Your Automotive Marketing Specialists

  • Call us toll free! 877-958-4524

Your Automotive Marketing Specialists

  • Call us toll free! 877-958-4524
Digital to Dealer Direct

Category Archives: SPECIALIST CTA

Why Your Business Should Utilize LinkedIn for Hiring Ads

2 min read

LinkedIn is not your typical social media platform. With more than 930 million members in more than 200 countries, LinkedIn is a hub for professionals to network, connect and look for their next job opportunity. What better place to find qualified candidates for your dealership’s job opening when you’re looking to add to your team? Continue reading to learn why you should utilize this ever-growing platform to find your next hire.

Targeting the Right People

When posting a job, you’re likely looking for a very specific candidate with a particular background to fill this role. With LinkedIn, you no longer have to waste your time while unqualified candidates fill out your position’s application forms.  With LinkedIn, you can target an ideal candidate’s background, job experience, interests, and particular traits ensuring that your post is seen by the right people, even if they’re not searching.

Free Hiring Tools

You read that right. FREE! Maybe you have a position opening that needs to be filled but you’re in no huge rush to do so and don’t find it necessary to make an investment in finding this person, quite yet. With LinkedIn, you can share a job within your network and search for the right candidates within your existing connection circles. Maybe someone you know might know someone else who would be perfect for this position. As if you were to pay for a posting, you still have the ability to use high-level search features including job title and industry to target your ideal candidate. You can also start with a free job posting, if you’re not finding the candidates for the position, you can pay to promote down the line.

 Paid Hiring Tools

Much like a Facebook ad when looking to get someone to come to your dealership, LinkedIn allows you to create a sponsored job posting which will help get your posting seen by even more qualified candidates than just those in your networking circle. You set your budget and your posting will be seen on desktop and mobile on your targeted audience’s news feed, encouraging the right candidates to apply to your job. With 40+ advanced search filters, you can narrow down the candidates targeted for this position. This is a great feature if you’re looking to find the perfect candidate and fast!

All-in-One Management

With LinkedIn job postings, you can filter, sort, and prioritize your applicants as they come through. You can rate them based on their qualifications and LinkedIn will then recommend your job posting to others with qualifications similar to those applicants. Easily see which applicants meet your requirements and filter out those who don’t. You can also use this dashboard to reach out to applicants directly with a template or custom message.

With an array of free or paid options and a large networking database at your fingertips, LinkedIn job postings should be a no-brainer when it comes to finding your next employee! Not sure where to start? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your dealership with all of your marketing needs!

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Improving the Customer Experience with Digital Retailing

3 min read

Being in the digital age where most shoppers make their purchases online, customers are now expecting much more out of their car-buying experiences. The same ease they experience when purchasing groceries or clothing, they want to experience in the car buying process. All it takes is one bad experience to drive your customer to a competitor instead.

Traditionally, most dealerships focus on the physical showroom and what the customer’s experience is like in person. However, now not only do dealerships need to worry about the in-person experience but also their “digital showroom” where the customer can shop online for your new and used inventory as well as your service department. As customers are setting standards higher than ever, now is the time to focus on the ease and convenience of your “digital showroom” and we’re here to give you a few pointers on how you can improve your customer’s experience.

Find the Right Digital Retailing Platform

This is probably a given but the biggest factor in improving your customer’s experience with digital retailing is finding the right digital platform to support it all. When you’re selecting what automotive digital retailing platform your dealership will use, you want to ensure that deals go into your DMS, that it’s user-friendly, that numbers will be accurate and consistent, and that users can complete a transaction. The best platform will assist your in-store dealership team and improve the entire car buying process.

Online and Offline Showrooms

While so many things have changed in the automotive industry in the last several years, one thing is still clear – customers want transparency and honesty. When a dealership can communicate clearly and honestly, it builds that relationship with the customer. What does this mean for your dealership? Ensure that there is consistency between your online showroom and your digital showroom. If someone begins their car buying process online, make sure all the information remains the same if they decide to complete to process in person. The process should flow seamlessly without any obstacles. This can build trust and brand loyalty among your customers.

