Any business that can’t easily be found on the Web might as well be invisible; in fact, it might as well not exist at all. That’s a bold statement, but in today’s world, it’s really true. Consumers use the Web to locate the best nearby businesses—and if yours isn’t there to be discovered, you’re going to lose out on more and more customers.

But what can you do if your independent used car dealership has an online visibility problem? Here are five steps you can take right now to make your dealership truly discoverable.

Start a Google My Business Page

Google My Business is a free marketing tool that Google offers to companies of all kinds. You can sign up for a page and provide Google with important information about your dealership—like hours of operation, contact information, location, and more—that it will in turn supply to search engine users. This is a huge asset for your local SEO efforts—and again, it’s free, so you have nothing to lose!

Get Online Reviews

Online reviews are critical for building search engine visibility. The question is, how can you get them? Some basic tips:

– Email your best customers and ask them to leave you some feedback. Make sure you include the link to your – Google reviews, making it easy on them.
– Include your review link on your dealership website, too.
–  Consider adding your Google reviews link to invoices/receipts, as well.

Invest in AdWords

While organic search engine reach is critical, it works best when it’s augmented by paid ads. This allows you to truly canvas the Google search engine results page (SERP) and make your brand as visible as possible. Use AdWords in conjunction with your organic SEO efforts.

Post to Craigslist

Craigslist is the independent auto dealer’s secret weapon. Your listings will inevitably result in a big increase in website traffic, which can in turn improve your rankings overall. Just make sure you properly optimize your Craigslist posts. The Craigslist Wizard app, available from Get My Auto, can be a big help here!

Do Content Marketing

A final way to make your dealership more visible on the Web is to produce more branded content. A blog could be a good start. Write some posts that help, inform, and guide auto consumers, and optimize them for Google’s algorithms. It won’t have an effect overnight, but as you build thought leadership, you’ll also boost brand awareness. Content marketing is a great long-term plan.

Get Help Marketing Your Dealership

Of course, making independent auto dealerships more competitive on the Web is a huge part of what we do here at Get My Auto. We’d love to talk with you more about boosting your online visibility. Reach out to Get My Auto’s skilled marketing team today, and let’s start a conversation!