534

ldjautobody@yahoo.com

More about → Automobiles ARE Beautiful, BUT, Check Out These Photos of Some of the Most Beautiful Cars Made...AND the "Beautiful" People That Owned Them!

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LDJ Auto Body's The Art of Custom Car & Motorcycle Maintenance Survey! Help US Help YOU MORE!

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Tips for Buying the Most Appropriate Car Insurance. Advice From the Experts!

The following article was written for our blog by Brad Brennan, auto repair industry expert, blog author and founder of BKListings.com, 02/13/2012 All rights reserved. Brad is also author of the BK Listings Blog.

Finding the right car insurance is an exercise in patience. There are multiple factors you have to consider when searching. If you’re anything like my girlfriend you will be trying to weigh all factors and options before picking your perfect policy. If you’re anything like me you’ll spend about 20 minutes Googling and then wing it. If you’re reading this article I’m assuming you’re more like my lovely counterpart. What’s to follow are pointers and information to help you in the process of finding that perfect policy.

First, decide what coverage is necessary for your situation. As we have discussed in previous articles you have to weigh really only three factors – what is your budget, what is your probability of your vehicle being damaged, and how much peace of mind are you comfortable paying for. The first factor is really the most important of the three because if you’d don’t have the money for any more than PLPD then it doesn’t really matter if you have a high chance of incurring damage to your vehicle or if you are a worry wart. The second factor may seem arbitrary but you could put together a rough estimate by Googling crime rates in your area. The third factor is much more subjective – how covered do you want to feel and how much are you willing to value the time you would be wasting with hassles in the future. If you have the money and are living in an area with high accident or vandalism rates then consider looking for more complete coverage.

Next, consider what other insurance policies you have or need and look into bundling them. A common example is to bundle car, home, and life insurances. Bundling provides many advantages when you’re attempting to drive premiums and deductibles lower since the insurance companies have a broader base to take profits from you and therefore a reduced need to maximize profits on any one policy.

The most appropriate insurance is essentially one that fits your budget and caters to your needs. This ideal insurance policy takes into account the value of your car and protects it from the inside out. The most appropriate policy should give you peace of mind without costing your arm. In the end, insurance policy preferences are dependent upon your unique situation.

If you’re really into doing homework you can take this search one step further. Once you’ve decided on a few policy choices take the terms from each insurance company and drop it off at an agent of a different insurance company. If there are holes in the contract or if you can get a better deal then your best chance of figuring it out is to let competing companies find it for you. Or you can just Google for 20 minutes. Best of luck my friend.

Thanks again Brad for a well written piece! For those of you who need more information, check out Brad's blog, the BKListings Blog or email him directly bradleybrennan1@gmail.com . You can also leave your comments here and all questions and comments pertaining to the above article will be forwarded to Brad Brennan. Don't forget to check out Brad's site, www.BKListings.com, designed to help consumers find the right shop for them and assist in helping shop owners reach the consumer base they are looking for! See the original article at "Finding the Right Shop is Easier Than You Think!"

Thanks for stopping by! As always, we look forward to listening to our reader stories and suggestions! Let us know what you're looking for and we'll do our best to accomodate!

Dee Blackman
LDJ Auto Body & Mechanical
ldjautobody@yahoo.com

More about → Tips for Buying the Most Appropriate Car Insurance. Advice From the Experts!

Tips for Buying the Most Appropriate Car Insurance. Advice From the Experts!

The following article was written for our blog by Brad Brennan, auto repair industry expert, blog author and founder of BKListings.com, 02/13/2012 All rights reserved.  Brad is also author of the BK Listings Blog.

 

Finding the right car insurance is an exercise in patience.  There are multiple factors you have to consider when searching.  If you’re anything like my girlfriend you will be trying to weigh all factors and options before picking your perfect policy.  If you’re anything like me you’ll spend about 20 minutes Googling and then wing it.  If you’re reading this article I’m assuming you’re more like my lovely counterpart.  What’s to follow are pointers and information to help you in the process of finding that perfect policy.

