Taxis can become incredibly illusive when we most need them. Around London crimes are reported each year as people are forced to use unlicensed taxis. In rural areas it can also be difficult at times to find a reliable or even any taxi service.

Whether you’re trying to find a taxi or trying to help people find your taxis then look no further!

Online

If you would like to pre book a taxi then there are sites on line providing information.

The cheekily titled "Where 2 Guv" does this. The site is set out in a similar format to the National Rail Enquiries website and asks you a set of questions to help you plan your journey. You can select your nearest train station or airport or perform a postcode search to find any location in the UK. You can use the service to make advance bookings to check availability of services and arrange a return trip if necessary.

The site is easy to use and brings results back almost instantly. Larger fleets of taxis can join the site and offer services by following the buttons on screen.

Text Service

Some companies in Britain also offer regional text services for when you are out and about. When you send a text message to one of these services your call will be traced to find your exact location. You then receive a text back with a list of taxi firms closest to your current location to choose from.

At present there are only a few of these services operating. Some are run by promotions companies whereas others are run by local councils and authorities to reduce the number of vulnerable people on the streets late at night. Lewisham region provides a text service. The details can be found here.

To find out if there is a similar scheme in your area contact your local council for more details. Businesses can also contact these services to promote themselves. A system is usually in place to randomize the results so if you operate in a competitive area don’t be deterred.

Word of Mouth

As with all businesses word of mouth is one of the simplest and most effective marketing tools available. If you are looking for a taxi and you are in a busy place such as a pub or club then don’t be afraid to ask people there for recommendations. If you shop around then you may get a cheaper fare. You may also find someone to share a taxi with which may get you a substantially cheaper deal.

If you are running a taxi firm then this is also worth bearing in mind. A lot of people enjoy a bit of banter with taxi drivers so encourage (if needed!) your drivers to talk to the customers a lot. You could offer incentives such as a bonus system for returning trade or customer satisfaction surveys to record happy drivers. Arranging social events for staff may also work. If your drivers are grumpy they are less likely to want to chat to your customers!

Public Hotspots

Areas like bus stations, airports, supermarkets and cinemas are common places where people need to get to and from. If you are in one of these places then you should be able to find business cards or flyers near to reception. Many train stations and airports in particular have free phones which can only call out to local services such as bed and breakfasts and taxi firms. If you can’t find any details then don’t be afraid to ask members of staff for assistance. They should be pleased to help as it is a good way of providing extra customer service.

If you are looking to promote your taxi firm then public places like this are a great place to pick up a bit of extra custom. If you work up a good relationship with reception staff then they may be prepared to go a little further to recommend you’re firm to prospective customers. If you have a hackney carriage licence then areas like these are definite hotspots for picking up custom particularly at the weekend.