Integrate Your Website with Technology

While most consumers prefer to make purchases online, many automotive customers want that dealership experience, especially for any questions that may arise during and after the sales process. Technology such as 360-degree views of a vehicle that include the trim, colors, upholsteries, and more is a great way to enable customers to physically see what they’re purchasing. This digital integration gives them a chance to look at all the vehicle’s details as if they were right there in the showroom, without having to leave their couch.

In addition to 360-degree views, a live chat feature on your website is a great way to improve your customer’s digital experience. It provides that human element that may be missing in the digital retailing process. In real-time, customers can ask questions about a prospective vehicle as if they were in the showroom. Professional live support can keep a deal moving and provide instant insight when the customer needs it.

Additional Digital Tools

We talk about digital showrooms quite often when we’re talking about digital retailing but there are additional tools to institute into your dealership that will also improve the digital retailing experience. Companies such as Call Team Six, offer programs that can assist in contacting your vehicle prospects and convert them into sales. With these programs, customers or leads will be contacted via text message, emails and/or phone calls with a campaign you have selected. Your sales team can instantly respond to customers with videos and details of a vehicle they are interested in via text message. You can use their professionally trained BDC or integrate it within your existing one.

As the digital world continues to evolve there are more opportunities than ever for dealers to improve the customer experience throughout the car buying journey. If your dealership is looking to improve or build its digital footprint, let Digital to Dealer Direct assist you in the process. For more information, contact us today or download our Digital Retailing White Paper.

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Using Pinterest for your Car Dealership

3 min read

Using Pinterest for your Car Dealership

When one hears the mention of Pinterest one might think of craft projects, house décor, or dinner recipes, but what about Automotive Marketing? Probably not. However, Pinterest has a wide range of sources to help you sell more vehicles! “Pinners” are more influenced by the content they see – more than other social media platforms.

First, let’s look at some numbers to show which audience Pinterest targets. According to Sincro (Ansira), 430 million “Pinners” use Pinterest every month! 60% of those users are US Women, 3 in 4 of them being US moms. The household decision makers. Of the 430 million, 30 million are US men, using Auto as their top interest. 52% of these Pinners have a household income of $100k plus. 7 out of 10 Auto shoppers on Pinterest use it for final purchase decisions. That’s a whole lot of stats with high outcomes for your dealership.

Now that you have the numbers, I’m sure you’re thinking ok; but HOW? Other than needing to open a business account on the platform and set up billing etc., you can market in a few different ways.

Create Brand Awareness – this is your dealership’s narrative. Brand awareness on Pinterest should be done in a “Story Telling” way staring your real-time inventory and your dealer brand. Leverage reviews, photos, and service accessories. Using creative lifestyle imagery, showcasing how the vehicle enables a pinner to live a life they love.

Cultivate Consideration – This is the step that intersects between discovery and the decision. Reach people who are ready to buy a new or used vehicle and drive them to make that decision step. This will transfer you from the “who we are” to the “what we have”. You can introduce payments, and model levels. This creative would do best with interior/exterior shots, strong CTAs, and lease & APR offers.

Sales to Service – Target owners with helpful information about their vehicles or your services and accessories. Make sure to have a clear CTA encouraging the consumer to take action.

Optimize your Pinterest profile: Your Pinterest profile is the first impression potential customers will have of your dealership. Make sure your profile includes a high-quality profile picture, a clear and concise description of your dealership, and links to your website and other social media profiles.

Create boards for your inventory: Pinterest is all about organizing content into boards, so create boards that showcase your inventory. For example, you could create a board for new cars, used cars, luxury cars, or even seasonal cars (like convertibles in the summer). Make sure each board is visually appealing and easy to navigate.

Use high-quality images: Pinterest is a visual platform, so it’s important to use high-quality images that showcase your inventory in the best possible light. Make sure your images are well-lit and include multiple angles of the vehicle. You could also include lifestyle shots that show the car in action or in a beautiful setting.

Use keyword-rich descriptions: When you create a Pin, make sure the description includes keywords that will help potential customers find your inventory. Use descriptive language that highlights the features of the vehicle, such as the make and model, year, color, and mileage.

If you’ve never used Pinterest before, you search for different things from your main page which will populate what Pinterest thinks you want to see and target you based on the boards you have made. For example: Family Cars for large families. Pinterest also allows for multiple places where your ad or ads can appear. Starting on the home feed, this gives people ideas based on their interests. Next is in the search mode, giving people ideas based on keyword searches. Lastly in related pins, giving users similar ideas to a Pin they have already looked at.