First, decide what coverage is necessary for your situation.  As we have discussed in previous articles you have to weigh really only three factors – what is your budget, what is your probability of your vehicle being damaged, and how much peace of mind are you comfortable paying for.  The first factor is really the most important of the three because if you’d don’t have the money for any more than PLPD then it doesn’t really matter if you have a high chance of incurring damage to your vehicle or if you are a worry wart.  The second factor may seem arbitrary but you could put together a rough estimate by Googling crime rates in your area.  The third factor is much more subjective – how covered do you want to feel and how much are you willing to value the time you would be wasting with hassles in the future.  If you have the money and are living in an area with high accident or vandalism rates then consider looking for more complete coverage.

Next, consider what other insurance policies you have or need and look into bundling them.  A common example is to bundle car, home, and life insurances.  Bundling provides many advantages when you’re attempting to drive premiums and deductibles lower since the insurance companies have a broader base to take profits from you and therefore a reduced need to maximize profits on any one policy.

The most appropriate insurance is essentially one that fits your budget and caters to your needs. This ideal insurance policy takes into account the value of your car and protects it from the inside out. The most appropriate policy should give you peace of mind without costing your arm.  In the end, insurance policy preferences are dependent upon your unique situation. 

If you’re really into doing homework you can take this search one step further.  Once you’ve decided on a few policy choices take the terms from each insurance company and drop it off at an agent of a different insurance company.  If there are holes in the contract or if you can get a better deal then your best chance of figuring it out is to let competing companies find it for you.  Or you can just Google for 20 minutes.  Best of luck my friend.

Thanks again Brad for a well written piece!  For those of you who need more information, check out Brad's blog, the BKListings Blog or email him directly bradleybrennan1@gmail.com   .  You can also leave your comments here and all questions and comments pertaining to the above article will be forwarded to Brad Brennan.  Don't forget to check out Brad's site, www.BKListings.com, designed to help consumers find the right shop for them and assist in helping shop owners reach the consumer base they are looking for!  See the original article at "Finding the Right Shop is Easier Than You Think!"

Thanks for stopping by!  As always, we look forward to listening to our reader stories and suggestions!  Let us know what you're looking for and we'll do our best to accomodate!

Dee Blackman
LDJ Auto Body & Mechanical
ldjautobody@yahoo.com

More about → Tips for Buying the Most Appropriate Car Insurance. Advice From the Experts!

Finding the RIGHT Shop is Easier Than You Think! The Answer for Shop Owner's and Consumers Alike!

Here at LDJ, we're always looking for new and exciting things to talk about and provide our readers with great new and helpful ideas in the auto repair industry.  In our news blog, "LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck and Motorcycle News", back in November, we ran an article called "Good Shop, Bad Shop! How Do You Tell The Difference!" Those of you who commented on that article will find this next one extremely interesting!  A new site called BKListings.com makes finding the perfect shop a breeze for consumers and a real time and money saver for shop owners! We know this because we are also a member!  Our guest writer today is Brad Brennan, an expert in the auto repair industry, having been involved in the business for over 20 years.  Brad is the founder of BKListings.com, the "Angie's List", if you will, of the auto repair industry and author of The BKListings Blog.  Brad was kind enough to prepare this letter specifically for us, explaining all there is to know about BKListings.com. 

The following article was written for our blog by Brad Brennan, auto repair industry expert, blog author and founder of BKListings.com, 02/13/2012 All rights reserved.

A letter to shop owners

My name is Brad Brennan and I am the founder of BKListings.com.  I started the website two years ago with the mission of bringing shops and customers together.  I come from a family of mechanics and collision experts and have been involved in the business myself for over twenty years.  What we do at our site is intersect the shop and the customer – we help the customers find quality shops in their area and we help the most active shops pull in the most customers from the online community as possible.  

Our premise is simple and it has two parts.  First is that customers are now opting to do their homework online.  Compared to how it was done in the past, a significant portion of customers now go to sites like Google, Yelp, and Yellow Pages to pull in as much information as they can before making the decision on which shop to go to.  Second is that most shops do not have the time, resources, or insight to drive the online community purposefully to their business.

