2 min read In today’s digitally driven world, the automotive industry is no exception to the power of online marketing. Car dealerships stand to benefit greatly from the countless services offered by automotive digital marketing agencies, like Digital to Dealer Direct. With consumers increasingly turning to the internet to research, compare, and purchase
2 min read SEO is one of the most efficient marketing strategies to gain high-quality traffic and leads to your website. It stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it aims to improve your website’s position on the search result pages.
3 min read With March ending and April just around the corner, spring is on our minds. Help get the spring season started with Trails Day! Trails Day is the fourth Saturday in April, and it helps encourage people to get outside and explore nature. This is a perfect opportunity to showcase advertising
3 min read Spring has sprung! The days are getting longer, the birds are chirping, people are out enjoying the warmer weather. The best part of Spring for you, is selling cars! During this season it can be an excellent opportunity to get greater sales and more service appointments, as many people are
2 min read On February 11th, over 100 million people tuned in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers. Whether you are watching for the love of the game or the love of entertainment, there was no disappointment. With 30-second spots costing a whopping $7 million, advertisers had
2 min read Once again, we headed out to Las Vegas to uncover what really happens there when thousands of dealership and vendor personnel take to the convention center. This year’s NADA show was a unique one brimming with energy and information, especially for those of us entrenched in the world of automotive
2 min read Benefits of Buying Pre-Owned Most people get excited over the newest vehicle launch, but what about prior year models? Some people love them, and some people won’t even consider them. However, there are so many benefits of buying pre-owned that your customers may not even realize. Start by educating your
2 min read 2024 has officially arrived! Whether you were counting down the days to a new year or not, there is something to be said for this feeling of a fresh start, new beginnings and new opportunities. We asked some of the team what they’re looking forward to here at D2D in
3 min read As someone who has been in the digital marketing industry for close to 20 years, and specifically within the automotive space for more than a decade, I have seen the changes in expectations, data and tracking evolve over that time. As we step into 2024, I think it’s important to
4 min read 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
3 min read Drivers often postpone repairs and services until the weather gets warmer, when their wallets aren’t so stretched from the holidays. This means your advertising tactics need to focus on auto repair winter specials that entice drivers to come out of hibernation. ü Start early with social media. Cars tend to
4 min read One common mistake when it comes to companies and their marketing is not utilizing a blog on their platform. Blogs bring many benefits like gaining more traffic to your website, building your brand online and strengthening your relationship with your customers. It is a very important form of content marketing
3 min read The holiday season is a magical time of the year, filled with joy, festivities, and of course, gift-giving. As we enter the holiday season, the way we shop and market our products is continually evolving. With 60% of consumers becoming hybrid (online and in-store) shoppers this Christmas, and 87% of
3 min read It is hard to watch TV shows and movies without seeing the automotive industry represented. For decades cars like the 1959 Cadillac from Ghost Busters, the Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo, and the 1961 Ferrari from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, are just some of the iconic vehicles that drove onto the
2 min read In today’s digital world, it’s pretty much a must for any successful business to have some sort of online presence. With so many tools and platforms available, making the right decisions for your dealership can be overwhelming and quite challenging. Just like you’re an “expert” in your area of expertise,
3 min read If you were told 20 years ago that we would have close to 2 million electric vehicles on the road today, would you have believed them? Fast forward and here we are in a world where electric vehicles are becoming a popular option for car buyers today. Almost all manufacturers
3 min read Like it or not, Labor Day is headed our way in just a couple of weeks which marks the unofficial end of summer as kids head back to school and cooler temps await us. So, it’s officially coming: Fall! This selling season might look unlike anything we’ve seen before, and
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
3 min read Have you ever been in a marketing meeting and been thinking, “what are they talking about? This sounds like another language!”. You are not alone! The marketing, advertising, and public relations industries use a variety of abbreviations when talking about strategies, metrics, and tools. We understand this can be confusing
4 min read It’s hard to believe that we are more than halfway through 2023 already! During this year, like all other years, we see many changes, life events, entertainment, news and the changes to the auto industry. The auto industry has continued to evolve and adapt to emerging technologies and consumer preferences.