Overall, Pinterest is definitely not just for household tasks and items. It has many ways to help market inventory or services you can provide as well! If you’re looking for help to get started, you’re in the right place! Digital to Dealer Direct can help you set up and optimize an account as well as manage a campaign for your dealership. Contact us online or call us today at 877-958-4524 to get started!

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The Importance of HTML Coding

3 min read

Emails are integrated into our lives – they are often checked multiple times throughout the day. It is important to learn about why and how emails are an effective source of communication from your dealership to customers and potential customers! With proper coding emails will be easy to view, links should direct viewers to appropriate sources, and supply data to your dealership on what content is interesting to your viewers.

The Foundation of Building an HTML

All emails start with coding behind them, it’s the foundational structure of an email. Email creative is put together to show what the completed email will look like when launched. Once the creative is approved by the dealership the process begins to build the HTML. The creative is broken down into individual slices, each slice will then be labeled and exported through Adobe Photoshop. These slices are our “building blocks” for when we build the HTML to the original format from the approved creative. Labeling is a critical step for later when we are building the HTML file. If the slice names are long and confusing it will be harder to remember what you named them, and the slices won’t load properly in the HTML file. When naming slices, it is also important that there are no spaces and that the labels are sensitive to capitalization, this will cause an error later when building the file. This can always be adjusted later, but it is better to get into a routine from the beginning to ensure there’s a system in place to save troubleshooting in the future.  

Once the slices are exported, they are then saved on a server host that holds all the images there. Adobe Dreamweaver is then opened and where the actual HTML coding process begins. Within the HTML file, it will be coded directly to pull the image slices from the server using the names that were previously labeled and placed into the HTML file into tables. Tables act like a group within the HTML file that keep the slices together, whether they are stacked on top of one another or side by side. This is an important step because if coded wrong the slices will show disorganized and not laying properly in an even column when a viewer scrolls down an email. Side-by-side slices always must be within their own table separate from slices stacked on top of one another.

When a viewer gets an email and they click on an image in an email, it typically brings them to a website. This is the next step in building an HTML. Once the slice is pulled from the server it gets attributes added to it. It will be coded in the HTML directly so that when a viewer clicks this one individual slice it will link to a URL, phone call, or email when applicable. Each slice will also get a UTM code, this code is highly useful for tracking the email. UTM codes show who is the sender, what type of email list the email is being sent to, and what email went out. Once an email is sent out this data will help show how many people opened what email and how many clicks each slice receives. This becomes useful data to evaluate the launched email and what seems to be drawing the most traffic to your dealership’s website. If the UTM code isn’t managed properly the data will be funneled wrong and will no longer be accurate. While this is certainly a lot of work, an individual or automotive marketing agency like Digital to Dealer Direct, who are properly trained in coding can get this done for you!

Get The Most Out of Emails

Building an HTML file has many steps and if not done accurately it won’t be successful to meet your dealership’s goals. Proper HTML formats and processes help an email look functional as well as provide useful data for your dealership. Take advantage of technology and spread your dealership’s specials through emails to all your current customers as well as protentional customers. D2D can manage everything from email campaigns, database marketing, BDC support and so much more. If you need help making sure your dealership emails stand out above the rest, contact us today!

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How to Maximize Your Dealership’s BDC Experience

3 min read

As inventory begins to become more readily available, and the automotive industry continues to evolve, so do the consumers. A dealership’s Business Development Center (BDC) has always served an important role in the sales processes across the dealership. Think of your BDC as an extension of your sales team, a jack of all trades that can be used for so much more, so let’s maximize what they can do for your dealership!

Proper Training

In any position, but especially BDC, it all comes down to proper training. Sure, they can learn a few scripts and how to role-play, but to fully maximize your BDC you want them to understand and meet the customers’ needs. As the world of car buying has changed over the last few years it is no longer about quantity but quality when it comes to leads. With the proper training, your BDC can convert those leads, getting them into the store and connecting them with your sales team. The BDC is a critical step in the car buying process, ensuring that they have the right training and understanding to get the job done will help create a seamless customer experience and get your dealership those sales.