You may disagree with that premise for a couple of different reasons.  First could be that a large majority of your customers are referred either through a direct repair program, traditional media, or word of mouth.  Consider though that over the last ten years time spent online has doubled from 7 hours a week to 14.  Consider also the affect smart phones (like the iPhone or Androids) and tablets (like the iPad or Kindle Fire) will have on the way people do their research when looking for repairs.  With the technology at our fingertips, it becomes more appealing for customers to Google “collision shops” and choose the shop with the highest rating.  While the majority of your customers may be coming through traditional media, that doesn’t mean you’re pulling in all the customers you potentially can, and as time goes on the number of customers coming from the internet will surely increase.  By not making your internet presence known may prove detrimental to your shop long term. 

Second, you may say that your shop already has a website.  But is your site SEO optimized?  Do you know what SEO is?  SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and is the reason why certain websites show up higher on Google than others.  Currently I’m attacking SEO hard, and it’s expensive.  For you to be doing the same means you’re spending much more than you have to.  As you may already know, a basic website build can run more than $10,000, and that doesn’t include the back end work of driving people to your site consistently through SEO.  Wide Open West is running an SEO special for $600 a month.  A spot on Yellow Pages will cost you about $200.  We provide the content of a website and the SEO of Wide Open West for a fraction of the cost.

Why BK

BK has four distinct advantages over the competition.  We are cheap, we are effective, we are specialized, and we work hard for you. 

In terms of cost, an advanced spot on our website, which includes priority placement of your listing at the top of the search results for listings within 25 miles of your zip code and a detailed profile, typically goes for $49/month.  However, sign up using the code LDJAuto and receive a discount bringing the price down to $29/month.  The code won’t expire until next January so take your time checking out our site before making the decision. 

In terms of how effective we are, currently I have a total of 5 backlinkers and 3 bloggers, and I’m looking to grow those numbers aggressively.  What backlilnkers do is strategically place links to the site over the web to increase our presence, and I’ve got thousands of links being created every month.  What bloggers do is to add content to the site, which brings more customers in to find your listing.  These are things that drive SEO.  These are the processes we put our time and resources into so you don’t have to.

In terms of specialization, we are purely automotive.  What differentiates us from Google and Yellow Pages is that our profiles are specific to the industry you are in.  If you are a collision shop you will be able to list collision-specific information like turnaround times, paint lines, extra services like detailing and loaner cars, and more.  If you are a mechanical repair shop, you will be able to fill out your mechanic related information.  What we did was create a simple to fill out template for you to leverage when creating your profile, and the template changes depending on the services you provide.  However, there is also room to add extra information you feel is important.

Finally, we work our asses off, just like you do.  We’re constantly working to make the site better.  Over the next few months we will be rolling out our BKBuySell section, which is a place for individuals, shops, and dealerships to list cars for sale.  Signing up for an advanced BKListings profile will mean that you list cars you have for sale for free once we get the site up.  Other features we’ve added in the past that we think are useful include the Request An Estimate section on the home page.  With this the customers can submit details about his/her job and shops with advanced profiles in that area can pull the customer’s submitted information and bid on the job, proactively driving business to your shop.

Wrapping Up

There’s a great chance your shop already has a basic listing on BK Listings (one including name, address, and phone number).  All you have to do to confirm this is to go to bklistings.com, type in your zip code under the type of service you provide (collision, mechanical, etc), and make sure we have you on there.  Basic listings are free so if you don’t see your shop please tell us so at admin@bklistings.com  or you can email me directly at bradleybrennan1@gmail.com and I’ll add your shop asap. 

We really appreciate LDJ allowing us to guest-post on their blog.  It’s been a wonderful opportunity to help each other expand our reach into education for both customers and shop owners.  I hope in the near future I have the honor of LDJ guest-posting to my blog at The BKListing Blog.

Unlike the seasoned professionals at LDJ Auto News, BK Listings is at the beginning of our mission to provide a medium for both shops and customers to be able to find useful and beneficial information.  It’s a mission we will not give up on, a mission we will work incredibly hard to see through.  I truly hope you’re there with us when we do.