3 min read If you’re a dealership owner or GM, it is crucial to have a Google My Business page. If you’re not familiar with this platform, it is a business listing within Google. It is a snapshot of your business that points out your best features and allows customers to engage with
3 min read The bees are buzzing, ocean waves are crashing, the sun is shining, and more vehicles are on the road than ever – it must be summer! With warmer weather, the summer becomes a busy season for many people wanting to purchase a new vehicle with trips to take and places
3 min read The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is cracking down on the automotive industry and that requires dealerships, advertisers, and consumers to adapt to how cars are sold. Hidden fees, misleading messaging and other deceitful practices have been on the FTC’s radar in the past few years, and they are working on
3 min read Google Analytics 4 Updates Google Analytics 4, more often referred to as GA4, is Google’s newest analytics tool that will soon be replacing Google’s current platform, Universal Analytics. Continue reading to see what you need to know about the launch of GA4, its capabilities and connections. Official Launch Come July
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
5 min read There are many benefits to hosting a dealership event. They can drive traffic to your dealership, build brand awareness, increase future sales, bring in potential new customers and repeat customers. Events will also help strengthen your relationship with the community and give you the opportunity to give back. Event marketing
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
3 min read There is no question that we are living in the digital age and social media consumption is growing. Having a strong, consistent, and cohesive brand on social media will help you stand out from competitors and provide your customers with information about who you are and what they can expect
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
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
3 min read If I had to sum it up in one sentence, I would say NADA 2023 was like a virtual reality trip into the future. Most sessions and discussions focused on things that were once only a thought that are now in play or in the very near future! If you
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
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,
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
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
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,
4 min read How do you drive business to your dealership and build brand loyalty? Trust. There are ways that dealerships can build trust with the modern car buyer to enhance their reputation. Unfortunately, car salesmen don’t have a great reputation. A 2020 Gallup Poll found that only 7% of consumers trust car
3 min read Digital Dealer Vegas 2022 was hands down one of the most session intense Digital Dealer’s I’ve attended! The expo hall seemed quiet when the sessions were running, and people were getting turned away at the door because the sessions were full! I don’t know about you, but I’ve never experienced
3 min read DigitalMarketing.org defines a target audience as “a group of people defined based on their common characteristics such as demographics and behaviors.” Understanding and marketing towards that target audience needs to be a strategic and well-thought-out process. At Digital to Dealer Direct, we are here to help you discover and build
6 min read Do you want to increase visits to your service shop? Do you want to sell more cars and increase foot traffic to the sales floor? A good way to increase visits to your store is to educate the consumer. Imagine that the young professional that just bought their first new
4 min read A prospective buyer walks into your dealership with 3 kids in tow and you can tell right away they need a good family car. In the past, you might’ve sold a car based on the “fun factors” or special features. When it comes to selling and how to market a
3 min read In any business that you’re in, good customer service is a key element when dealing with clients from start to finish. You want to exceed their expectations, build strong, long-lasting relationships, and give yourself an edge over the competition. By following a few simple tips, you and your team will
3 min read Labor Day is right around the corner, and this year it’s more important than ever before to take some time to think about how you’ll advertise your dealership for the holiday. In previous years it seemed simple. You’d get your lowest leases, and your marketing agency would come up with
3 min read It’s no secret that in recent years, competing and surviving in the automotive industry has become, to say the least, increasingly challenging and complex. Customer loyalty and customer retention is the foundation for all dealership operations. To succeed in the automotive market, you need to emerge from the crowd, and
3 min read A customer’s car search starts with online research before heading into the dealership. 80% of consumers start their search with a different manufacturer in mind than the brand they buy. Many users are utilizing digital, and there’s a huge market for buying vehicles online. Anything is at your fingertips now with online
2 min read Relationships between clients and agencies are key because, without a good relationship, projects may not be done as well as they could be. Looking into what makes an ideal client-agency relationship relies on knowing each party involved and good communication. If the client doesn’t understand the agency, and vice versa,
3 min read Auto OEMs or “Original Equipment Manufacturers” are the official and genuine parts created directly by the vehicle’s maker; however, some in the automotive industry have taken to referring to car companies themselves as OEMs. Like any company, each OEM has their own guidelines they must follow from start to finish.
