How to Attract Customers to a Taxi: 5 Proven Tips

Competition in the taxi market is fierce. Even in small towns, there are dozens of taxi companies and aggregators such as Uber, GetTaxi, Lyft, Ola, and so on. Therefore, attracting customers to your taxi company is essential. In this article, we will explore a few effective methods how to attract taxi customers and boost the profitability of your business.

Referral codes are among the most effective and accessible methods for building a customer base. According to a report by Heinz/Influitive, companies with referral programs report a 71% higher conversion rate, as stated in Forbes magazine. Invited users trust you because they received the code from their friend. This trust can help shorten the sales cycle and reduce customer acquisition and retention costs.

Advantages of referral codes in Taxi-Master:

You gain loyal customers. People love receiving bonuses and will refer new customers to you, saving on their future trips and helping their friends save money too.

You save on advertising and get more orders. Clients bring their friends to your company, who may become regular users. This results in more orders and increased profitability.

You're protected against fraud. Taxi-Master maintains accurate records of all participants in the referral system. Multiple individuals cannot refer the same client, and a new client cannot receive a bonus for the first trip more than once.

The code is generated automatically. Clients receive the code after their first trip through the "TaxoPhone" application. In the Taxi-Master client card, you can set a personalized code for any client.

Internet advertising plays a crucial role in promoting products and services in today's world. According to an analyst from the Statista report, "The digital advertising market is on the rise as people's behaviors have shifted from offline to online. Over the past decade, the number of internet users has doubled: from 2.3 billion in 2012 to 5.1 billion in 2022. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies, and this trend is expected to continue, leading to sustained growth in the digital advertising market in the years to come." Therefore, let's explore several ways of how to find taxi customers online:

Google Ads. This platform allows for precise ad targeting. To attract taxi customers through contextual advertising, it's crucial to identify keywords, craft compelling ads, target the right audience, optimize campaigns, conduct tests, and manage bids. Regularly analyzing results and adjusting the strategy in response to market changes enhances effectiveness.

Social Media and Messaging Platforms. Establishing a presence on social media platforms and messaging apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, and WhatsApp enables direct communication with customers, fostering loyalty. Utilizing chatbots and messaging services to promptly and effectively share information about new promotions, discounts, and special offers enhances engagement.

YouTube. Video advertising on social media and video hosting platforms, such as YouTube, captures customers' attention as it automatically plays before other videos or appears in news feeds. Video content offers the opportunity to showcase your taxi company, feature customer testimonials, conduct interviews with drivers, and provide insights into dispatch operations, igniting user interest and building trust.

Influencer Collaborations. Partnering with influencers is another effective method for finding taxi customers online. They can create videos, write articles, or post about your taxi company, sharing their firsthand experiences and recommendations.

The key advantages of online advertising include the ability to track the effectiveness of each ad campaign, target ads to specific audiences through precise targeting, and foster interactivity. Users can engage with advertisements, visit websites or social media pages, and reach out to the company directly.

Offline advertising can be the main method of promotion or a complement to online marketing. It helps reach a wide audience and increase recognition of your taxi service. The main advantage of this approach is that it's perceived as more reliable.

Ads on radio and TV are a good way of promotions to attract customers to a taxi. They're often simple and catchy, like a short rhyme or a memorable tune. People remember these kinds of ads easily. Try making up a catchy rhyme with your phone number in it. Potential clients will remember it quickly. Put your ads on when your target audience is most likely to hear them.

Billboards and banners are located in shopping centers, streets, near cultural venues, and restaurants. Since people see these ads while they're on the move, it's important to keep the message short and sweet. Make sure your slogan and phone number are easy to remember, and use bright, eye-catching images.

Leaflets and business cards. The key in such advertising is the text. Highlight your benefits and advantages in a few sentences. Use paragraphs, lists, and headlines. This makes it easy for people to understand and remember what's important.

To make your advertising more effective, try using taxi promotions to get passengers interested in taking a ride, like exclusive offers, bonuses, or partnerships. Find out more about these ideas in the next section.

People love special personalized offers; it makes them feel like your business truly values them, fostering their loyalty, encouraging repeat trips, and even bringing in new customers through word-of-mouth referrals. Let's dive into two examples of how you can demonstrate care for your customers.

Individual promo codes and bonuses. Your company can create tailored deals for regular users or provide discounts on the first ride. For instance, customers who have completed more than 20 rides can receive a promo code with a personalized discount, or new customers can enjoy a discount on their first ride using a promo code. You can also offer birthday bonuses. Customers will genuinely appreciate receiving an exclusive, personalized discount or bonuses, which will motivate them to choose your company. You can easily set up this loyalty program using the TaxoPhone mobile app. Customers can receive notifications about promo codes and bonuses, check their bonus account, and use points to pay for rides directly in the app.

Partnerships. Collaborating with other companies during promotional campaigns or on an ongoing basis can be a game-changer. This will not only help you expand your customer base but also attract new customers. Here are some examples of partnerships:

Hotels. You can arrange to advertise on their website, social media, or even within the establishment itself. Additionally, training hotel staff to promote taxi services and provide guests with information about rates can be beneficial. Taxi drivers can also offer to transport arriving tourists to these specific hotels. Such collaborations can lead to long-term partnerships and increased earnings for both companies.

