Building Repeat Business: Leave ’em Hanging

As a business owner, you’re probably always looking for creative ways to keep customers coming back. One inexpensive strategy to encourage repeat business is leaving “hangtags” on rearview mirrors after service or installation. You can include a simple “thank you” message or, even better, a discount on a future purchase if the hangtag is brought back into the store.

What Are Hangtags?

If you’re not familiar with hangtags, they’re small pieces of paper or cardstock that can be hung from a door handle or a rearview mirror (think home-service companies who leave something hanging from your front door handle). Easily customizable with branding or promotional messages, hangtags can be a cost-effective way to promote your services.

Customers might not have time to chat when they pick up their vehicle, so leaving a hangtag on their mirror with a coupon for future savings can be a low-pressure way to thank them for their business and encourage them to return.

Another benefit of hangtags is that they are physically present in the customer’s car, where they serve as a constant reminder of your offer. Even when the customer inevitably takes down the tag, they may toss it in the passenger seat, on the floor, or in the glove box—and that’s fine! As long as the hangtag remains in that vehicle, you increase your odds of re-engaging with them.

Make It Count with Coupons

Design your hangtags in a way that will catch your customers’ attention. Bright colors, bold fonts, and eye-catching graphics can all make the hangtag stand out. Include a clear call to action to make the promotion more effective; for example, “Bring in this tag for 10% off your next purchase!”

Where to Get Hangtags

• Online. Many online printers offer hangtags at exceptionally low rates. If you place a minimum order of 250, each card will cost only about $0.15 to $0.20 (at the time of writing). Some of our favorite online printers include Vista Print and UPrinting.
• Local. As a business owner yourself, you might want to support your local peers. Search online for local print shops and get some quotes. Local prices tend to be a little higher than what you can find online, but you’ll also probably enjoy more personal service and the satisfaction of supporting another local business.

We encourage you to try hangtags as a cost-effective way to keep your business in front of your customers and incentivize them to come back. Even if you know the person might not be a repeat customer, remind them that they can give the hangtag/coupon to a friend or family member. It’s a great way to encourage word-of-mouth and inspire loyalty.

We hope this post helped to spark a few new business ideas for you to try. If you’ve tried hangtags and found them to be successful, let us know