3 min read Are you or your automotive advertising agency currently running a campaign that isn’t performing up to your standards? Campaign maintenance is just as important as the initial build of the campaign. Once your campaign is live and begins to collect data, the algorithm starts to fine tune your settings to
3 min read From May 9th – 11th dealers from around the country gathered at the Tampa Convention Center to network, learn, and grow at the Digital Dealer Conference. From keynote speakers, breakout sessions and meetings with exhibitors, there is a wide spectrum of knowledge to break down. A variety of topics from
3 min read Social media has taken the front seat in the marketing world for most businesses and has a large impact on how others view said company. When it comes to social media, not only do you want to increase the size of your following, but you also want to increase engagement
3 min read Everyone knows how vital customers are to your dealership, where would your dealership by without them? Fun fact: every third Thursday of January, April, July, and October is Get to Know Your Customers Day! This national day is annually and is a great reminder to get out of the same
3 min read Your reputation is how people view you and your brand. This is prompted by your online presence and your online reviews. This is how the internet interprets you and your dealership. A lot of different components go into what makes up your reputation. Reputation management is the effort to influence
4 min read After more than a year away, NADA Show was once again live and back in action in the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas! From Thursday, March 10th to Saturday, March 12th professionals from every aspect of the automotive world gathered at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This year, there
3 min read People are creatures of habit and thrive on consistency which includes advertisements, commercials, brands, and products. You may be asking what this has to do with your dealership, but this makes a huge impact on how you present your dealership. Customers want to be able to recognize your dealership which
4 min read Reviews can make or break any company’s online reputation, but car dealerships can really rely on what others are saying. They have a considerable impact on bringing your dealership and brand credibility. A majority of people will do research before choosing which dealership to go to. Reading reviews take up
3 min read A blog, in 2022? Even though you’re reading one now, I’m sure you’re thinking that this sounds so 2000’s but hear us out! Your digital marketing is flowing, your website looks great, your digital ads are performing well. I’m sure the last thing you want to do is add another
3 min read If you run or work in a car dealership you know that inventory levels have essentially turned this business on its head for the last year. With chip shortages causing major manufacturing delays in 2021, this has trickled down to cause delays in just about everything in the automotive world.
3 min read It is without a doubt that the automotive sector is a larger player within the entertainment industry. The DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to the Future, the red Ferrari 250 GT from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and the infamous Cadillac Miller-Meteor from Ghostbusters are just a few of the iconic cars
3 min read Well, it’s been another crazy year, so to wrap it up with our last blog of 2021, we are having some fun! We’ve compiled some great throwbacks from earlier in the year and years past. From old cars to automotive ads and even some blogs you might want to revisit,
3 min read Ultimate Resources If you’re in charge of marketing at a dealership, you might be struggling with the decision to hire various vendors vs. one agency. There can certainly be benefits to both, but being an automotive digital marketing agency, we are going to provide you with some of the key
4 min read Looking to get successful website conversion that converts visitors into leads? If so, you’ve some to the right place! Fortunately, it doesn’t take a mastermind to figure this out, only a few basic rules to follow. Lucky for you, we’ve put together some of the most important tips for you
3 min read Can you believe it…2022 is just around the corner! With all the changes in the digital marketing world in 2021, we can only expect that we will continue to be adapting as we move into the new year. As we take a look back at this past year, Apple IOS
3 min read It’s hard to believe another year has passed and we are starting to prep for the new year. With all of the obstacles thrown at us in these past few years, such as COVID and chip shortages, we are hopeful we’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel.
