The digital marketing landscape is evolving rapidly, and social media remains a critical tool for businesses looking to engage with customers. In 2025, new trends are shaping how businesses interact with their audiences, presenting unique opportunities for car wash operators across Australia. From short-form video content to hyper-local targeting and AI-driven engagement, the future of social media holds significant potential for those in the car wash industry.
The Rise of Short-Form Video Content
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts continue to dominate social media, with consumers favouring engaging, bite-sized content. Car wash businesses can leverage this trend by creating visually appealing videos showcasing their services, special promotions, and behind-the-scenes operations.
For example a car wash site in Sydney recently gained traction on TikTok by posting ASMR-style videos of their foam washes and pressure rinses, amassing thousands of views. This not only increased their visibility but also led to a boost in customer enquiries.
User-Generated Content and Community Engagement
Australians value authentic recommendations, and user-generated content (UGC) plays a key role in influencing purchasing decisions. Encouraging customers to share their clean car results, tag the business, and leave reviews can significantly boost credibility and engagement.
A great example is offer a monthly prize for the best customer-posted photo featuring their freshly cleaned vehicle. This strategy increases brand awareness and fosters community engagement.
Hyper-Local Advertising and Targeting
With advancements in geotargeting and localised social media advertising, car wash businesses can now reach potential customers more effectively. Facebook and Instagram Ads allow businesses to target users based on their location, interests, and even past interactions with similar businesses.
Your car wash could use Facebook’s ‘store traffic’ objective to promote a limited-time (eg: two week period) discount to users within a 5km radius of your location leading to an increase in drive-up customers over the time.
AI-Driven Customer Interactions
Artificial intelligence is revolutionising social media marketing. AI chatbots on platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp can handle bookings, answer FAQs, and even upsell premium services. Additionally, AI-powered analytics tools help businesses understand customer behaviour and refine their marketing strategies.
Your car wash could implement an AI chatbot on Instagram to manage appointment scheduling and respond to customer queries instantly. This improved customer satisfaction and reduced the need for constant manual responses.
Sustainability and Ethical Branding
Environmental consciousness is a growing priority for Australian consumers. Car wash businesses that highlight their eco-friendly practices on social media can attract a more loyal customer base.
Your site could post about water-saving technology and biodegradable cleaning products as such aligning with popular consumer values to build a strong brand reputation and increased customer retention.
Influencer Collaborations and Partnerships
Micro-influencers (those with 10,000-50,000 followers) or even the Kardashians can drive significant engagement for your businesses. Partnering with local car enthusiasts, lifestyle influencers, pet lovers or weekend warriors (who often need clean cars after muddy adventures) can expand a car wash’s reach.
As social media continues to evolve, car wash businesses in Australia must stay ahead of trends to remain competitive. By leveraging short-form video, user-generated content, AI-driven engagement, hyper-local targeting, and influencer partnerships, car wash operators can drive customer engagement and business growth in 2025. Those who embrace these opportunities will not only expand their digital presence but also future-proof their businesses in an increasingly online-driven marketplace.
Thank you to ACWA Contributor David Mau, Neoterik for providing this information.