According to the NADA, the average dealership spends approximately $64,000 per month on advertising but spends less than $1,000 per month to train their entire dealership. Placing more value on developing your team will only lead to success.

Proper Tools

Like any profession, your BDC will need to have the proper tools to enable them to succeed. Yes, a phone and computer are a good start, however, you also need to look at your dealership’s BDC process. Is your BDC equipped with goals and a realistic way to meet them? Are they involved in the weekly sales meetings and interacting with your sales team? Do they have a successful CRM service that will enable them to reach their goals? When the BDC has the proper tools, they can focus on bringing in those quality leads.

Clear Roles

There is nothing more confusing than having a position but not defining what their role and tasks are. The BDC department can have many roles in your dealership, so clearly defining what their roles are, what they should be accomplishing, and what they are responsible for is a key factor in maximizing your dealership’s BDC. You want to ensure that everyone from the dealer principal, GM, and managers, down to your sales team are on the same page about the role your BDC plays in the overall structure of your dealership. Giving them the support, they need ensures that clicks and calls become leads and sales.

More than Just New Car Sales

While you usually think of BDC for new car sales, why not maximize your BDC efforts in other areas of your dealership? Service departments can be a successful area to apply your BDC efforts. Not only could it help generate ongoing service revenue, but an upcoming service appointment could support new or used sales. They can identify a prospective trade or buy-back opportunity as well as someone coming to their lease end.

Promote Customer Retention

For any business, customer retention is huge. At a dealership, you always want to protect your customer base in the hope they will stay loyal to your brand. This is a perfect job for your BDC department by engaging with your loyal audience and using personalized messaging. By engaging with loyal customers, your BDC can help guarantee that your dealership is top-of-mind the next time your customer is back in the market.

While the automotive market is always changing and evolving, as an automotive digital marketing agency sending traffic and leads to the BDC, we need to be sure that your BDC departments do the same. BDC departments are no longer just note-takers hiding in the back broom closet cold calling potential leads. They are now one of the first impressions potential customers can have of your dealership, and so much more, why not maximize and make your BDC the best it could be.

Interested in how Digital to Dealer can help with your BDC? Contact us today to see how we can help your dealership!

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Why People Are Buying Electronic Vehicles and How to Market Them

3 min read

AMERICANS ARE BUYING MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES – WHY?

The underdog is up and coming – electric vehicles have soared to the top of the greatest trends in automotive. These past years there has been more and more interest peaked at the idea of buying an electric vehicle. Not only are they environment friendly – but cost effective. Americans want to reduce their carbon footprint, save money on fuel costs, and enjoy the quiet, smooth ride of an electric vehicle.

There have been many advancements of new technologies with electric vehicles. They are becoming more efficient, reliable, and affordable – making them a more attractive option than traditional gas-powered vehicles.

They have a significantly lower environmental impact. Electric vehicles do not contribute to air pollution or climate change. Additionally, electric vehicles are powered by electricity, which produce zero tailpipe emissions. Electric vehicles will help reduce our overall carbon footprint.

How EVs Can Save You Money

Although purchase prices tend to be higher with electric vehicles, everyday costs will be lower. American drivers tend to invest in a vehicle that will save them money on gas. Gas prices have been on a roller coaster this past year, and the idea of not having to worry about spending that money is a huge incentive towards buying.

They also require less maintenance than traditional gas-powered vehicles, which leads to a huge cost savings. Owning electric means, you never need an oil change, coolant flushes, and tune-ups. There are fewer moving parts which can help prevent parts failing and needing replacements. For someone who drives almost 15,000 miles per year, can expect to save an average of $600 per year on maintenance alone.

In addition, electric vehicles often qualify for federal tax credit and state and utility incentives, reducing the overall cost of ownership.

Who’s Buying EVs?

According to GetJerry.com, data found that millennials are more likely to purchase an electric vehicle. Second up are Generation Z, which 32% said they would drive one based on one thing – because they’re cool. EVs have stepped up their game, revamped their entire look, and are now catching the eyes of prospective buyers. 

With the improvements to the overall vehicle, and nationwide charging stations, 10% more Americans said they would “definitely” buy or lease an electric vehicle today than in 2020. EV sales rose 76% in the first quarter, compared with the same period last year.

