How Auto Repair Shops Turn Vision Training Into Growth

March 5–8, shop owners and technicians from across the country will gather in Overland Park for VISION 2026. With more than 100 management and technical courses and thousands of industry professionals in attendance each year, it’s one of the most respected training events in the automotive industry.

You’re investing time away from your shop to sharpen your technical skills, improve operations, and become a stronger business owner.

That matters.

But here’s the question many shop owners don’t ask:

Are you investing in the visibility of your shop the same way you’re investing in training?

Because growth doesn’t just happen in the bays. It happens before a customer ever walks through your door.

And shop owners are recognizing that.

According to the Fullbay State of Auto Repair Report, shop owners who plan to increase marketing this year expect to raise their budgets by an average of 66 percent. That’s a significant shift. It shows that growth-minded shops are not pulling back on visibility. They’re leaning into it.



The shops focused on 2026 aren’t just improving operations. They’re strengthening their marketing strategy alongside it.

Technical excellence and marketing strategy have to work together.

You can be the best technician in town. But if customers can’t find you, don’t understand what makes you different, or aren’t prompted to take action, you’re leaving opportunity on the table.

You’re Improving the Service...Now Let’s Improve the Flow of Customers

At VISION, you’ll learn how to:

• Diagnose more efficiently
• Improve processes
• Increase productivity
• Build a stronger team

Those improvements absolutely impact profitability.

But none of it works at full capacity if your shop isn’t consistently attracting new customers and retaining the ones you’ve already earned.

Consider this:

• 46% of all Google searches have local intent
• 76% of people who search for something nearby on their smartphone visit a business within 24 hours

When someone searches “auto repair near me,” they’re not casually browsing. They need service — and they need it soon. Technical excellence and marketing strategy have to work together. You can be the best technician in town. But if customers can’t find you, don’t understand what makes you different, or aren’t prompted to take action, you’re leaving opportunity on the table.

What Happens After the Conference Matters Most

You’ll leave VISION inspired. Motivated. Full of ideas. The key is implementation. Here’s how to turn that energy into real growth:

1. Make Sure Your Website Reflects the Level of Shop You’re Becoming

As you improve operations, raise standards, and elevate customer experience, your website should reflect that growth.

Ask yourself:

• Does my website clearly communicate what makes us different?
• Is it built to convert visitors into appointments?
• Is it mobile-friendly and fast?
• Does it feel trustworthy and professional?

According to Stanford research, 75% of consumers judge a company’s credibility based on its website design. Your website isn’t just a digital brochure. It’s your hardest-working employee. It should be guiding customers to schedule, call, or request service.

👉 Learn more about our automotive website design services

If you’re investing in improving your shop, your online presence should match that standard.

2. Turn Customer Experience Into Online Reputation

VISION often emphasizes process and customer service. That’s powerful.

But are you capturing that experience through reviews?

Consider this:

• 98% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses
• Businesses that respond to reviews are seen as more trustworthy and engaged.

Consistent review generation:

• Builds trust
• Improves local search visibility
• Influences buying decisions

If your shop is delivering a five-star experience in person, your Google presence should reflect it.

Reputation management isn’t about chasing ratings. It’s about showcasing the quality work you’re already doing.

👉 Explore our review & reputation management solutions

3. Strengthen Your Local Visibility

Many shop owners assume that if they’ve been around long enough, customers will “just find them.”

That’s not how search works anymore.

Google’s local ranking factors include:

• Relevance
• Distance
• Prominence (which includes reviews and online presence)

(Source: Google Business Profile Help Documentation)

If you’re investing in growth internally, make sure your:

• Google Business Profile is fully optimized
• Service pages are clearly defined
• Location signals are strong
• Information is consistent everywhere online

Small improvements here can mean major increases in visibility.

👉 See how our automotive website SEO services help shops rank in their local market.

4. Measure What Actually Moves the Needle

One of the biggest mindset shifts happening in our industry is this:

Guesswork doesn’t grow shops. Data does.

After VISION, take time to look at:

• Website traffic trends
• Conversion rates
• Call tracking data
• Review growth
• Campaign performance

If you don’t know what your marketing is producing, it’s hard to improve it. The right marketing partner should be transparent, measurable, and focused on real results — not vanity metrics.

👉 Learn about our digital advertising solutions for auto repair shops

We often talk about “full-circle” growth, where training strengthens your operations, marketing strengthens your visibility, and together they strengthen your bottom line.

When those pieces are aligned, something powerful happens:

• You attract better customers.
• You increase average repair order.
• You build long-term loyalty.
• You create predictable growth.

That’s not hype, it’s strategy, and it’s what separates shops that stay busy from shops that grow intentionally.

Visit the team from Optimize Digital Marketing at VISION 2026, Booth #804. We’d love to connect!

We specialize in helping small automotive businesses grow through:

• High-performing websites
• Search engine optimization
• Review and reputation strategy
• Digital marketing programs built for results

We’re U.S.-based, Minnesota proud, and known for same-day or 48-hour support. We understand small shops because we work with them every day.

If you’re heading to VISION, don’t wait until the show floor gets busy.

Book a pre-show demo with our team to secure dedicated time at Booth #804 and get early access to our show specials.

We’ll walk through your website, visibility, and growth opportunities so you can arrive at the conference with a clear strategy in mind.

Spots are limited, so schedule ahead and let’s make the most of your time in Overland Park.

👉 Reserve your pre-show demo here

Let’s get real results for your business.