Until then, take care.

Sincerely,

Brad Brennan

A huge thank you to Brad for spending some time with us this morning!  If you have any questions or comments regarding this article, please feel free to comment here.  All questions and comments pertaining to BK Listings will be forwarded directly to Brad Brennan.  Also, fee free to contact Brad Brennan directly at the links listed in the above article.  You can reach me personally at ldjautobody@yahoo.com.  You can see other articles by Brad in our sister site, LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck, and Motorcycle News!   

More about → Finding the RIGHT Shop is Easier Than You Think! The Answer for Shop Owner's and Consumers Alike!

FINDING THE RIGHT SHOP IS EASIER THAT YOU THINK...The Answer for Shop Owners' and Consumers Alike!

Here at LDJ, we're always looking for new and exciting things to talk about and provide our readers with great new and helpful ideas in the auto repair industry. In our news blog, "LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck and Motorcycle News", back in November, we ran an article called "Good Shop, Bad Shop! How Do You Tell The Difference!" Those of you who commented on that article will find this next one extremely interesting! A new site called BKListings.com makes finding the perfect shop a breeze for consumers and a real time and money saver for shop owners! We know this because we are also a member! Our guest writer today is Brad Brennan, an expert in the auto repair industry, having been involved in the business for over 20 years. Brad is the founder of BKListings.com, the "Angie's List", if you will, of the auto repair industry and author of http://www.bklistings.com/Bklisting_Blog. Brad was kind enough to prepare this letter specifically for us, explaining all there is to know about BKListings.com.

The following article was written for our blog by Brad Brennan, auto repair industry expert, blog author and founder of BKListings.com, 02/13/2012 All rights reserved.

A letter to shop owners

My name is Brad Brennan and I am the founder of BKListings.com. I started the website two years ago with the mission of bringing shops and customers together. I come from a family of mechanics and collision experts and have been involved in the business myself for over twenty years. What we do at our site is intersect the shop and the customer – we help the customers find quality shops in their area and we help the most active shops pull in the most customers from the online community as possible.

Our premise is simple and it has two parts. First is that customers are now opting to do their homework online. Compared to how it was done in the past, a significant portion of customers now go to sites like Google, Yelp, and Yellow Pages to pull in as much information as they can before making the decision on which shop to go to. Second is that most shops do not have the time, resources, or insight to drive the online community purposefully to their business.

You may disagree with that premise for a couple of different reasons. First could be that a large majority of your customers are referred either through a direct repair program, traditional media, or word of mouth. Consider though that over the last ten years time spent online has doubled from 7 hours a week to 14. Consider also the affect smart phones (like the iPhone or Androids) and tablets (like the iPad or Kindle Fire) will have on the way people do their research when looking for repairs. With the technology at our fingertips, it becomes more appealing for customers to Google“collision shops” and choose the shop with the highest rating. While the majority of your customers may be coming through traditional media, that doesn’t mean you’re pulling in all the customers you potentially can, and as time goes on the number of customers coming from the internet will surely increase. By not making your internet presence known may prove detrimental to your shop long term.

Second, you may say that your shop already has a website. But is your site SEO optimized? Do you know what SEO is? SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and is the reason why certain websites show up higher on Google than others. Currently I’m attacking SEO hard, and it’s expensive. For you to be doing the same means you’re spending much more than you have to. As you may already know, a basic website build can run more than $10,000, and that doesn’t include the back end work of driving people to your site consistently through SEO. Wide Open West is running an SEO special for $600 a month. A spot on Yellow Pages will cost you about $200. We provide the content of a website and the SEO of Wide Open West for a fraction of the cost.

Why BK

BK has four distinct advantages over the competition. We are cheap, we are effective, we are specialized, and we work hard for you.

In terms of cost, an advanced spot on our website, which includes priority placement of your listing at the top of the search results for listings within 25 miles of your zip code and a detailed profile, typically goes for $49/month. However, sign up using the code LDJAuto and receive a discount bringing the price down to $29/month. The code won’t expire until next January so take your time checking out our site before making the decision.

