Taxis are an essential service for any city around the world. A mature market; with fixed prices, highly regulated and competitive, which is constantly diversifying, where there are big entry barriers and few ways to differentiate from the competition.
However, even though they can be hard to identify, there’s several ways in which taxi drivers can increase their income and differentiate from the rest. First, there’s some basic rules, fundamental guidelines that should be a part of the everyday manual of any taxi driver. For example:
- Have your vehicle prepared and in perfect conditions. Giving a good first impression is vital, having an impeccable vehicle on the inside and outside is essential to attracting new clients.
- Be kind and helpful. Help with luggage, be friendly and talkative when necessary and learn to be quiet when the client wants to have a peaceful journey.
- Know your city. This way you’ll be able to provide a complete and efficient service.
- Stay informed. Having different topics of conversation is fundamental, be prepared by knowing what’s going on in the world.
- Apart from driving your client to their destination, use the journey as an opportunity to get to know the necessities of your client and take advantage of them to create job opportunities. For example, if you find out your client is a tourist, they will probably be interested in visiting the landmarks of your city. You can offer your services to drive them around your city during their visit. If you’re driving a client who’s on a business trip, you could offer your services to drive them to and from their hotel to their meetings or events.
- Many cab drivers are concerned about always having someone inside their taxi, believing that this will increase their income. But a great strategy can be striving for customer loyalty. For example, if one of you passengers is a mother taking her child to school, you could offer to pick her up every day at the same time to make that journey. That way she won’t have to worry about finding a cab every morning and you will have a regular customer. With time, you’ll be able to establish a routine.
- Create business cards and give them out to customers before arriving to your destination. This is a fantastic way of promoting yourself and make yourself remembered. If you offer a good service they’ll surely call you again and best of all: they’ll recommend your services to other people.
- Offer your service through mobile apps. Internet has transformed many sectors, including transportation. Take advantage of mobile platforms such as Tinkerlink to create a profile that lets you contact potential clients who are looking for your services.
- Sacrifice yourself and work during weekends and some holidays. Take advantage of all your will to work and offer your services when the competition is at home resting.
- Now is the time to go the extra mile, work hard and do it right, enter new environments and take new risks and challenges. If we act like we normally do, we’ll always get the same results. Now is the moment to step outside your comfort zone and try to stand out.
Tinkerlink, experts recommended by people you already know.