Automotive marketing is an umbrella term that encompasses various strategies used by automotive dealerships, auto body shops, car wrap shops and other automotive related industry businesses to market their products and services. These tactics can attract and retain customers, boost sales volumes, and raise brand awareness.
The automotive industry is fiercely competitive, and you need a unique edge to stand out. That’s why you need to use the best automotive marketing strategies for your dealership.
Digital Marketing
The automotive industry is rapidly transitioning into the digital age. More consumers than ever before are shopping for cars online, researching inventory and scheduling test drives.
That means car dealerships require an effective digital marketing strategy to reach these consumers and keep them engaged throughout the purchasing process. A successful digital campaign allows car dealers to measure campaign effectiveness in real-time and make necessary adjustments as needed.
Another essential element of a dealership’s digital marketing strategy is mobile marketing. Utilizing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google Maps and Apple Store can help direct potential car buyers to your website.
As more consumers shop for vehicles online, dealerships must offer an intuitive customer experience that’s easy to use. This could include providing vehicle pricing tools, financing calculators and other helpful tools that shoppers require in order to make a better informed decision when making their purchasing decision.
Adaptable marketing automation software enables car dealerships to adjust their advertising budgets in response to unexpected events and market shifts. SEO marketing and internet marketing is a must have strategy for businesses in the automotive industry. Without a digital marketing plan you are missing out on customers, credibility and not staying up with the times.
Social Media Marketing for Automotive Industry
Social media marketing is one of the most effective methods for promoting your dealership and gaining new customers. Furthermore, it offers valuable customer insights.
Car buyers are highly engaged online, using social media to research vehicles, read reviews and crowdsource recommendations. They are particularly drawn to content related to videos, connected devices, safety features, models, walkarounds and new car launches.
Automotive social media marketing should provide consumers with personalized experiences. This involves creating and posting content that resonates with your target audience and ensuring they can easily navigate your website.
Furthermore, social media is a two-way conversation and it’s essential to engage with your audience in order to foster trust and loyalty among them. You can do this by responding promptly to queries and complaints as well as thanking those who share your content.
In addition to social media management, an automotive web designer can assist your marketing campaign by optimizing your site for search engine visibility and streamlining the user interface. They’ll also craft a website tailored towards the desired audience.
Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is an essential element of automotive marketing. Making small changes to your website can have a major impact on its search engine ranking.
One of the most critical elements of Automotive SEO is keyword research. This helps identify both the words consumers are searching for and the phrases they’re using to locate your website.
Another component of Automotive SEO is content marketing. Content is a major influencer on search results and can be optimized to boost your rank on Google’s SERP (search engine result page). For example this post we created about Automotive SEO marketing you are reading that is relevant to what we do, an example of what we can do for your automotive business, and a lead magnet for people searching for automotive marketing. Also, another example is we created, own, and built C8CorvetteBlog.com which ranks on Google’s first page search engine results for over 300 keywords relevant to the Chevrolet C8 Corvette.
Conversion rate optimization (CRO) is an integral component of SEO, used to craft webpages so they convert more visitors into leads and sales.
To maximize their SEO performance, car dealerships should develop a content strategy that caters to each stage of the buyer’s journey. This includes producing informative blog posts, how-to guides and other helpful material that can guide potential customers throughout every step of the purchasing process.
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is one of the most efficient methods for reaching potential customers and expanding your dealership’s online visibility. PPC ads appear first on search engine result pages and are paid for with each click that occurs on them.
Automotive marketing professionals typically create PPC campaigns with the purpose of generating leads from consumers searching for specific makes and models, or the best vehicle deals available in their local area. These campaigns are highly targeted and have a higher ROI than most other forms of advertising since you only pay for clicks that lead to sales.
The cost of these ad campaigns varies based on keyword competition and ad placement, as well as your dealership’s budget and bidding strategy. On average, dealerships with an effective keyword list and bidding strategy generate over $2 for every $1 spent on PPC ads.
Depending on your campaign objectives, you have several types of PPC advertising to select from: search engine ads, display advertising and social media marketing. With these options, you can target users based on geographic location, buyer profile data or other demographic data. Furthermore, set different bid modifiers for mobile devices, desktops/laptops and tablets so that your ad is visible across different platforms.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is an incredibly effective and powerful tool to foster relationships with customers, convert more leads into sales and encourage repeat purchases. It may even serve to drive traffic to your dealership.
Automotive businesses rely on email marketing to stay top of mind with prospective clients and advertise products and services. The key to successful campaigns lies in developing an approach that incorporates different types of emails.
Many auto dealers utilize a monthly newsletter as their go-to form of email communication. This newsletter typically contains industry news, company updates and promotions specific to that month.
Automotive businesses often utilize customer feedback campaigns via email. This type of email serves to politely request feedback from your customers on their experience with your dealership.
Personalization is an integral component of any email marketing campaign, helping to increase click through rates, conversion rates, sales and appointment bookings. But to effectively personalize your emails requires careful thought and a deep comprehension of your target audience.
Video Marketing
Video marketing is an effective way to engage customers and showcase your products. Additionally, it helps build trust and credibility among potential buyers.
Automotive marketing often incorporates video. Some videos serve as commercials, while others showcase someone’s life or highlight a product feature.
These types of videos can help you draw in more potential customers and sell more cars. Typically, they’re short, captivating, and easy to comprehend.
Staff profile videos are an effective tool to foster relationships with car shoppers and foster brand loyalty. They give potential buyers a glimpse into different sales experiences they could have at your dealership, while humanizing your team members.
These types of videos can aid your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts and boost website rankings. They educate and inform consumers on various topics, helping your website climb to the top of SERPs. Also, if you create videos and add them to platforms like Meta (Facebook), Instagram, Tik Tok, and YouTube you can visually show your dealership, employees, and automotive products, services, or inventory if you are a car dealer.
Mobile Marketing
Mobile marketing is an integral aspect of automotive advertising, providing dealerships with a way to reach potential customers on-the-go. According to eMarketer, mobile advertising accounts for an impressive 47% of auto industry ad spending.
Automotive marketers must devise an effective strategy to reach mobile shoppers throughout their car-buying journey. This requires understanding mobile shoppers’ primary concerns and providing them with easy access to prices, inventory, reviews, and advice when they need it most.
Furthermore, creating an engaging brand experience for mobile audiences is essential. An example of this is Audi’s recent campaign using gyroscope creative to give smartphone and tablet users a 360-degree view of the interior.
Another mobile marketing strategy for auto dealers is text message (SMS) marketing. This tactic is an ideal way to stay in touch with leads and remind them of new promotions or products they can take advantage of.
SMS marketing can be a great source of leads, as well as keeping staff members informed on important meetings or business decisions. Utilizing this strategy saves your team time and allows them to feel more involved in the daily operations of your company.
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are an integral factor in making a purchasing decision in the automotive industry. They provide reliable information that cuts through marketing hype and allows potential buyers to learn more about cars they may be considering buying.
Positive reviews will demonstrate to potential buyers that your business is of the highest quality. Unfortunately, there’s also a good chance you’ll receive negative feedback from satisfied customers as well.
Therefore, it’s essential that you take the time to identify and address any complaints your customers may have about your service or product. Doing this not only demonstrates that you value existing clients’ satisfaction but also encourages new ones to visit you.
As part of your automotive digital marketing strategy, it is important to collect and monitor online reviews. Doing this will keep customers satisfied while also giving you insight into what works well and where improvements need to be made.
If you need help with Automotive Marketing contact our team Automotive SEO Agency for a Free Quote and SEO Report.