A good product with bad publicity will soon exit the market. This is why we dedicate resources to developing digital marketing strategies for our clients to create and control favourable conversations around the brand.
Like every other business, auto dealerships have added the Internet to their marketing mix. After years of employing the same tactics — TV commercials, flyers in the paper, and signs in the store window — they’re trying to implement online marketing tactics that save time and money.
Like every other business, auto dealerships have added the Internet to their marketing mix. After years of employing the same tactics — TV commercials, flyers in the paper, and signs in the store window — they’re trying to implement online marketing tactics that save time and money.
The main difference between traditional marketing and digital marketing for car dealers can be summed up in one word: interaction.
In a traditional marketing campaign, you might place ads on TV and radio and in the papers and then bring car buyers in for a one-on-one conversation. Now, that conversation has to happen before people even walk in the door.
Digital marketing makes this possible through a wide range of channels, including email, blogs, interactive forums, social media, and more. You used to be able to bring buyers to your dealership with one-way messages. Now, if you’re not actively engaging with them before their visit, they’ll pass on your dealership for another one.
Since consumers have started driving the marketing process, it’s up to businesses — including yours — to react appropriately.
Consumers no longer respond to ads that may or may not be relevant to them, or are delivered in an interruptive manner. They actively look for what they want, when they want it, by going online and doing a search.
That, of course, is the main reason for marketing online. However, digital marketing for car dealerships isn’t just about selling more cars (although that’s a major incentive). It’s about giving people reasons to buy from you, or recommend your dealership to their friends and associates.
Your dealership is not the only one in town. Depending where you live, there could be dozens of others, some of them selling the same makes and models.
People are too busy to spend hours searching for the right option with offline advertising or printed materials. With digital marketing, your dealership gets in front of them at just the right time with the right message. If they like what they see, they won’t bother looking any further.
Additionally, ongoing online marketing can lead to increased awareness of your brand and dealership. So when someone asks themselves “who should I visit now that I need a car?” your name will come to mind first, thanks to the awareness-building campaigns you have invested in.
When people are looking for a new car, they want to buy from someone who knows a thing or two about vehicles. A digital marketing strategy that positions your dealership as a source of expertise is the first step to building the kind of trust that motivates people to reach out when they’re ready for a new car.
In order to increase your dealership’s authority, you should strive to provide informational content that is interesting and beneficial to your target audience.
Part of Google’s ranking algorithm has to do with the way users interact with your content. If a lot of users benefit from your content, you’ll rank higher in search engine results pages – which goes hand-in-hand with increased authority.
Yes, a car sale is a transaction, but it’s a big one. Buyers have a lot of questions about the models you sell, and they’re more likely to buy from you if they know you’re going to listen to their concerns and take the time to address them.
Online marketing can play a big role in beginning this dialogue. It can also build engagement prior to the sale, and enable conversations, through the use of things like social media and blogs.
One of the biggest advantages of online channels is the ability to share content quickly and easily. People can forward emails and share links, which makes it easier to tell other potential car buyers about your dealership. This turns web users into potential customers, as well as potential referral sources.
And if you’re questioning the power of referrals, just remember that people are 4 times more likely to buy something when they’re referred by a friend.
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