In terms of how effective we are, currently I have a total of 5 backlinkers and 3 bloggers, and I’m looking to grow those numbers aggressively. What backlilnkers do is strategically place links to the site over the web to increase our presence, and I’ve got thousands of links being created every month. What bloggers do is to add content to the site, which brings more customers in to find your listing. These are things that drive SEO. These are the processes we put our time and resources into so you don’t have to.

In terms of specialization, we are purely automotive. What differentiates us from Google and Yellow Pages is that our profiles are specific to the industry you are in. If you are a collision shop you will be able to list collision-specific information like turnaround times, paint lines, extra services like detailing and loaner cars, and more. If you are a mechanical repair shop, you will be able to fill out your mechanic related information. What we did was create a simple to fill out template for you to leverage when creating your profile, and the template changes depending on the services you provide. However, there is also room to add extra information you feel is important.

Finally, we work our asses off, just like you do. We’re constantly working to make the site better. Over the next few months we will be rolling out our BKBuySell section, which is a place for individuals, shops, and dealerships to list cars for sale. Signing up for an advanced BKListings profile will mean that you list cars you have for sale for free once we get the site up. Other features we’ve added in the past that we think are useful include the Request An Estimate section on the home page. With this the customers can submit details about his/her job and shops with advanced profiles in that area can pull the customer’s submitted information and bid on the job, proactively driving business to your shop.

Wrapping Up

There’s a great chance your shop already has a basic listing on BK Listings (one including name, address, and phone number). All you have to do to confirm this is to go to bklistings.com, type in your zip code under the type of service you provide (collision, mechanical, etc), and make sure we have you on there. Basic listings are free so if you don’t see your shop please tell us so at admin@bklistings.com or you can email me directly at bradleybrennan1@gmail.com and I’ll add your shop asap.

We really appreciate LDJ allowing us to guest-post on their blog. It’s been a wonderful opportunity to help each other expand our reach into education for both customers and shop owners. I hope in the near future I have the honor of LDJ guest-posting to my blog at http://www.bklistings.com/Bklisting_Blog/.

Unlike the seasoned professionals at LDJ Auto News, BK Listings is at the beginning of our mission to provide a medium for both shops and customers to be able to find useful and beneficial information. It’s a mission we will not give up on, a mission we will work incredibly hard to see through. I truly hope you’re there with us when we do.

Until then, take care.

Sincerely,

Brad Brennan

More about → FINDING THE RIGHT SHOP IS EASIER THAT YOU THINK...The Answer for Shop Owners' and Consumers Alike!

LDJ AUTO BODY AND CUSTOM SHOP ANNOUNCES THE GRAND OPENING OF OUR NEW MECHANICAL SHOP!

LDJ Auto Body is announcing the grand opening of our new, full service, mechanical shop!

Since 2009, LDJ Auto Body has been the #1 choice for our customers for auto body, collision, and auto paint repair. As most of you know, our new facility, located at 10915 East Bay Road, opened in November and we are happy to announce that our complete, mechanical shop is now open for business!

That's right! In addition to the best auto body and collision repairs and factory and custom paint.....LDJ Auto now offers you the same great service and pricing for all your mechanical needs too!

From maintenance jobs, like oil changes, lubrication and tune-ups, to major mechanical work, including complete engine and transmission change outs, LDJ Auto truly is “your one stop shop” for everything automotive!

Our mechanical technicians are all ASE certified and have over 30 years experience in engine and mechanical maintenance, trouble-shooting, and repair!

We now offer ALL mechanical services, including brake jobs, belt replacement, alternators, starters, radiator service and repair, a/c recharging and repair and much, much, more all at the same, great prices and quality our customers have always relied on.

LDJ Auto Body's new location also offers exhaust repair and replacement, suspension work and full welding services too! We can also fabricate many of those “impossible to find” parts for our restoration customers.

Don't forget, our new location is open weekends to help our customers meet their busy schedules. We know that most vehicle repairs are not planned! Repair work can really throw the wrench into your busy days......so we not only offer weekend appointments, but also early drop-offs and late pick-ups to help in avoiding costly rentals and the inconvenience of “finding a ride” to work!

