The vast majority of car sales are made at a physical dealership, but a lot of the preliminary research consumers do happens online. In fact, it’s the online research that leads consumers to various dealership websites so they can decide which ones to visit. Online automotive marketing is essential and you have to have the right strategies to ensure you are reaching the right audience at the right time. The automotive industry is incredibly competitive, so we’ve provided you with some tips on how you can speed ahead of the competition with automotive marketing.

Research Keywords to Take You to the Top of Google Rankings

Google is one of the first places people go when they start shopping for a new or used car. You have to ensure your website is at the top of the rankings since most people will only click on the first 3-4 websites they see. Keywords are not the only aspect of having a high Google ranking, but they are one of the most important. You should capture some of the common keywords consumers use when searching for vehicles, and also toss in some creative ones based on your advertising.

And speaking of advertising, your Google Ads strategy is a big part of automotive marketing as well. You need to have keywords integrated into your advertisements and use ad extensions. It’s also helpful to add some negative keywords to ensure your website doesn’t show up for any irrelevant searches. Some keywords can be used for specific promotions you’re offering, and those can directly put you ahead of the competition.

Understand Your Audience

As any auto dealership knows, there is a wide range of customers who all have different needs. Try to nail down your specific audience based on the types of vehicles you sell, the price points, features, and more. Speaking to a person shopping for a Honda is different than speaking to a person shopping for a Lexus in most cases. An automotive content writer will understand this and create content on your website and blog that will relate to them. For example, a person shopping for a Honda will likely have questions about mileage and durability, while a person shopping for a Lexus will have questions about heated seats and other luxury items. Understanding what your audience cares about is critical for automotive marketing so you can target the right people.

Be Active with Automotive Marketing by Engaging on Social Media

If your social media marketing isn’t a priority, it should be. For as many people who begin their online searching on Google, there’s a big number who begin searching on social media. Younger consumers particularly start their searches on social media because they want to be associated with a brand they can relate to. Have a few different social media platforms you can create content for and be active on them. Engage with followers as much as possible so they’ll remember your brand when they are ready to buy a vehicle.

Create Unique Marketing Campaigns Throughout the Year

The top automotive dealerships typically offer incentives and deals to bring customers in and close the sale. A good automotive content writer will ensure customers can find those deals throughout the year when they search online. This can be accomplished through social media marketing, email marketing, newsletter marketing, or even sending mailers. The goal is to create a sense of urgency with every automotive marketing campaign you put together so they won’t want to miss out on a great deal.

Focus on Your Online Customer Reviews

One aspect that can put you ahead of your competition is having numerous online reviews. Both positive and negative online reviews can be valuable depending on how you handle them. Always thank people for leaving a positive review and resolve any issues customers might be having when they leave a negative review. New shoppers will look at both types of reviews, so you’ll earn some points with them when they see you handle negative reviews professionally.

Remind Customers About Promotions via Remarketing

No matter how you’ve created the sales funnel for customers, there’s always a chance they can escape. People compare vehicles with other websites while they are shopping. And sometimes they will have to leave the websites and return later. With remarketing, you can provide reminders to customers about your website through advertisements. Remarketing ads can help customers stay inside your sales funnel by reminding them of the vehicles and deals they were looking at.

Stay Flexible and Willing to Adjust Automotive Marketing Strategies

No matter what automotive marketing strategies you implement, you have to remember to stay flexible and be willing to make adjustments. You might have some keywords that help you earn a high Google ranking for a few months, but then the common search terms by consumers change and your ranking suffers as a result. When you set specific goals, you can evaluate metrics to see which keywords and campaigns are working better than others. The truth is the campaigns you think will be successful might not be, and the ones you aren’t as excited about could lead to more sales. If you aren’t willing to adjust, then you could miss out on valuable opportunities for your dealership.

Once you understand how much time and effort goes into successful automotive marketing, you might think it’s time to hire a full-time employee to handle it. Luckily, with us at iwebcontent, you don’t have to. Our team can handle every aspect of automotive marketing, including website design, social media marketing, creating new campaigns, developing Google Ads, and much more. Only pay for what you need and we will handle the dirty work for you. Don’t hesitate to contact us at any time to see how we can help you speed ahead of the competition with our unique strategies.