The inevitable question - Why Do Car Dealers Need to Market Online?

Like every other business, auto dealerships have turned to online marketing to get more leads and generate more sales.  If you are new to online marketing, you may find the transition a bit difficult.  There are many ways to market your business, and it is hard to compete with other car dealerships that are using the same strategies.

The main difference between traditional and online marketing is this – interaction.  In traditional marketing, you only just need to place an ad on TV or radio and hope for the best.  Online marketing is different.  You need to interact and to converse before people even actually walk in the door.

What Makes Online Marketing Different?

Internet marketing makes it possible for companies to reach more people through various channels, including blogging, forums, social media, email marketing, and more.  Before online marketing, car dealers used to reach buyers with a one-way message.  They do not actively engage with potential buyers before these customers actually walk in their store.

However, consumers have defined and shaped marketing through the Internet.  Accordingly, businesses need to react appropriately.  People no longer respond to ads that aren’t relevant to them.  Nowadays, people seek for what they want and when they want it.  They go online and do Google searches for the information they need.

This is the reason why online marketing isn’t just about selling cars anytime.  It’s about telling stories, reaching out to people on an emotional level, giving them reasons to buy from your dealership, and getting them to recommend your business to their friends and family.

What Does Internet Marketing Build?

Online marketing gives dealerships the opportunity to build awareness. Your business is not the only one in town. There could be dozens of other car dealerships in your area. However, Internet marketing, if done right, can give you an edge. It can build your brand and create customer awareness.

With online marketing, car dealerships are able to get in front of customers at just the right time and with the right message. It can help with increasing brand awareness. It will point potential customers to your dealership. The goal is this – the next time someone asks, “Where can I go to buy a car?” The answer should be your car dealership. Your name should pop up first in people’s mind. This is the goal of your awareness-building campaign.

Aside from awareness, online marketing also helps build authority. When people look for cars, they want to buy from car experts – dealers who know about vehicles like the back of their hand. With online marketing, you will be able to position your dealership as a source of reliable information. A strategic campaign will help build the kind of trust that motivate people to reach out to you when they want to buy a car.

In order to establish your dealership’s authority, you need to provide information that is accurate, interesting, informative, and useful. They should benefit your target audience.

This was initially posted via www.setshowsold.com, by Jay Nisbett

Car shoppers have been ranking social networks as crucial to choosing which car dealerships they would like to visit. In fact, platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram rank better than the car dealership’s actual website.

It has become a habit of online users to do quick Google searches and extensive research before they would make a choice. They would visit review sites and check on feedbacks from actual buyers before they would even consider purchasing an automobile. The same goes with selecting the dealership that they would deal with. Consumers who are looking to purchase are doing their search primarily online. Many of these potential buyers do not even visit car dealerships before buying.

Indeed, when it comes to buying, social media sites are significant influencers in a buyer’s decision. Not surprisingly, many car dealerships now understand that they need to integrate social media marketing into their strategies. They have become quite imaginative and creative. Here are the top 5 ways car dealerships use social media marketing:

1. Ramp Up Their Facebook Campaign.

With 84% of potential buyers on Facebook, it is important to run automotive Facebook ads to reach more people. This will help narrow down your ads to target people who are within your geographic area. You can also specify gender, interest, age, and more which allows for the most targeted car dealership lead generation available.

2. Optimize Twitter for Sales.

Twitter has been proven to drive car sales. So, it continues to be a popular choice when it comes to online marketing. Hundreds of thousands of auto-related tweets are sent out daily. Majority of these tweets are directed at potential car buyers. It is important to use keyword targeting to lead your tweets to your target audience.

3. Reach Out to Potential Buyers on Instagram

More and more millennials are turning to Instagram and leaving Facebook, and these are potential buyers. They are a huge market. Instagram is also an excellent platform for promoting your cars and service. It’s all about taking and sharing pictures that encourage people to react. You can post pictures that would encourage consumers to imagine themselves in a particular moment. This is why it is a great platform for promoting your car dealerships. After all, cars are often part of big moments in people’s lives.

4. Use YouTube in Your Marketing Campaign

84% of car shoppers would often go to YouTube to check out various cars and their features. They seek information regarding safety features, connected devices, and walkarounds. They compare various vehicles and models to make a decision. While you can embed videos on your website, it is a great idea to utilize YouTube to its full potential as well.

5. Use the Full Potential of Pinterest

Many marketers have discovered the marketing potential of Twitter. Although Pinterest is mainly known for having a large female audience, it is now a great marketing platform for the automotive industry. What better way to appeal to your female target market? You can also use it to build your SEO presence by sharing posts on your website, which will then traffic to your site.