From a demographic standpoint – males are more likely to hop on the EV trend over females. Younger adults are purchasing more than older adults. Americans with a higher education, higher household income, and who are living in urban areas are more likely to buy.

HOW TO EFFECTIVELY MARKET ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Digital to Dealer Direct (D2D) has worked to target several different audiences depending on brand, goal and trend. With the niche target audience of an EV buyer, marketing strategies has to be geared towards what will make those potential customers, want to buy. Knowing your audience is key and these buyers tend to be Millennial/Generation Z with higher incomes.

State The Facts.

These vehicles don’t work with the traditional automotive selling. This is not the audience or product for your average commercialized sales approach. It’s important to have EV specialist handling these types of sales. A lack of knowledge on potential EV benefits will lower the sales for these vehicles. Clear communication explaining the benefits of owning an electric vehicle will help guarantee the sale. OEMs need to step in to provide the correct training so that EV product “geniuses” can sell these vehicles the right way.

Prompt people to drive before they buy, so they fully understand the advantages that come with EVs. Converting from gas-powered vehicles to electric is a learning process. Demonstration in person is one of the best ways to bring EV sales up. Sometimes all it takes is a good teacher, and a test drive to convert someone to buy electric.

Make These Vehicles Present on Social.

People today tend to educate themselves via social media platforms. It is one of the easiest and quickest ways to get information across the masses. Having EV specials readily available on social will help build that customer relationship, and brand awareness. Continuing to create contact will help build a platform to reach more users.

Make videos. According to Think With Google, 80% of new automotive buyers took action after watching a video. There are many different types of videos you can create to engage with your viewers including highlights on features, demonstrations, test drives, vehicle walkarounds, how-to, ownership advantages, comparisons between charging and gas, and more! There are so many ways to educate and build brand awareness over social media videos.

Let these vehicles speak for themselves while incorporating all the benefits! If you’re looking for an automotive marketing agency to help get started, look no further! D2D is here to help. Shoot us an email or give us a call today at 877-958-4524.

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What Gen Z Looks for When Buying a Car

3 min read

To target your marketing, you need to know what demographic you want to reach and what will resonate with them. Of course, no one likes hidden fees, long wait times, or negotiating a better price, but there are certain characteristics that can be helpful when marketing to Gen Z buyers, specifically. Gen Z buyers are new to purchasing a car, so if your dealership handles the sale well, you could have a customer for life! At Digital to Dealer Direct (D2D), as an automotive marketing agency, we have decades of experience targeting buyer groups. 

Gen Z are those born between 1997 and 2012, or roughly 11 to 26 years old. It is becoming increasingly important to appeal to this generation, as half of them are now drivers. CDK Global surveyed over 1,100 people of all ages about the car buying experience and found that Gen Z ranked highest (81%) in wanting to take their time to understand all their options.

Some misconceptions about Gen Z:

    • They won’t have money for a luxury car.

      • Based on studies across generations, Gen Z was found to be more inclined to purchase a luxury car despite having less income. They don’t mind haggling the price, but they certainly don’t want to be hit with surprise fees.

    • They won’t want to purchase a car online.

      • Contrary to what you might think, the online generation actually has a harder time purchasing a car than Gen X or Millennials and want to be walked through the process of buying a car. They found online purchasing more difficult than purchasing a vehicle in person. This is likely because it is their first time purchasing a car and they are unfamiliar with the process.

Things to take into consideration when selling to Gen Z:

    • Be the expert. They want you to educate them.

      • More than any other demographic, Gen Z wants to work with a knowledgeable representative.

    • Don’t assume speed. They do not want to be rushed through the buying process. The most important element for Gen Z buyers is their ability to take their time and understand the car, fees, and process. Older generations tend to want to purchase their cars in a timely fashion, as this is not their first time.

      • Gen Z does not want to waste time waiting for a salesman or F&I manager or for delivery delays. Nor do they want to be hit with surprise fees. This is not unlike other demographics.

    • Limit Redundancy. There are many online tools available, and Gen Z has likely shopped online before coming into the dealership. Although they want the sales process to be thorough and informative, they have likely taken advantage on online credit applications, viewing inventory, and calculating interest rates prior to making their purchase in person. Dealerships should streamline their process to prevent Gen Z buyers from having to wait around for paperwork and approvals.

