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Maximum OctaneAuthor: Kim Hickey
Maximum Octane is the high-performance podcast for automotive shop owners ready to accelerate their leadership, culture, and profitability. Hosted by industry veterans Kim Hickey and Jason Patel from Automotive Training Institute (ATI), each episode takes you under the hood of the nation's most successful auto repair shops to uncover the tools, tactics, and mindset shifts fueling next-level results.This season, Maximum Octane brings raw, real conversations from ATI SuperConference 2025 in Hawaiifeaturing shop owners who are transforming their businesses by investing in what matters most: people, process, and purpose. From using Digital Vehicle Inspections (DVIs) to create superfans and elevate trust, to building training-first cultures that unlock loyalty, growth, and long-term success, these are the stories that inspire action. The season explores the shift from technician to technologist, the power of structure and team leadership, and the innovative thinking driving the automotive industry forward in a time of rapid change.If you're a shop owner looking to scale sustainably, retain top-tier talent, maximize your Average Repair Order (ARO), or future-proof your business against ever-advancing vehicle technologythis podcast delivers the mindset and methods to get you there. Youll gain field-tested strategies from ATIs top-performing members, with deep dives into DVIs, workflow efficiency, culture-building, team accountability, talent development, technician training, and actionable steps to grow your shops revenue, reputation, and resilience.Because in todays market, its not just about fixing carsits about building a business people believe in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Language: en Genres: Business, Education, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Why Auto Repair Shops Lose Customers by Ignoring LinkedIn with Harris Fanaroff
Episode 136
Tuesday, 3 February, 2026
There are four core aspects of business development in auto repair: in-person, email, phone, and social selling. In-person relationships will always matter most, but they only scale so far. Harris Fanaroff, founder and CEO of Linked Revenue, explains that shops lean on email because it is easy, avoid cold calls because they are uncomfortable, and dismiss LinkedIn because it feels difficult to master. That blind spot is costing shops real opportunities to build trust and grow.In this episode of Maximum Octane, Kim Hickey and Jason Patel sit down with Harris Fanaroff to break down what he calls the fourth route to market. Harris explains why LinkedIn works differently from other platforms, why executives and ideal customers already live there, and why most shops completely ignore it. He shares a practical blueprint for using LinkedIn to stay top of mind, attract higher-quality customers, recruit better talent, and build genuine relationships without sending generic messages or relying on automation.The conversation delves into founder-led content, why authenticity matters more than volume, and how consistent thought leadership distinguishes shops that blend in from those that stand out. Harris also explains how to track real ROI from LinkedIn activity, why AI should support your voice instead of replacing it, and how a shop owner can dominate a local market simply by showing up where competitors refuse to spend time.Tune in to episode 136 of Maximum Octane if you are tired of crowded marketing channels and want a smarter way to reach the right customers. Let us help you change how you think about LinkedIn and your role as a shop owner.Episode Takeaways04:50 The four routes to business development and why LinkedIn is the most underused06:30 Why most sales teams over-rely on email and avoid harder but better channels07:20 How consistent LinkedIn content creates long-term separation from competitors08:15 Why your ideal auto repair customers already spend time on LinkedIn10:00 How LinkedIn supports both customer acquisition and technician recruiting11:05 A simple local LinkedIn strategy shop owners can implement immediately12:10 Why connecting with local executives beats mass marketing every time14:30 How LinkedIn replaces old school networking groups at scale17:05 Why founder-led content outperforms generic shop marketing19:10 How Harris creates content without ghostwriting or losing authenticity20:30 The three parts of a LinkedIn system that actually produce ROI22:30 Why tracking real people matters more than vanity metrics25:00 The right way to use AI without sounding fake27:15 Why most shops quit too early and never see results32:15 Why holiday posts do nothing and executive visibility changes everythingConnect with Harris Fanaroff:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramXLet's connect:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookEmail: info@maximumoctane.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
