Thanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueled

Most shops say they “do the right thing.” Mark Lowe from Yeck's Auto Repair went out and proved it by earning the BBB Torch Award for Ethics. In this conversation, we dig into what the award actually measures (hint: it’s way more than reviews), what the application process revealed about their business, and how the recognition boosted team pride and customer confidence once that trophy hit the front counter.

We also connect the dots to something shop owners can’t ignore anymore: AI-driven recommendations. If ChatGPT (and the tools built around it) are looking for trust signals, the BBB can be one of the loudest ones in the room, and Mark shares exactly how they’ve leveraged the award on their website and marketing to lower people’s guard and get them in the door.

If you want more trust, better positioning, and a marketing angle that isn’t just “$XX off an oil change,” hit play and listen to this episode.

Show Notes with Timestamps

1. Introduction and Origin of the Episode (00:00:10) Brian introduces Mark Lowe, explains how the episode came from an AI class discussing BBB trust signals.
2. Winning the BBB Torch Award for Ethics (00:01:41) Mark shares about receiving the 2024 BBB Torch Award for Ethics in Omaha, Midwest region.
3. Torch Award Application Process and Criteria (00:01:59) Discussion of the rigorous application process, including community involvement, shop culture, and ethical practices.
4. Community Involvement and Veteran Programs (00:02:59) Mark describes their community giveback and veteran support programs as part of the award submission.
5. History with the BBB (00:03:23) Mark recounts how long they've been involved with the BBB and the value of active participation.
6. Impact of BBB Membership Before the Award (00:04:07) Mark discusses limited customer impact from BBB membership prior to winning the award.
7. Self-Reflection During Application (00:04:49) The application process prompted Mark to evaluate and improve business practices and staff support.
8. Changes Made After Application (00:05:30) Mark highlights increased focus on employee training and development as a result of the process.
9. Training and Team Building (00:06:16) Mark explains their approach to staff training, including attending Vision in Kansas City as a team.
10. Award Ceremony and Recognition (00:07:28) Mark describes the award ceremony, online recognition, and displaying the award in the shop.
11. Multiple Winners and Judging Process (00:08:31) Explanation of how multiple shops can win and the responsibility to judge future applicants.
12. Award Eligibility and Reapplication (00:09:24) Mark clarifies the waiting period before reapplying for the Torch Award.

Thanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueled

What would happen if someone walked into your shop tomorrow and took over your marketing for the next 90 days?

No theory.

No fluff.

No “someday” ideas.

Just a step-by-step execution plan designed to fill bays, tighten up your processes, and position your shop as the obvious choice in your market.

In this episode, Brian lays out exactly what he would do, starting with Local Service Ads and a full marketing audit, all the way through AI optimization, content strategy, Google Ads, CRM implementation, phone call analysis, video marketing, community networking through BNI and the Chamber, and even launching a local podcast.

This is a blueprint.

Not for surviving.

For building something that dominates.

If your shop isn’t doing consistent marketing, or you’re doing some of it but not seeing the traction you want, this episode will show you where to focus first and what to fix next.

Stop guessing. Start executing.

Hit play now and see what 90 days of focused marketing could really do for your shop.