4 min read The Digital Dealer Conference in Las Vegas last week was a great reminder of an industry coming together to learn and grow like it hasn’t been able to in years. If you were in attendance, you might agree the primary focus was to align dealerships with an even faster changing
3 min read It’s that time of year again where it’s getting darker earlier, the days are shorter, and the temperatures are getting cooler in most places. Within a few short months we will be at the end of 2021 and welcoming 2022. Crazy, right?! With that being said now is the time
5 min read If you’re running email campaigns as part of your automotive digital marketing strategy, you might be wondering how to get more out of your email marketing. There are some ways to improve email marketing success, and we’ve compiled them here for you. UTILIZE YOUR SUBJECT LINE & PRE-HEADER TEXT The
3 min read In the digital age, having a central hub to find all of your brand’s content is so important and can help you stay ahead of the curve with events, vehicle launches, social media and more! Luckily for you, most brands have an asset website to help you stay on brand
3 min read With summer coming to an end, also brings the crunch time for the last push for vehicle sales in the summer. It’s no doubt this summer has been an usual one with inventory issues, but it’s still a popular buying time if you have a car customers wants! Dealerships can
3 min read It is a common debate whether dealerships should use different vendors because they liked what multiple companies had to offer for specific solutions, or if they should stick to the “one stop shop” method. A lot of the times, dealerships sign on with multiple companies because they want to have
3 min read It has been a little over a year since the entire world turned upside down because of a little thing called the Coronavirus. While the world is slowly returning back to some level of normalcy, many people and businesses are still feeling the impact. The automotive industry is certainly no
3 min read SEO stands for search engine optimization which is the driving factor for organic (aka unpaid) traffic to your website. There are many factors that play a part in aiding a positive organic rank including site copy, internal and external links, site security and site responsiveness. One important factor in ranking
3 min read To the outside world automotive advertising might seem simple: We are cheaper and better, so buy a car here! However, those of us in the automotive industry know it is much more complicated than that. If you’ve been pitched by advertising companies or have been to an automotive conference, you
3 min read Living in a digital world has the same impact as living in a busy city. Everyone and everything is moving at high speed. Sometimes it can be a challenge to stand out in an environment like that. Digitally, it is the same. People are bouncing around from website to website
3 min read Have you ever found yourself asking: How can I keep up with the everchanging website technology? If you have, then Website Watchdog may be right for you! In this blog, we’re going to dive deeper into what our product, “Website Watchdog”, offers, and what it means to have someone actually
3 min read If you’re a dealership owner or manager, then you’ve probably dealt with advertising compliance for your store(s) as it’s a major component to ensuring that you receive your COOP funds, but did you know that there is a difference between Brand Compliance and Legal Compliance, and the two actually have
3 min read Earth is our home and collectively we need to protect, preserve, and restore it. April 22nd is Earth Day, a day to celebrate the anniversary of initiating environmental change. Earth Day is a reminder that caring for our planet needs to be ongoing because change does not happen in a
4 min read Taking advantage of the conveniences of online shopping has become the new normal. Nothing is out of the ordinary when it comes to buying online anymore. Access to almost anything is at our fingertips. From clothes, furniture, and groceries to your next vehicle. Many people automatically imagine themselves visiting a
3 min read As a 21st century car dealer, you’re undoubtedly familiar with Google’s core advertising products and offerings. You pour thousands of dollars per month into SEM campaigns to capture audiences searching for your products and display banner ads to capture the in-market audience traffic after they’ve moved on to another web
3 min read Let’s face it, we have all been there. You see something online and want to print it out all just to get a shock as it looks nothing like what you have on your computer. This can become a frustration between dealerships and their automotive digital marketing agency if not
4 min read As we all know, consumers are on their phones now more than ever and spend a considerable amount of time on social media. According to DigitalMarketing.Org, on average, we spend approximately 2 and a half hours per day on social media. That means you have an ample amount of time
4 min read As we move out of 2020 looking forward to a (hopefully) brighter future, getting back in front of your customers is the number one priority for every dealership. Just as 2020 has changed the sales landscape, it’s changed the trajectory of advertising as well. For all its pitfalls, 2020 also
3 min read We’ve written many blogs here about the impact COVID-19 has had on the automotive business including advertising and inventory. However, there’s one big change that many dealerships were not prepared for and that’s working from home. When the initial shutdown happened almost a year ago (how is THAT possible?), many
3 min read Well, here we are. 2021 has finally rolled around and to say we aren’t anywhere where we thought we would be is an understatement. Who would have guessed we would have more COVID cases than ever before, inventory would still be low, and so much would still be unknown? Well,
3 min read Do you struggle with coming up with relevant content to create or share with your customers that isn’t all about sales? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there! Content marketing is an effective way for your dealership to create and share content across platforms, engage with existing customers, and encourage potential
3 min read Social media is a digital tool that was designed to allow users to quickly create and share content. Social media platforms have expanded from being utilized for an individual only to becoming an important part of marketing for businesses of all sizes. Today, creating a social media account for your
4 min read A few seconds – that’s all it takes to catch someone’s attention and keep it. Does your automotive advertising make those few seconds count? When designing automotive advertising you have to think about fonts, colors, and photography to create emotion and interaction with your target audience while creating overall cohesion.