Gen Z, despite spending a vast amount of time online, wants to purchase a car in person, from an expert that can educate them on the car, the car’s features, and walk them through all the paperwork and insurance. This might be their first time purchasing a car and they appreciate someone who is knowledgeable about the experience to help make it seamless. They are new to the car buying experience and find it the most difficult. As a result, they are least likely to recommend their dealership experience.

Work with your automotive digital marketing agency to target these potential buyers and promote your transparency, excellent customer service and reputation to bring one of these buyers to your dealership. Since they do spend so much time online, digital marketing will be key and you’ll want to stand out from the competition with clean advertising and targeted campaigns. If you have questions on how to start advertising to this group, or any other targeted group of buyers, D2D is here to help. Call today or shoot us an email for more information!

Sources:

https://inspiramarketing.com/4-things-gen-z-hates-about-the-car-buying-experience/

https://www.autoweek.com/news/industry-news/a41317209/gen-z-car-buyers-arent-that-different-from-you-and-me/

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2023 Digital Trends

3 min read

The new year is a time for change, growth, and opportunity. Technology is transforming and becoming more and more integrated into our daily lives. As business owners, marketers, and civilians moving into 2023, we all need to be aware of the digital revolutions that are taking place around us. Google Analytics 4 is taking center stage in the new year in addition to artificial intelligence and the growth of visual content. At Digital to Dealer Direct, we are here to help you stay on top of the 2023 digital trends, so your dealership performs at its peak from day 1 to 365, and beyond!

Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

This July, Google will finally pull the plug on Universal Analytics, giving Google Analytics 4 its time to shine. Google has given users ample amount of time to set up GA4 accounts with the ability to capture year over year data, create new events, and explore the interface. GA4 is an event-based platform rather than its session-based predecessor. By focusing on events, we can see new metrics including Engaged Sessions, Events Per Session, Engagement Rate and many more. With less of a focus on just the quantity of users on the site and more of a focus on the quality of the user’s experience, will allow us, as advertisers and businesspeople, to provide the best possible user experience.

As an automotive digital marketing agency, D2D has already made the necessary steps to transition our clients to this new reporting platform. If your dealership needs any assistance setting up, learning about, or reporting with GA4, contact us today. We are happy to help!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

As we make advancements in technology, tasks become easier and more automated through artificial intelligence and machine learning. Artificial Intelligence is defined by Oxford Languages as “the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence.” A common example of this in your everyday life is Siri or Alexa. Machine learning takes this one step further, with “the use and development of computer systems that are able to learn and adapt without following explicit instructions, by using algorithms and statistical models to analyze and draw inferences from patterns in the data” as explained by Oxford Languages.

ML can take AI to the next level by learning, understanding, and predicting next moves through algorithms. One example of this technological advancement is self-driving cars with sensors and patterns to safely get people from one destination to another. Although many of these advancements seem like futuristic luxuries, the reality is that with the continuous use of these resources, they will grow and develop until they are fully immersed in our everyday lives.

Visual Content

It is not new that we are living in the visual age with smartphones, computers, and digital advertising everywhere we look. Short and compelling videos have taken over the internet with platforms like TikTok and Instagram. These platforms are flourishing due to the exorbitant amount of time users are spending on the platform. In 2022, users spent around 45 minutes a day on TikTok watching a variety of content and if you are not currently utilizing this space, it could be a missed opportunity.

Engaging visual content with tight messaging is the key on short form video platforms, as attention spans are dropping. Simplify brand messages, offers, and incentives to pull potential customers into your social media pages, and ultimately your website. Take that opportunity to expand on your promotions and obtain lead information to retarget to them in the future.

With more refined data tracking in Google Analytics, advancements in AI and ML, and to the point digital content, we can achieve things beyond our greatest dreams. If you would like to hear more about 2023 digital trend topics or how to structure a marketing plan for your dealership, we encourage you to reach out and speak to one of team members. Happy holidays and happy New Year!