Show Notes with Timestamps

1. Introduction and Episode Context (00:00:00) Brian introduces the episode, outlines the 90-day marketing takeover scenario, and thanks sponsors.
2. Assumptions and Approach (00:01:18) Explains assumptions: general repair shop, little/no marketing, and the step-by-step blueprint approach.
3. Start Local Services Ads (LSA) Process (00:02:15) Begins LSA setup due to approval time, discusses its importance and common misconceptions.
4. Shop Cleanup for First Impressions (00:04:20) Assigns cleaning and organizing the shop to improve first impressions for marketing visuals.
5. Comprehensive Marketing Audit (00:06:26) Performs a full audit: Google Business Profile, website (including ADA compliance), social media, email, and direct mail.
6. Join Community Groups (BNI & Chamber) (00:10:03) Joins BNI and Chamber of Commerce, brings a team member to train for ongoing networking.
7. Set Up AI Tools (ChatGPT & Claude) (00:11:05) Implements AI tools for marketing support, content creation, and brand training.
8. Create Content Bank (00:12:26) Builds a large repository of website and marketing content, ensuring quality and brand alignment.
9. Develop Team Bios, Memberships, and News Sections (00:14:42) Adds team bios, memberships/affiliations, and news/awards to the website for trust and authority.
10. Implement Guest X for Call Analysis (00:20:23) Uses Guest X to analyze phone calls, improve service advisor skills, and ensure marketing ROI.
11. Daily and Weekly Video Content (00:22:44) Begins daily short-form and weekly long-form video creation to engage and educate the audience.
12. Start a Local Community Podcast (00:23:42) Launches a podcast focused on local community...

Thanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueled

Meta Verified isn’t just for celebrities anymore, and no, it’s not just about that little blue checkmark either. In this episode, Hallie Wasinger and Caroline LeGrand from Shop Marketing Pros dig into five solid reasons why your auto repair shop might want to seriously consider Meta Verification. We’re talking real-world protection from impersonators, better access to Meta support when something goes sideways (because it will), and even perks that can boost your SEO and visibility in the algorithm. Caroline breaks down the entire process, what it actually gets you, and how to know if it’s right for your shop.

If you’ve ever asked, “Should my business be Meta Verified?”—this episode is your answer. Give it a listen, and decide if it’s time to level up your digital presence

Show Notes with Timestamps

Introduction and Sponsor Messages (00:00:00) Podcast and hosts introduced; sponsors Shop Boss and App Fueled are mentioned.

Background on Meta Verification (00:01:06) Hallie and Caroline discuss their initial skepticism and early research on Meta verification.

Meta Verification for Public Figures vs. Businesses (00:02:13) Explains how verification started for celebrities and public figures, and the shift to broader availability.

Real-World Example: Meta Verification Benefits (00:02:29) Hallie shares a story from Macon about another agency benefiting from Meta verification during a Facebook ads hack.

Updated Research and Agency Perspective (00:03:51) Caroline describes her new research and conversations with another agency about Meta verification.

Meta Verification vs. Business Certification (00:04:45) Distinguishes between verifying a business page and business portfolio certification.

Impersonation Protection and Security (00:05:17) Discusses impersonation protection, security, and limitations for agencies managing multiple pages.

Enhanced Support and Limitations (00:06:08) Explains the scope of enhanced support and its limitations for business portfolios and client pages.

Five Main Benefits of Meta Verification (00:07:21) Caroline outlines the five main benefits: enhanced support, improved security, impersonation protection, links/content, and search optimization.

Levels of Meta Verification (00:11:35) Describes the four levels of verification (Standard, Plus, Premium, Max) and their differences.

Sponsor Messages (00:13:06) Additional sponsor messages for Shop Boss and App Fueled.

The Meta Verification Process (00:15:09) Caroline explains the step-by-step process to get Meta verified and why it was quick for them.

Importance of Facebook Hygiene (00:17:12) Discusses the importance of good Facebook practices for successful verification.

Personal Profiles and Business Pages (00:17:55) Explains the relationship between personal profiles and business pages, and the impact of personal behavior.

Consequences of Poor Facebook Hygiene (00:19:05) Shares an example of how a business owner’s personal profile in “Facebook jail” affected their business page and ads.

Meta Verification vs. Business Certification for Multi-location Businesses (00:20:56) Clarifies when to use verification versus certification, especially for multi-location businesses.

SEO and Search Optimization Benefits (00:23:02) Explains how Meta verification helps with links in posts, SEO, and algorithm prioritization.

Algorithm Prioritization and Featured Profiles (00:25:11) Describes how verified pages are prioritized in Facebook’s algorithm and featured more...