3 min read The New Year is just around the corner which means it is already time to start thinking about 2021 advertising. At the end of each year, it is important to review what really worked for your dealership, and what maybe didn’t so you know what you will want to carry
3 min read People love the latest and greatest in every aspect in their lives, so why not bring that concept into your dealership? Use a new vehicle launch or a re-designed vehicle to your benefit! A new vehicle concept or launch is a perfect time to draw attention to your dealership and
4 min read 2020 has definitely been a year no one is going to forget anytime soon. The one good thing we all have going for us in 2020 is we’re finally approaching the end of it! Q4 is usually a period of time where dealers are gearing up for their last big
4 min read Since mid-March, the automotive world has been operating at a much difference pace than we are used to due to the Coronavirus. While things are not 100% back to normal, there definitely is a “new normal”. These times of uncertainty have been a learning experience for dealerships and their agencies,
3 min read Online car buying was on the top of everyone’s mind when the COVID lockdowns began. When news came that face to face transactions were no longer possible factories sprang into action mandating that dealers have their online buying capabilities up and functional to keep business moving during the pandemic. As
4 min read It’s not news to anyone that Covid-19 has changed our world forever. It’s changed the way we work, the way we socialize, and the way we shop. Like all other business sectors, the automotive world was rocked in early March when Covid started hitting the country hard. OEM brands like
3 min read When the world shut down almost six months ago, so much of the way we live was impacted. These changes trickle down to the very cars on your lot… or, I should say NOT on your lot. As manufacturers across the world shut down, inventory development came to a screeching
4 min read Social Media became a major part of dealer’s marketing strategies in the last decade and continues to be a front and center part of everyone’s daily life. As Social Media evolves to maintain audience interests, so must advertisers to stay front and center. In this blog we’ll discuss the biggest
< 1 min read Over the past few months Digital to Dealer Direct has collected some data that create a timeline of COVID-19 and how it related to the automotive industry.
3 min read While we know paid marketing efforts increase sales, such as Search Engine Marketing, Facebook Lead Ads and Conquest Email Blasts (just to name a few), the organic side of marketing is often neglected – and usually more affordable! “Organic” is a term that describes the process of getting people to
3 min read In the automotive industry transparency is the core of establishing a great relationship between dealerships and customers. Transparency is so critical because customers in the automotive industry are particularly focused on their overall car purchasing experience now more than ever before. Customers want to be genuinely informed throughout the process
4 min read COVID-19 has changed the way the world works on a fundamental level more than any other event in our lifetimes. It changed the way we shop, the way we socialize, the way we view our jobs, our friends, our loved ones and more. As business resumes from the pandemic that
3 min read Maybe you know the team and our philosophy at D2D very well, but if you’re reading this, chances are you don’t! If you don’t, we won’t hold it against you. Now is the time for you to learn all about what makes D2D stand out in a sea of automotive
2 min read In the extremely competitive and always evolving automotive industry, we are all looking for ways to come out on top. We want to find the perfect strategies to give us the advantage over our competition, stay sharp with our knowledge, and know what’s to come. In an age where communication
3 min read The automotive industry is certainly experiencing some interesting trends right now, but there is one thing we know for sure. The summer selling season is quickly approaching, and you need to be ready to capture potential customers over the next 3 to 4 months. While it’s true summer has some
3 min read Google Analytics is a fixture in every dealer’s arsenal of reporting. It allows you to monitor your web traffic in real time, keep track of your advertising portfolio’s performance, and optimize your website for conversions. With a seemingly infinite number of possible reports capable of being generated it can get
4 min read As automotive marketers, we get asked this question a lot and at first glance, you would think it’s a no brainer to use your website provider for your digital marketing. They already manage many aspects of your online presence and offer many of the automotive digital marketing solutions you would
5 min read There are many different important factors when it comes to automotive marketing. Customer value is an automotive marketing trend that should be discussed and focused on, and here’s why. The internet and mobile devices have transformed a customer’s auto purchase journey. The internet has made it possible for customers to
3 min read Like or not, there has been a definite shift in the way things are working in our world right now. The novel Coronavirus has turned everyone’s lives a little upside down, and for now, we are all adjusting to the new normal. So, the big questions for a lot of