Our customers are the best! To show our appreciation, LDJ Auto will be offering some great sales and promotions including coupons, mobile applications for scheduling, and loyalty rewards! Register for our newsletter, LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck and Motorcycle News, today to receive the latest information on how to save big money on all your maintenance and vehicle repair needs. You'll get weekly updates and emails for ALL of our promotions. You can even schedule your appointments on-line!

Stop in and see us today for unbelievable prices on oil changes, brakes, and tune-ups! Get free estimates on ALL YOUR MECHANICAL NEEDS!

Remember, ALL OF OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! We offer “labor only” estimates! Bring your own parts and save money! New and used parts! And, as always, your vehicle will be DONE ON TIME, EVERY TIME!

LDJ Auto Body and Mechanial, your “one stop shop for everything automotive!

Call and schecule your appointment today at (813) 644-4497.

More about → LDJ AUTO BODY AND CUSTOM SHOP ANNOUNCES THE GRAND OPENING OF OUR NEW MECHANICAL SHOP!

LDJ AUTO BODY AND CUSTOM SHOP ANNOUNCES THE GRAND OPENING OF OUR NEW MECHANICAL SHOP!

LDJ Auto Body is announcing the grand opening of our new, full service, mechanical shop!

Since 2009, LDJ Auto Body has been the #1 choice for our customers for auto body, collision, and auto paint repair. As most of you know, our new facility, located at 10915 East Bay Road, opened in November and we are happy to announce that our complete, mechanical shop is now open for business!

That's right! In addition to the best auto body and collision repairs and factory and custom paint.....LDJ Auto now offers you the same great service and pricing for all your mechanical needs too!

From maintenance jobs, like oil changes, lubrication and tune-ups, to major mechanical work, including complete engine and transmission change outs, LDJ Auto truly is “your one stop shop” for everything automotive!

Our mechanical technicians are all ASE certified and have over 30 years experience in engine and mechanical maintenance, trouble-shooting, and repair!

We now offer ALL mechanical services, including brake jobs, belt replacement, alternators, starters, radiator service and repair, a/c recharging and repair and much, much, more all at the same, great prices our customers have always relied on.

LDJ Auto Body's new location also offers exhaust repair and replacement, suspension work and full welding services too! We can also fabricate many of those “impossible to find” parts for our restoration customers.

Don't forget, our new location is open weekends to help our customers meet their busy schedules. We know that most vehicle repairs are not planned! Repair work can really throw the wrench into your busy days......so we not only offer weekend appointments, but also early drop-offs and late pick-ups to help in avoiding costly rentals and the inconvenience of “finding a ride” to work!

Our customers are the best! To show our appreciation, LDJ Auto will be offering some great sales and promotions including coupons, mobile applications for scheduling, and loyalty rewards! Register for our newsletter, LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck and Motorcycle News, today to receive the latest information on how to save big money on all your maintenance and vehicle repair needs. You'll get weekly updates and emails for ALL of our promotions. You can even schedule your appointments on-line!

Stop in and see us today for unbelievable prices on oil changes, brakes, and tune-ups! Get free estimates on ALL YOUR MECHANICAL NEEDS!

Remember, ALL OF OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! We offer “labor only” estimates! Bring your own parts and save money! New and used parts! And, as always, your vehicle will be DONE ON TIME, EVERY TIME!

LDJ Auto Body and Mechanial, your “one stop shop for everything automotive!

Call and schecule your appointment today at (813) 644-4497.

More about → LDJ AUTO BODY AND CUSTOM SHOP ANNOUNCES THE GRAND OPENING OF OUR NEW MECHANICAL SHOP!

Two Pub Tour

With all the rain of late I was hopeful of getting a fine Sunday and despite some scattered showers yesterday it turned out to be a classic hot summer day here in the sub tropics.



Old fruit stall Currumbin range

I set off about 7.30am and decided to make the most of it and go large. From the Gold Coast I rode over Currumbin, Burrinbgah range, Coolamon Scenic road to Federal via Mullumbimby

More about → Two Pub Tour