Airports and train stations. These locations always have a steady flow of passengers in need of transportation services. Partnering with companies in these areas can increase customer loyalty for providing transportation services, while your taxi company will receive more orders.

Travel agencies. These companies can offer taxi services to tourist groups or individual travelers who need transportation from the airport or to attractions. This simplifies getting around the city for tourists. They'll get to know about your service and will turn to your company, when necessary, as they'll already trust you.

Restaurants and bars. Offer a taxi booking service for their customers. This makes it convenient for guests needing transportation to or from the establishment. As a result, customer loyalty will grow for both the venue and your taxi company.

Corporate clients. Provide taxi services for companies' employees or business partners. This makes it convenient for arranging trips to meetings, negotiations, or business travels. It broadens your customer base as employees become accustomed to your company and will contact you when needed, ensuring consistent income.

Event organizers. You can arrange to showcase your ads at the event or offer discounts for participants and attendees. This boosts brand visibility and attracts new customers to you.

For more effective cooperation, you can use promo codes, with each company having a unique code. These codes can be placed on flyers, websites, or social media pages. When used, new customers will receive a discount on their first ride, allowing you to track the effectiveness of cooperation with each company. Taxi-Master allows you to set up such a loyalty system and track effectiveness in the app.

A brand style is a collection of visual elements that define your company and accentuate its uniqueness. It's your ticket to standing out from the competition, fostering customer loyalty, and boosting brand recognition. Moreover, it helps your company establish a visual identity that you can leverage to promote your business effectively. A modern design can set your company apart from competitors and make it memorable. For a taxi company, this might encompass:

Logo. This is a cornerstone element, so it needs to be straightforward, recognizable, and memorable. It should also be unique and strongly associated with your company. Whether it's composed of letters, symbols, images, or a combination thereof, your logo typically features in advertising materials, your company's website, and social media platforms.

Brand Book. This guide helps the company maintain a consistent image in its communications and ensures the quality of its offerings. It contains details about the brand and its services, along with recommendations for using the logo, colors, fonts, and other elements.

Brand Font. It should be easy to read and consistently used in all company communications. It can be a standard font or specifically designed for the brand. It's important to choose a font that looks good across different platforms and is clear and understandable. It can be used in advertisements, on the website, and for promotional materials.

Designs for Vehicle Wrapping. They should be crafted in line with the brand's overall concept and can be applied to employee vehicles or promotional cars. They need to be high-quality, resistant to external elements, and easily applicable to the surface of the vehicle.

Social Media Cover Designs. They help businesses establish a distinctive image and grab the audience's attention. Whether static or animated, they need to be top-notch quality and fit the social network's dimensions.

Customer Mobile App Icon. It is designed to help customers easily spot the app on their smartphone screens, so it needs to catch their eye amidst other apps. It might feature the company's logo, its name, or a symbol linked to the service.

Designs for Business Cards and Flyers. Business cards should feature essential company details, contact information, and the logo, while flyers can provide more in-depth information about the services. They can be utilized in partnerships with other companies or distributed to customers to incentivize repeat bookings.

Here's the golden rule: consistency is the key. Mixing up logos or colors will only confuse your customers and blur your identity among competitors. Say, for example, your edge is top-notch service. A name like "Premium Taxi" coupled with a fitting logo can do wonders. If people keep seeing your unique branding—be it through ads or when using your service—they'll not only remember it but also start to trust you more.

Crafting a brand style is an art with its nuances, varying from one business field to another. Hence, it's wise to leave it to the experts. Our team boasts a wealth of experience in tailoring brand identities for the taxi industry, having devised over 30 brand books and designed upwards of 300 mobile app icons. We are all about catering to your needs, offering a variety of logo options for your choosing. Rest assured, every design we deliver is primed for printing, ready to go live on your website or app, and perfectly suited for social media showcasing.

Advertising taxi services in a small town comes with its own set of challenges and demands a tailored strategy to draw in customers. In contrast to the fierce competition found in big cities, small towns offer the opportunity to leverage more community-focused advertising techniques.

Word-of-Mouth Advertising. It's a powerful, cost-free strategy that works wonders in small towns. Trust in personal recommendations runs high, making advice from friends and family incredibly valuable. Whether it spreads organically, through local influencers, or by creating occasions, such as organizing events, promotions, or giving gifts, word-of-mouth can significantly boost your taxi company's visibility. Initiating it can be as simple as encouraging customer feedback, handing out branded swag, introducing a referral program, or capturing attention with creative marketing stunts. Yet, this approach isn't without challenges. Controlling the narrative can be tricky, and negative opinions tend to travel fast. Keeping an eye on feedback, fostering positive experiences, and maintaining top-notch service are key to leveraging word-of-mouth effectively.

Local Media. In small towns, local media is always in the spotlight. They directly reach the target audience – locals who stay updated on community happenings through newspapers and social media groups. Getting featured in them can kickstart word-of-mouth buzz and draw in many new customers. Remember, consistency is the key. News cycles move fast, and within a week, people might forget about your business, so make sure to consistently maintain your company's presence.

When offering services or running an ad campaign in a small town, remember that even small details can impact your company's reputation. A rude driver, a dirty vehicle, or a long wait for a ride could harm your company's image for quite a while. So, keep an eye on how customers perceive your company, provide excellent service, swiftly address any negative feedback, and always strive to enhance the performance of your taxi company.