Active Map Management and Review Engagement Drives 25% More Leads to Michelin Retailers

Michelin’s Challenge: Capturing the “Need-It-Now” Driver 

In the automotive repair and tire industry, local visibility is everything. Customers usually search for these services out of immediate necessity. While Michelin had massive global brand awareness, their local retail shops were fighting a highly competitive battle against independent neighborhood garages who were already at the top of local Google Maps results. 

The truth they faced was clear: their brand name didn’t matter if their listings had missing phone numbers, unmanaged reviews, or incorrect weekend hours. Customers would prioritize choosing the business that looked open, active, and trustworthy.  

How Michelin Took Control of their Local Search Funnel  

Our platform enabled Michelin to easily move away from fragmented, manual updates and instead took centralized control of how their shops appeared to local drivers. 

Here is how our platform empowered them: 

Ensured Accurate Shop Details 

Nothing loses a customer faster than driving to a garage with a flat tire, only to find it closed. They used the platform to centrally manage and sync specific details like accurate holiday hours, phone numbers, and service offerings across every single point of sale. Now, when a customer found them on the map, the information was 100% reliable. 

Turned Reviews Into a Foundation for Trust  

Auto repair requires a high level of customer trust. Instead of ignoring customer reviews, they easily monitored and replied to feedback through our platform’s single dashboard, signaling to potential customers that they provide great, accountable service. As well as engaging with reviews, they also placed branded QR codes in the waiting rooms to encourage happy customers to easily leave reviews while their car is being worked on. 

Allowed Easy Targeting of the “Near Me” Searcher 

Instead of just relying on their global reputation, Michelin used our platform to optimize their profiles, appealing directly to drivers around their respective neighborhoods. They were able to identify top ranking regional keywords and services, updating their profiles accordingly, so their shops ranked at the top even when potential customers searched using regional, colloquial terms. 

A Resulting Surge of Sustained Visits to Michelin 

The decision to actively manage their local maps completely transformed their lead generation. Instead of being buried under local competitors, Michelin experienced a 25% surge in total local leads. 

Breaking those numbers down shows exactly how digital visibility translates to physical sales. Their phones started ringing 29% more often with drivers asking for quotes and booking immediate help. Even better, 21% more people hit “Get Directions” on their phones and navigated straight to the shop. 

“Working with the team is a real pleasure. They combine professionalism and expertise to help boost our online presence and therefore generate additional traffic to our stores.”
— Karoline, Michelin Retail Network 

Maintaining the Course With Michelin as the Neighborhood Go-To 

Michelin’s journey shows that even the biggest global names can’t afford to ignore street-level details. They had to make sure the deep, granular details like their map pins, opening hours, and customer reviews were properly optimized and maintained. Through our platform, Michelin ultimately saved valuable resources and drove substantial growth across all their online listings.  

As we continue to support Michelin in their expansion across the region, our focus remains firmly on building a future of sustained growth. We work together to identify the latest, most effective ways to turn everyday local searches into booked repair appointments, sold tires, and satisfied customers. We look forward to navigating the evolving digital landscape together, keeping them ahead of the curve throughout.