Marketing is one of the most essential practices for a dealership to have. The automotive industry has high competitors, and with the right marketing strategies in place, you can reach more of a target audience. There is a reason why so many businesses invest their money into marketing – because it works. See below for a few different must-have marketing strategies for Automotive dealerships.

Building Your Online Presence –

Having an online presence is very important for every business. Potential customers will look your business up online prior to visiting you in person. This is an easy way to show your customers who you are, and what doing business with you looks like. A few ways to start your online presence can be found below:

Website: Make sure your website is working properly with the correct information.

Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Google Business, Yelp.

Automotive Vendors: Automotive Marketing Agency, Cars.com, Edmonds, Carfax.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Pay-Per-Click (PPC or CPC), Paid Search –

These are all terms that are used to describe this strategy. The process involves bidding on keywords daily which will allow ads to show at the top of Google’s search results page. When you win the bidding war, and a user clicks your ad, you pay for each click on your advertisement.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) –

Do you ever wonder how the Google listing pages prioritize certain websites? One way to help bring your website to the top of Google’s search engine results page, is by utilizing SEO. Inserting keywords throughout your website and blog is one of the best strategies to help increase your spot on Google. Plus, it doesn’t come at an additional cost, there is no spending behind updating SEO content words across your website!

Social Media –

This type of marketing will give you the opportunity to connect with your audience in a much more personal way. It is a great opportunity for brand awareness and building your relationship with your customers. It gives you the freedom to advertise all different types of content. The goal is to produce engaging content to attract new users and continue your relationship with your current ones.

It is a great spot to announce dealership news, address common questions and concerns, provide walk-around videos for vehicles, inventory spotlights, car buying tips, and more. The best practice for social media is to stay consistent.

Personalized Marketing –

To utilize this strategy, you must really understand your clientele. Know exactly what your buyer is looking for, and what their concerns may be. You can personalize marketing directly to that client by using emails, promotions, and targeted ads.

Digital Marketing (Google Vehicle Ads, Retargeting, Paid Ads for Social) –

While everything here really falls under the Digital Marketing umbrella, these are a few specially targeted campaign types we have seen evolve over the years as an automotive digital marketing agency. The car-buying experience often starts online. Campaigns such as Google Vehicle ads will allow your inventory to populate at the top of Google’s listing page after a user inserts a catchphrase. It can be as simple as “New Cars Near Me”, and your available vehicles will populate.

Retargeting ads will follow the consumer around their web experience and populate your ads within the websites they are currently on. This helps keep you relevant within the users mind and can draw them back to your website.

Paid ads for social media can increase the leads directly funneling into your CRM. This allows you to target the right user at the right time. You can promote specials, lease prices, promotions or anything that would draw a potential costumer in.

Email Marketing –

Email marketing is a great way to interact and engage with potential customers and existing customers. Start by building your target audience and create your email templates. You can send personalized information, monthly specials, dealership announcements, or whatever you are looking to promote. This will help build long-term relationships.

Offering Promotions/Sales Specials –

This is going to be something that can really differentiate you from your competition. Having your own sales messaging, and promotions for your inventory will give potential customers the incentive to work with you. You can also target your repeating customers with customer loyalty programs.

Website/Mobile Marketing –

Having a user-friendly website is key to keeping customers on your page. Many people want a simple car buying experience, and that starts with your website. Today, many users are mobile. Make sure that you utilize your website for mobile users and make it as easy as possible.

Encourage Customers to Leave a Review –

Building your reputation online can increase bringing in new customers and new sales. It is important to have high ratings, and to keep up with your reputation management. Not everyone will only have good reviews, but replying and engaging with negative reviews can help tremendously. Acknowledging someone’s bad review and trying to fix the situation has a good reflection on your company.

Team Training/Responding to Customers Leads ASAP –

The last tip for boosting your dealership sales is to ensure your sales team knows what you are marketing and is on board with continuing that marketing in-person. Having your team trained to answer the leads that funnel through to your marketing as soon as possible will increase the closing of that deal.One of the easiest ways to handle your marketing is to hire an automotive marketing agency. At Digital 2 Dealer we offer many different services that will bring in additional leads and traffic to your website. Contact us today for an online marketing assessment.