We’ve all seen the pleas among operators on Facebook for an affiliate in a far-flung location who can take a farm-out client. While that can work, you are at the mercy of whoever’s online and what they choose to tell you before taking your business and handling your precious cargo.
Into this breach steps LCTconnect.com, an online venue with established criteria and information that operators worldwide can use to find each other. Think Match.com meets Tinder, except with a lot more substance. LCTconnect.com is the industry’s first ever widely available forum that brings together legal, vetted, high quality chauffeured transportation companies for instant affiliation.
Beyond the required profile, subscribers choose how much additional information to provide. The more you can disclose and the more details you post, the more likely another company will want to do business with yours. Users can search based on attributes and criteria.
LCTconnect.com focuses on factors operators value most, and achieves a depth beyond the superficial contracting of transportation network companies (TNCs). Most importantly, you are in control and you have the freedom of choice among companies you prefer to work with, instead of having to call a major affiliate network at the last minute and handle business via a credit card and a high mark-up.
As of March 15, LCTconnect.com had 352 user accounts and 206 company listings, following a surge after the site officially debuted earlier this month at the International LCT Show in Las Vegas, Nev.
Here is a step-by-step guide to signing up and using this valuable resource:
Ready To Connect
Getting set up to use LCTconnect.com is a short three-step process. In less than 15-minutes, the process will connect you to a new source of farm-in work. Finding an operator to pick-up your client in another city will be a breeze. The key to making great connections with LCTconnect.com is sharing as much information as possible through simple check boxes and drop-down menus, and completing just a few short text entries. [see sidebar for more information].
Getting Started
The first step is as basic as creating a user name and password. If you plan to delegate the use of this site to a staff member, make sure to choose a common user name and password scheme since the site allows you to upload photos and videos as often as you like. This helps you keep your content fresh. Next, you will receive an email with a link to the site so you can continue. This layer of security makes sure you own the email address. LCTconnect.com will use it to contact you and verify the communications between the LCTconnect.com platform and your company.
Selecting A Plan
Various plans allow you to try the site for 60 days or commit to a full year of participation. The plans, known as Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, all provide great value with the ability to post photos and videos. The most basic plan (Bronze) allows for up to five photos and one video while the annual plan (Platinum) allows for 25 photos and five videos. The Platinum plan breaks down to 40 cents a day. There isn’t a more affordable way to receive farm-in work.
All About You
The section called, “About The Company” is the most important part of our profile set-up. This is your chance to tell people in your own words all about your operations. Prepare a statement before you begin the sign-up process. You can copy and paste it when you are ready. Seek creative input from your team as this statement will define who you are. Here is a sample to help get you started:
ABC Limo Service has been serving our local area since 1990. Some of our clients include the Marriott Hotel, Holiday Inn, Four Points Sheraton and many local corporate accounts. Our vehicles include complimentary soft drinks and bottled water. We can also provide snacks such as fresh fruit upon request or customize the amenities to meet your needs. Our professional uniformed employees go through rigorous background checks, random drug testing and ongoing training. We operate limos, vans, sedans and SUVs to meet your needs.
What Do You Provide?
The remaining information includes checking boxes or selecting from drop-down menus the airports you serve, the type of vehicles you operate, and additional information about them. You have the opportunity to share other information such as whether you have chauffeurs authorized to carry a weapon and how you handle meet and greets and toll fees. It is important to be honest when completing this information.
Why Use LCT Connect?
Other operators need to find you and you need to find them. The most common methods of operators connecting include the National Limousine Association (NLA) Directory, an exclusive benefit to NLA members or state association directories. But fewer than a fourth of all chauffeured transportation companies are listed there, since it’s a members-only reference. This industry has literally thousands of operators who are not members of any trade groups. Many have been in business for decades serving their area of the country without appearing on any industry map, but are more than capable of delivering excellent service. LCTconnect.com puts operators of all sizes from all over the country within easy reach of each other at rates appealing to small-fleet operators.
What You Need to Sign Up
Before you begin setting up your LCT Connect profile, you will need to gather some materials to be included in your profile:
- A high resolution logo picture to upload
- An “About Us” statement describing your company history, services offered and related information you wish to share for marketing purposes
- Your state license number and Federal DOT number if applicable
- A minimum of (5) Photos (see article for suggestions)
- A prepared video (optional)
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