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Preparing for Winter Service Specials

2 min read

With the cold weather approaching rapidly (and do I dare say snow) now is the time to push service specials and vehicle maintenance. The average person may not be aware of the overall change a vehicle must go through when the cold weather hits. Cold weather requires different maintenance to keep things running smoothly on your vehicle as well as staying safe on the road. Take the opportunity to educate your customers and push service specials specific to the maintenance of a vehicle during the winter before the cold front comes.

 Educating Your Customers

We can’t assume every person who gets their vehicle serviced may know the full maintenance of a vehicle during the different seasons. This brings us to the first step which is educating your customers about why it’s important to keep your vehicle service during the cold months. Your dealership can advertise a banner on your service specials landing page and/or a homepage banner. These banners can give some key points of service suggestions and as to why they are important. Once the banners are created with information your dealership can back it up by adding service specials specific to what should be done!

Service Coupons

Here are some key service factors to consider when creating service specials geared toward winter weather conditions:

    • Tire check
    • Brake check
    • Battery check
    • Fluids check

Tires are key in the snow to prevent slipping and sliding by checking the tire tread depth to ensure there is enough grip. This instance would be a perfect time for promote a special for snow tire changes, tire rotations and an alignment check. Following tires, brakes are equally as important to check if there’s enough material left on the brake pads to help stop adequately. This would be a prime opportunity to run a brake pad service special.

Another key component for winter vehicle service sure your battery is accepting a good charge and it’s not drained. Having a battery test done is essential to make sure the battery cells are still good. Cold weather can be hard for your battery and can make it work harder therefore your dealership can promote specials for battery testing and battery replacements.

Lastly, fluids are vital to make sure your engine is working properly. Antifreeze over time can break down and lose its ability to keep your engine at the proper temperature. Washer fluid is a necessity to keep visibility clear when the salt gets on your windshield. Hoses also should be checked as they can become brittle and leak over time in cold weather. Service specials to promote can include an antifreeze flush and a washer fluid refill.

Service

Wintertime is a prime opportunity to educate your customers on the importance of vehicle maintenance while pushing service specials to boost your service business. Don’t let this opportunity of the season changes pass you by and start pushing cold weather service specials! D2D has managed everything from targeted automotive service campaigns, email campaigns, conventional media and so much more. If you need help making sure your dealership stands out against your competition, contact us today!

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Top Reasons Your Dealership Needs Personalized Marketing

2 min read

Have you ever been in the market to make a purchase and felt like just another customer? The sales associate viewed you as another sale and paid little attention to what brought you there, to begin with. It’s never a good feeling and can deter you from making a purchase, so why would you want your dealership to feel that way? The answer should be that you don’t! When done correctly, personalized marketing can help you stand out from all the others and entice customers to buy from you. Continue reading and we’ll talk more about the benefits of personalized marketing.

Successfully Target the Ideal Customer

To make the sale, you need to understand your customer. What marketing experience will really grab their attention and influence their purchasing journey? By having this knowledge and data, you can gain better insight as to how you can best serve them. The more knowledge and transparency the salespeople have the more responsive and better chance of a sale. It also can foster brand loyalty for your dealership bringing them back again and again.

Stand Out from the Rest

Chances are that you’re not the only local dealership the customers have the option to purchase from. Personalized marketing can help you stand apart from those other dealerships which then leads to a better chance of a sale. If a potential customer receives the right message at the right time, there’s a good chance that prospect will make it to your showroom floor. Today’s shopper doesn’t just want just a good deal they want a great shopping experience. Personalized automotive marketing can give your dealership that advantage over those other guys who stick to traditional marketing efforts with little thought about their customer’s individual wants.   

Build Brand Loyalty

When you have a good experience at a business, you’re more likely to return and make a future purchase. With personalized marketing it doesn’t just stop at the first sale, it now becomes a valuable tool to continue improving and building upon that customer’s experience. You build up brand loyalty because you learn more about this customer each time they visit and ensure they have the same top-notch service each time they come through.

There are many benefits to personalized marketing for both the dealer and the consumer. The consumer feels like they were heard, you understand who they are, and what their needs are. It improves the purchasing journey for the consumer, and not only gets the dealership a sale but hopefully increases the chance of future sales. Not only can personalized marketing work for new and used car sales but can also increase revenue for the service drive as well.

Interested in how Digital to Dealer can help with your personalized marketing? Contact us today to see how we can help your dealership!

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