How to Promote Your Driving School Business

31/03/2023

Most people who choose to become a driving instructor do so because they love driving, spending time with people, and sharing their enthusiasm for cars.

However, marketing and advertising actually make up a significant part of a driving instructor’s job description. The amount of money can you earn as an instructor depends heavily on how many clients you can attract.

Follow our tips to learn how to promote your driving school business and reach a new generation of learner drivers. Below are some of the most effective online and offline promotional tactics to increase your reach and grow your school.

1. Build a professional website

One of the best things that you can do to promote your driving school business online is to build a professional website that showcases your experience, skills, past achievements, fees, and other important information.

Professional websites are extremely fast and cheap to create, and they make your business more credible to potential clients as well as make important information about your business more readily accessible.

For a lot of younger people - who probably make up a large segment of your target demographic - driving schools with professional websites are always preferred over driving schools without a professional online presence.

2. Print business cards

Printing professional business cards that state the name and contact details of your driving school is an easy and cost-effective way to increase your reach locally.

Business cards are easy to design and print, and once you’ve got them you can post them up in public spaces, drop them through letterboxes, or hand them out whenever someone you know is looking for a driving instructor.

Business cards are one of those ADI supplies that don’t seem necessary until you wish you had them. Next time someone tells you their friend’s nephew is looking for a driving instructor locally, make sure you have something to hand to pass your details on.

3. Go flyering

Sometimes, the tried and tested methods work best. When you’re marketing your driving school, you’ll likely only be marketing your services to local customers because convenience and locality are two of the key factors that customers take into consideration when choosing a driving instructor to work with. Traditional marketing methods like leafleting work ideally when your business is targeting only local customers.

Flyer marketing is also very simple to get started with. Design and print your full-colour leaflets, making sure that you include your driving school logo, name and contact details clearly on your flyer.

You can hire someone to post them for you or save money and do it yourself. Just make sure to target streets and areas with plenty of families and young people.

4. Encourage your clients to leave positive reviews

Your online presence will have a real impact on the impression that potential customers have of your business. As well as a professional website, it’s important that you’ve got plenty of positive reviews and testimonials to showcase your skills and back up your expertise as an instructor.

When your clients finish working with you - hopefully because they’ve passed their tests - let them know how much you’d appreciate it if they leave a review online. You could collect positive testimonials to include on your own website, but independent review sites like Yelp can also affect your business credibility.

Even if most of your clients don’t leave a review, those who do can make a big impact on your business. If you notice that you’re not getting enough positive reviews on a website like Yelp, you could even leave your clients a business card with your Yelp address written on the back and a note of thanks - you’d be surprised how often people are willing to help if they’re happy with your service.

5. Advertise in shop windows

If you’re looking for another traditional marketing method that can be as effective as flyering but doesn’t involve quite as much walking, you could consider advertising your driving school business in local shop windows and other public spaces like message boards and community centres.

You can use the same flyers that you’ve been posting through doors, or you can print out shop window cards instead.

Shop window notices are highly visible, often being seen by hundreds of people per day, and you can target your perfect demographic by selecting the right stores and areas to post your cards in. Just make sure you always check with the shop manager before you put your card in the window.

6. Keep your standards high

No matter how much marketing you do, it’s impossible to argue with the power of word-of-mouth marketing. If you ask your clients where they heard about you, you’ll probably find that a lot of them were recommended your services by a friend or family member.

Many people want to learn to drive with someone who is not just experienced and knowledgeable but who also has the right temperament and teaching style to suit them. This is where personal recommendations really come into play.

Keep your standards high as a driving instructor and you’ll reap the rewards for years to come. Combine your excellent teaching skills with plenty of patience and a friendly manner and your business will grow naturally, especially if you mix in traditional marketing tactics.

Get in touch

If you’d like to find out more about how our ADI supplies and promotional supplies can help you to reach new clients and increase your driving school business’s profits, get in touch with us today.