HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR TAXI BUSINESS IN 2025: Advice and insight from taxi tech giants iCabbi
- Perry Richardson
- 13 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The taxi and private hire industry continues to be as competitive as ever, and in 2025, standing out in a crowded market requires more than just reliable service. With customers turning to their phones for every service they need, a strong marketing approach has become a key part of running a successful taxi firm. Whether you’re looking to expand your customer base, improve visibility or build trust locally, how you promote your business will make a real difference.
Taxi and PHV tech provider iCabbi has shared their expert advice on where firms should focus their efforts, combining digital and traditional techniques to get the most from marketing strategies this year.
Digital Marketing
A simple glance around and you’ll see everyone on their phones and devices – across all ages and demographics – whether that be on Google, social media or instant messaging. That’s why your marketing strategy needs to start with a strong digital presence.
Digital channels offer a direct, effective way to reach your customers in exactly the place they are spending time – the place where they go to find products, services and information.
Website and SEO
A well-structured, visually appealing and user-friendly website is essential for any local business trying to promote their taxi firm.
However, it doesn’t stop at just a well-designed website. Enhanced and effective SEO is the next step to ensure that traffic is being driven to your website and that potential customers are landing exactly where you want them. Most customers tend to look for taxis online through search terms such as ‘taxis near me’ and ‘nearby taxis’. If your website isn’t optimised for such results, you could be missing out on potential bookings.
Here are some ideas to implement when it comes to improving the SEO of your business:
Local Listings / Google My Business: Claim your Google My Business profile and make sure information is updated and correct such as contact details, operating hours, photos and business info.
Use the Right Keywords: Target local keywords like "best taxi service in [City]" or "airport transfers [Location]". Use keywords naturally in your website content, blog posts and meta descriptions.
Make sure your website is fit for SEO purposes from a technical point of view: Ensure fast-loading pages and mobile-friendly design, create location-based landing pages for different service area and add clear call-to-action buttons like "Book a Taxi Now".
Emails and Text
Sending personalised emails to customers can be a great way of getting repeated business with the same people and to make yourself their number one choice when it comes to taxis. Within your emails, it’s important to think about offering the right services at the right time, such as promoting airport transfers ahead of school holidays or peak travel times. Segmentation can also strengthen your marketing emails. Through categorising your email list based on customers’ habits, preferences and past bookings, you can ensure that you are always sending the right emails at the right time.
Furthermore, using WhatsApp and traditional text messages can also be an even more effective marketing tool for your taxi firm. Texts can be used to promote referral reward schemes, highlight any recent exclusive deals and discounts or even send seasonal greetings. Text messages can also be a great tool for securing advance bookings through sending reminders ahead of significant events such as New Year’s and local festivals. Emails and texts therefore are a great way of ensuring that your customers are always staying informed about your local taxi business.
Social Media
Social media can also be a powerful tool for taxi companies to connect with customers, increase brand awareness and drive more taxi bookings. Platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram give taxi firms an important marketing channel to help engage with potential or existing customers.
Below are a few ideas on how you can use social media channels to enhance your business:
Make sure your social media profiles give a positive and professional impression of your business and remember to include business information such as phone number and website within your profile.
Share engaging content. Ideas can include promotions and deals, showcasing your team and what they do and sharing online reviews.
Get involved locally with location-based hashtags (e.g. #BrentfordTaxis #TaxisinLeeds) and tagging local businesses and partners.
Engage with ‘trending topics’ like Valentine’s Day, Easter and other big events and occasions.
Run competitions and giveaways on your page to boost engagement and follower numbers.
Traditional Marketing
Despite the importance of digital marketing, traditional offline marketing tools can still have a significant impact when considering how to market a taxi business, especially in the local community.
Leaflets/Flyers/Posters
Distributing flyers in high-footfall areas such as hotels, pubs and local businesses can help with bookings. Additionally, distributing these at transport hubs like train stations and airports can help to capture travellers looking for local transport. This can be taken a step further by using posters. Such posters can be designed to reflect your company’s image and then posted up in local high customer areas. These locations could be local gyms, universities or libraries.
Offering discounts or incentives on these flyers can further encourage potential customers to choose your services.
Merchandise/Giveaways
Merchandise, hand-outs and giveaways can be a great way to get your brand out in the open. It can help remind previous customers about your taxi firm and be a way of reaching new customers too.
Our advice would be to think of items which people actually use and keep such as pens, travel mugs, water bottles and keyrings.
Or how about coasters?
These are almost like ‘mini-flyers’ that can provide a unique marketing platform. Placing them in local pubs, clubs, and cafes puts your service in the direct line of sight of potential customers at a time when they may need a taxi.
Vehicle Signage
Probably one of the most traditional and effective ways of marketing your taxi firm is using rolling billboards. These boards can be placed on the top of your taxi vehicles, designed with a special message and theme that perfectly reflects your own business. These boards will help expose your business to potential customers everyday and draw in more people wanting to use your taxi business.
Ensure that these billboards are being used to their full extent by including your company name, phone number, website/booking app and other information. Always ensure that such information is visible and easy to read.
