Big Pine Auto Repair

The Challenge

Big Pine Auto Repair was the only full-service mechanic shop within 40 miles of Elko, Nevada, but Dale Whitfield was barely breaking even. The shop had no website — customers found him through a faded roadside sign and word of mouth. Dale estimated he was losing 30% of potential business to dealership service centers in Reno because customers couldn't find him online or verify his services before making the 45-minute drive.

The rural location also meant traditional advertising was expensive and ineffective. Radio ads and newspaper classifieds cost $1,200 per month with no measurable return. Dale had no way to reach the ranchers, truckers, and commuters passing through Elko County who needed automotive services but didn't know his shop existed. His customer base was shrinking as younger residents moved to digital-first discovery and his shop remained invisible online.

Our Solution

SBEC built Big Pine Auto Repair a complete digital presence from scratch using the website builder platform. The site featured service descriptions, pricing transparency, an appointment request form, and prominently displayed the shop's 40-mile service radius. We optimized the site for hyper-local search terms like 'auto repair Elko NV,' 'mechanic near Elko,' and 'truck repair northeastern Nevada' — terms with low competition but high purchase intent.

The game-changer was geofence advertising. SBEC set up targeted mobile ads that triggered when potential customers entered defined geographic zones — the I-80 corridor through Elko County, competing dealership service centers in Reno, and auto parts stores in the region. When someone searched for car repair or visited an auto parts store within the geofenced area, they saw Big Pine's ad on their phone. We also launched a Google Business Profile with review generation and a simple text-message appointment reminder system to reduce no-shows.

The Results