4 min read Your website is arguably one the most important assets your dealership has. This day in age, if someone wants more information on your dealership, they will search your name with just the touch of their fingertips and your website is there for them to freely browse on. Which is why
4 min read If Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction is correct, it looks like we’re in for an early spring (hallelujah!). That means warmer weather is right around the corner, which is amazing news for auto dealers. Automotive sales are strongly guided by weather and time of the year, and the same goes for your
4 min read Ever see the magic word “SALE” come across your email from your favorite clothing or sporting goods store? As an experienced shopper, I will never buy anything full price. I will usually always wait until I receive that email or see on their website a sale is going on. You
4 min read The start of a new year means the automotive industry is eager to begin strong with new incentives and sales which can led to new opportunities. It is crucial for a dealership to know how to effectively relate these new year tactics to their customers. One of the best ways
3 min read Gone are the good ‘ole days of a family finishing up a pizza on a Friday night, running to the living room, and plopping in front of the TV in anticipation of the much awaited TGIF lineup consisting of Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, and Perfect Strangers (…I
4 min read Google is always honing and updating their Google Ads platform to be more efficient, targeted and quality driven. Staying on top of these changes and utilizing them to their fullest potential is crucial for any advertiser, especially those in the aggressive and competitive automotive marketplace. Here are the top recent
2 min read In 2020, mobile advertising is more important than ever. According to ZDnet.com, the average American now spends 5.4 hours per day browsing their phone at home and on the go. Smartphones have become the primary gateway to the world, and advertisers continue to develop clever ways to reach the masses
3 min read The automotive business is no stranger to lead providers. At any given time, you can probably sign up for about a dozen different providers depending on what you’re looking for. From used cars and new cars, to trade-ins and service, there is certainly no shortage. However, there comes a point
3 min read Whether you’re the Service Director or the GM, you know how vital the service department can be to the overall health to your dealership. The service department is often the largest source of revenue for a dealership, and yet, it often falls by the wayside when it comes to advertising.
4 min read Each year, we plan New Year resolutions or prepare for a fresh start in some aspect. 2020 is just around the corner so it’s time to start thinking about your new sales and marketing goals for the New Year. If you start your planning now, you’ll have a better chance
3 min read Like it or not, 2019 is coming to a close. If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably in the automotive industry which means that’s good news. It’s good news because year-end sales can be a huge boost for overall annual sales goals and mean a big finish for car dealerships.
4 min read The term “CTA” is nothing new to the marketing world. In fact, it’s probably one of the oldest marketing terms out there. The whole point of marketing is to get consumers to purchase your product or use your service — a strong call to action (CTA) will help do just
3 min read Advertising for your service center can be one of the trickiest campaigns to pull off successfully. Service customers usually have fewer indicators that they’re in market than car buyers as the purchase window for a service is considerably shorter than it is for a new or used vehicle. In addition
3 min read Retargeting has become a mainstay in digital advertising, and for many a blanket term to refer to all digital display advertising. The premise of retargeting is simple: take a prospect who has engaged in a qualifying activity, and “retarget” them with advertisements as they browse the internet. Most commonly, retargeting
4 min read As you may know, Black Friday is known as one of, if not, THE biggest retail sales days of the year. When consumers see those two words, they immediately connect them with huge savings. Companies like Walmart, Target, and Macy’s, for example, over-saturate the media with their sales messages to
2 min read Reputation plays a huge role in the success of your dealership. Now, more than ever, potential customers are considering the experiences of their peers before deciding where to buy a car. Whether new or used, customers are referring to reviews on Google, DealerRater, and Facebook to help steer them in
4 min read It seems as though auto dealers, as I’m sure many other retail segment managers and owners, are always looking for a magic pill to make their dealership more successful over their competitors. Whether that means leads, sales, web traffic, etc., the thought of “more” is the key component when choosing
2 min read In today’s advertising, you may be asking yourself, “Is traditional advertising still effective?” We’re here to tell you it is and that traditional and digital advertising can be friends, even teammates! Read on for a few tips on how to make conventional media work for dealership and how to tie
3 min read If you missed Digital Dealer 27 in Las Vegas, we’ve got you covered. There were a lot of great sessions with tons of information and stats, but the main themes of the conference – Digital Retailing and Customer Experience! Read on to get your recap of what both mean for
