Having a strong online presence is a must for car dealers in today’s digital age. To build a strong digital brand, dealers need to come up with an online strategy to make their dealership shine online. According to reports, 95 percent of car buyers look for their dream vehicle online instead of visiting a traditional showroom. That is why dealers like you need to run online ads for dealerships and connect with buyers where they are actually searching—social media and Google Ads. Your digital presence can either make or break your sales numbers. But worry not! In this blog we will explore the best advertising platforms for car sales that can increase your dealership’s visibility.
Google Ads: Your First Stop for Car Buyers
Google Ads has proven to be one of the best advertising platforms for car sales. According to reports, more than 63 percent of all car buyers look for their cars via Google searches. With a good reach and targeted audience capability, Google Ads offers a perfect opportunity for dealers to connect with buyers looking for cars. Through Google Ads, you can also attract high-quality leads, gain real buyers, and increase your dealership’s online visibility just like your fellow dealers. This would convert visitors into leads and certainly grow your business.
Auto Dealer PPC Strategies
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising is the most flexible means of attracting quality customers to your website. This means you will only pay when someone clicks your ad but start driving traffic to your site cost-effectively. Below are some easy yet powerful auto dealer PPC strategies for you to consider at your dealership level to make things happen:
- Target the Right Keywords: Start by using keywords that are used by buyers when they are looking for a car. These include “buy used cars near me” or “new car deals in [your city].” More so, you could use more specific terms like “2024 Honda Civic financing options” to reach buyers ready to make a decision. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you find high-traffic keywords with less competition, giving you a better chance of standing out.
- Use Ad Extensions for Better Visibility: Ad extensions help you add extra information to your ads without raising your bid. Use location extensions to show your dealership’s address, call extensions to let potential buyers call you directly, and site link extensions to guide them to specific cars or promotions. This extra information makes your ads more appealing and encourages users to engage with you.
- Optimize Landing Pages: Dealership landing pages should feature the relevant keywords, and these should be the same keywords used in your online ads for dealerships. If you are getting people to your page through ads of a particular car, ensure that the landing page has that car with all the specs, such as the price, features, and financing options. Keep the page clean, simple, and focused, with a strong call to actions (CTAs) like “Schedule a Test Drive” or “Get Financing Options.”
- Use Geo-Targeting to Reach Local Buyers: Geo-targeting lets you show your ads to people in your area and is one of the best strategies when it comes to online ads for dealerships. This is especially important for car dealerships since most buyers want to find a car close to home. Adjust your bids based on the location of the buyer to focus on those most likely to visit your dealership. It helps you reach buyers who are already looking for cars nearby.
- Set Up Remarketing Campaigns: Remarketing lets you target people who’ve already visited your website but didn’t make a purchase. By showing online ads to these visitors, you can again attract them by showing the cars they were looking for. This is one of the great ways of bringing potential buyers back and increasing the chances of making sales.
- Monitor and Adjust Your Campaigns Regularly:Keep an eye on how your ads are performing. Even the best advertising platforms for car sales require tracking of important metrics like click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and cost-per-click (CPC) to see what is working and what’s left for improvement. Don’t hesitate to change your bid, keyword, or ad copy to maximize your ROI.By following these simple auto dealer PPC strategies, you can get more targeted traffic to your dealership’s website, increase visibility, and boost your sales.
Facebook & Instagram Advertising
Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are great for showing off your cars. On average, people spend around 2.5 hours a day on these platforms, making them key for building awareness of your dealership.
- Create Custom Audiences: You can upload your customer database to target people with similar interests or those who have visited your website. You can also select the same audiences based on your best customers and continue targeting them by vehicle type, price range, etc.
- Use Carousel Ads: A carousel ad enables you to display more than one car in one ad. Each car should have at least an image and brief description, and by placing prices and special offers on the first picture, you will attract viewers’ attention.
- Share Stories and Reels: Use Instagram stories and reels to share behind-the-scenes content, car walkarounds, and promotions. Make your content feel real and relatable—show off your staff, happy customers, and the atmosphere at your dealership. You can also tag cars directly in your posts for easy shopping.
YouTube Video Ads: Show Cars in Action
Video content is a great way to connect with buyers and show off your cars in detail. YouTube has over 2 billion active users every month, which means it’s a great platform for dealerships.
- Create Test Drive Videos: Promote your cars by making walkaround or test drive videos. Emphasize features and performance and add some comments from your sales department. It is best to keep the videos 3 to 5 minutes long and always end the video with a call to action, such as Start Your Test Drive Today!
- Use Pre-Roll Ads: Reach out to the potential buyers who are watching videos related to cars. In this case, you can use custom audiences to reach people who have recently searched for a particular model. Create different online ads for dealerships for various buyers’ segments, for instance, luxury buyers or those interested in more affordable cars.
- Retarget Past Visitors: Retarget people who have visited your dealership with the help of ads. Additionally, reach out to customers who have shown interest in certain makes and models. Show them the cars they have been searching for, but make sure you do not overdo it.
Display Ads: Get Noticed Across the Web
Banner ads on websites can help you reach more potential buyers. These ads follow people around the internet, increasing your dealership’s visibility wherever they browse.
- Promote Your Dealership: Use display ads to increase brand awareness in your local area. Include customer reviews, awards, and ratings to build trust. Change up your ad designs regularly to keep them fresh and avoid getting ignored.
- Highlight Special Offers: Advertise seasonal sales or financing deals. Create urgency by using limited-time offers or countdown timers. Test different kinds of promotions to see which ones perform best with your audience.
Conclusion
To succeed with online advertising for dealerships, you need to use different platforms. To keep your dealership in front of potential customers, start with Google Ads to attract active buyers. Then, go on to social media and video ads. Monitor your growth, and adjust your budget accordingly, as well as your pricing and inventory, on a regular basis.
By staying on top of the latest trends, you can expect more leads, higher sales, and a stronger presence in your local market. That’s where the Droom Chairman Club comes in. It’s the perfect solution for dealers looking to improve visibility, boost lead generation, and simplify their digital marketing efforts.
With services like Video Marketing, Google for Business, WhatsApp for Business, Lead Generation, and Social Media Management, Chairman Club equips your dealership with the tools and support to succeed in today’s competitive market. Plus, with Lead Generation, your ads will help you attract serious buyers, making it easier to convert leads into sales. Get started with Droom Chairman Club and build a strong digital presence.
Droom is an automobile e-commerce platform offering a 21st-century automotive buying experience online with its four value pillars including trust, selection, low price, and convenience second to none. It offers 250k+ vehicles online in 1,100 cities — both used and new. Droom deals in buying and selling cars, 2-wheelers, and other vehicles too. It is an AI and data science-driven platform designed with the best ecosystem tools. Here, we have a team of auto-experts and auto enthusiasts who are dedicated to covering every sphere of the auto industry by simplifying the procedure of buying and selling with Unified Droom Experience. To know more, click here.
