The Limos.com Forum Has Moved!!!

I keep reading articles that are negative to the limousine industry during a high season for business. Has anyone that talked to a reporter mention the thousands of trips daily that are done without making the news?

Might seem like an elementary question, and I expect "innernet forum" snappy answers, but beyond that I re-iterate. While our industry is in the news during the peak season for the mistakes of the few, the overall performance of the small business engine that make up our companies needs to be emphasized and PROMOTED!!!

The police are checking limo companies at the prom? Well, duh, if your state association is on the ball where do you think they get the lists from?? (see heading entitled "Be careful what you ask for" ) The reporters think the cops are out for a reason. The overall compliance numbers of limousines checked vs. violations is low and the ones found during these sweeps are now identified by authorities. Maybe the reporter would like to talk to the mom that called Monday morning to complement the professional chauffeur from the Prom last weekend. Or the wine tour group that just enjoyed a day of tourism in their home state. PROMOTE IT WHILE IT'S IN THE NEWS!!!!



Instead everyone just ducks when they read these stories.....

and can't spend all the money fast enough

You are completely mistaken about the intention here Gunny. Having children in the military at the present time, I so it out of sincere thanks for the service to my country and as a gesture of appreciation. Letting the media know is only capitalizing on the moment at hand both for me and for the community to bring attention to the fact that we have brought another one safely home this time. The community enjoys seeing this and it is a positive visual image of our company and the soldier. Don't you think for one single minute that if no media came - ever - that I would not be there to pickup that solider with his family!

Same for Make-A-Wish. I donate 30 rides per year to them. I don't get media coverage on every one as rides to the airport are not newsworthy, shopping sprees at Walmart are. I make those donations solely to make myself feel good when my head hits the pillow each night, knowing I did a good thing for others just because I could.

I aplogize to you and any other military vet who may have been offended by my comments taken out of context. I am about as patriotic as can be and would never disrespect the people who maintain our freedom and liberty.

quote:

Originally posted by Limo Scene:

Oh, here is one that really makes you feel good. Offer to pickup that solider arriving home from Iraq. First you ask the family to ride to the airport in a limousine. Then invite the media to trail you and capture the moment of the family being reunited. Make sure to get "face time" saying, "here at ABC Limousines, we support our troops and our country and wanted to give something back to our community members who have diligently defended our country" or something equally sappy.

You were going good until this civilian. Use the return of a hero who put his rear on the line to protect your freedoms as a publicity stunt to attract business deserves a butt stroke across the forehead.

One thing about the "Big Dawg" is that he has an imagination & without this, close up shop & head on home.

Generating PR can be fun.
I aligned myself with a local Make a wish foundation which focuses on dying or last wish grants. Last night I took a 89Y Young Man with Dementa to the Opera INvited the Press to ride along. His Father had been an Orchastra Leader in the depression and his last wish was to Lead an Orchastra. They wheeled him on stage and handed him a Batton and away they went making music.

It did not matter that he tried to have a Sword fight with the Violins and string section is was simply wonderful and funny to watch this Old fellow Live a Dream at his age on stage he got a standing Ovation and I got Honerable mention in the paper along with the foundation with Minimal effort or expense in reality.

It is not hard to generate good pR just have to be willing to extend yourself and make the effort to make things happen.

Cliff

Mr. Luff has been in the Major Leagues for a number of years now. Creating positive publicity for your firm consistently should be a component of your business plan. The alternative is being lumped with "them" when something very bad happens...

Really, if you want "good" PR - make it! Every year, twice a year at spring prom and winter formal, send you local newspaper a press release telling people how to go about renting a limo for little Johnny or Susie. Pepper the article with "love me" phrases that Gunny dislikes. Such as, "according to John Doe at ABC Limo Company, you should always ask the company about their drug testing policy. According to Doe, ABC routinely tests all new chauffeurs and performs random tests at least twice a year on each employee".

At Christmas time, offer to deliver Santa to the local mall for his "grand arrival" and of course send those press releases out to say that "Santa arrived by super stretch limousine, courtesy or ABC Limousines.

Oh, here is one that really makes you feel good. Offer to pickup that solider arriving home from Iraq. First you ask the family to ride to the airport in a limousine. Then invite the media to trail you and capture the moment of the family being reunited. Make sure to get "face time" saying, "here at ABC Limousines, we support our troops and our country and wanted to give something back to our community members who have diligently defended our country" or something equally sappy.

Need to be in the paper for no reason at all? Try this: Submit a press release to the local media announcing the selection of "Outstanding Community Leaders and Vendors". As a company, recognize local politicians and community leaders, your local mechanic, local radio station partners etc. and tell the community it is because of these great businesses and people that Anytown, USA is such a special place to live.

You can be on TV or the Radio anytime you want. You can put any spin on any story and get it published. It really isn't that hard to create positive publicity year round.

Promotion means taking care of business,
we do it behind the scenes with the best looking cars but often looked upon as scenery. So tell me honestly how much news is positive on today?

We can call HBO and see if they want limousine confessions, that would be a neat twist.

It's the news that Shocks, and news that Rocks what sells news stories. Not somebody whose wedding went off without a hitch or that person wo had the perfect limo night out.

About as interesting to the general public as shring out of focus vacation pictures. Just not sensational enough to get veiwers/readers worked up about.

If one thinks the news is unbalanced for the poor limo folks try being a member of the US Armed Forces over in the sandbox (I should be shot for even comparing the 2)! Besides, there is enough of "I love me" sugar coated stories printed in the industry rags.