2 min read Your CRM is one of the most valuable tools you have at your dealership. It’s full of not only customers, but it also contains tons of information you might be overlooking. The CRM from your service department is a great example. Do you know how many customers purchased from the
4 min read An SEM campaign is an essential part of all modern dealership marketing plans and has become a staple in any marketing conversation. Dealerships jockey for top position on all the hot queries daily and spend considerable amounts of money for each click. SEM can be an extremely fertile ground for
4 min read You probably remember when conquest mail marketing was the “next best thing.” It’s certainly become a very popular method of advertising, which has some dealerships questions whether it’s still worth it. The answer is it definitely can be! What does conquest mean? Conquest in the automotive world refers to automotive
3 min read End of summer means that the kids are getting ready to go back to school, our long summer nights are coming to an end, and of course, it means model year end sales events at your dealership. It’s the time to clear out the current year models to make room
2 min read Working with dealers throughout the region, we often hear similar questions regardless of the brand, the area, or the dealership structure. One of those common questions is “How many leads should my dealership be getting?” It’s a good question to ask, because you want to have the right structures in
< 1 min read Window signs. Desk Signs. Posters. It is often an overlooked piece of advertising. They all have a purpose in your dealership and we’re here to give you some ideas of how they can help you!
4 min read Window signs. Desk Signs. Posters. It is often an overlooked piece of advertising. They all have a purpose in your dealership and we’re here to give you some ideas of how they can help you! Advertising In Your Dealership Imagine you walk into a store with no posters. No signs.
4 min read It’s no surprise that in 2019 people are doing more online research before making purchases. People in the market for a house, spend hours on end researching options on sites like Zillow and Trulia, investigating the neighborhoods, schools, night life, etc. Planning a trip this summer? Just go online and
4 min read Bounce rates were one of the earliest Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in web analytics, and a metric that many manufacturers zero in on for car dealers. Everyone has heard their manufacturer rep broach the topic of bounce rates, and perhaps you keep a close eye on your own. The prevalence
< 1 min read Bounce rates were one of the earliest Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in web analytics, and a metric that many manufacturers zero in on for car dealers. Everyone has heard their manufacturer rep broach the topic of bounce rates, and perhaps you keep a close eye on your own. The prevalence in the industry of the bounce rate metric has caused some less than true perceptions to spring up surrounding it and its relevance to your website health. While some myths have a kernel of truth to them, many are not based in reality.
4 min read Top Tips for Managing Co-op As an Account Manager, one of responsibilities I have is to submit and monitor co-op for our clients. It’s a hands-on process that I’ve fine tuned over my years at Digital to Dealer Direct. I’ve compiled my top 8 tips for managing automotive co-op for
4 min read Every dealership in 2019 is participating in digital advertising to some extent. Factories mandate programs, agencies offer all kinds of digital programs and packages, and vendors are always pitching you the next big thing to sell more cars. Digital Advertising is taken as a given at this point, but not
3 min read If you had the opportunity to attend the 2019 NY AutoForum on April 16, you know there was a lot of discussion about the climate of the auto industry in the first quarter of 2019, and the predictions for the remainder of the year and 2020. If you weren’t able
3 min read If you’re looking for ways to maximize your presence on Google when users are searching for vehicles or your dealership itself, you’re in the right place! Below are some great ways that you can get your dealership ready to use all the features that Google has to offer for a
6 min read Social media seems to have crept into every aspect of our lives in 2019 and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Over the course of their lifetime, the average American will spend 5 years and 4 months on Social Media, and that number has been growing every year. Social
4 min read Have you ever been to a restaurant and had terrible service? I’d guess the answer to that question is yes. Now, did that terrible service sway your opinion on going back to that restaurant? Again, I’m assuming the answer to that question is, in fact, yes. This premise is carried
3 min read Whether you’ve been to a conference, or just had a visit from your factory rep, you’ve probably heard Google thrown around a lot. There are many different components to how Google can benefit your dealership. Did you know there are 34 billion searches done on Google every month in the
4 min read So, you’re in the market for a new automotive digital marketing agency for your dealership! With all the choices out there, it can be overwhelming to say the least. It seems like everyone has similar capabilities, but it’s important to be able to spot the differences. How can you tell
