CTS ACADEMY · MARKETING FOR SHOPS

3 video ideas for your shop you can film this week

You don't need a professional camera or an agency. With your phone and the work you already do every day, you have content that brings in customers.

See the 3 ideas
1

What was wrong with this truck?

A real job from your shop told in three parts: the problem, what you found and how you fixed it. It's the video that builds the most trust, because it shows your actual work.

HOW TO FILM IT · 30 TO 60 SECONDS

  1. The hook (first 3 seconds): the symptom or the code on the screen. "This Cascadia came in with a no-start and they'd already replaced the computer…"
  2. What you found: the broken wire, the burnt connector, the scan tool reading. Get the phone close so it shows.
  3. How you fixed it: the part or the procedure. You don't need to give the full step by step.
  4. The close: the truck running and an invitation: "Has this happened to you? Message us."

Tip: film before, during and after every job even if you don't know yet whether it's worth it. Deciding and editing come later; the moment doesn't repeat.

2

The most common mistake

Explain something your customers should check before replacing a part. The truck owner feels you're helping them save money, saves the video and shares it. And you come across as the one who knows.

HOW TO FILM IT · 30 TO 45 SECONDS

  1. The hook: "Before you replace your truck's computer, check this."
  2. The check: show how it's done. For example, measuring battery voltage and checking the grounds.
  3. Why it matters: how much time or money is lost if it isn't checked first.
  4. The close: "If you already checked it and it's still the same, message us."

Tip: think of the times a customer showed up with a new part that didn't fix anything. Each one is a video.

3

A frequent question

Answer in 30 seconds a question you get all the time at the shop or on WhatsApp: how long a job takes, whether a part fits a certain truck, what happens if it isn't fixed in time.

HOW TO FILM IT · 20 TO 30 SECONDS

  1. The question: read it out loud or put it as text on screen, exactly as people ask it.
  2. The answer, in the first sentence: straight, no detours.
  3. One extra fact: something most people don't know that makes you look professional.
  4. The close: "Got another question? Leave it in the comments."

Tip: every comment you get is the idea for your next video. Reply to comments with a new video.

How to film with your phone

  • Vertical, always. That's how it shows full-screen on TikTok, Reels and Facebook.
  • Light in front of you, never behind. Your work light will do.
  • Clean sound: get close, turn off the compressor and the radio.
  • Wipe the lens before filming. It gets dirty fast in the shop.
  • Rest the phone on something so it doesn't shake, and film hands and parts up close.
  • Add text on screen: a lot of people watch with the sound off.

Your week, planned

MondayIdea 1: film a real job while you work it.
WednesdayIdea 2: the mistake you see most in your customers.
FridayIdea 3: answer the question you get asked most.

Post at roughly the same time. Being consistent matters more than being perfect.

Template to copy

Hook: This [truck] came in with [symptom]. Finding: We found [the problem]. Fix: We fixed it by [how]. Close: Has this happened to you? Message us.

Video caption: what happened + the make and model + an invitation. "2015 Cascadia no-start: it was a connector, not the computer. Happening to you? Message us."

What not to show

  • License plates, the full VIN or customer details.
  • A customer's or an employee's face without their permission.
  • Promises of jobs you don't do or prices you can't hold.
  • Modifications that disable emissions systems: besides being illegal, they can get your account taken down.

COMING SOON TO CTS ACADEMY

Learn to market your shop

We're putting together a training program for mechanics and shops: how to create content, what to post and how to turn messages into customers. Message us and you'll hear about it first.