A Lightning-Fast Synopsis

Nearly everyone uses the Internet to find basic info about products and services these days. The search engine marketing programs available on both Google and Bing simply offer an auction system that allows businesses, including dealerships, the ability to “buy” a higher spot on the search results page by bidding against other businesses, including dealers.

The Competitors: Google vs. Bing

The two primary search engines in the U.S. market are Google and Bing. There is almost no doubt you’ve heard and used Google. Bing also the ability to buy ads and is an “up and comer” when it comes to ads though the platform has existed for more than a decade.

Let’s see how they compare. Our comparison is meant to be an objective, honest look:

Google vs Bing

We are going to break down a comparison between Google and Bing in a few ways. Bearing in mind that the basic system involves paying for individual clicks within a larger overall monthly budget, in most cases, for dealerships.

Traffic Volume

If you didn’t know much about Bing’s search engine before today, or even this year or last, you are not alone! Bing doesn’t get nearly the volume of searches that Google enjoys. Google gets most of the search traffic in multiple countries, including the United States. Honestly, most car dealerships won’t be able to drive enough traffic with just Bing ads.

Cost per click

The cost per visitor to your site is a rather important part of what makes search engine marketing go – simply stated, good quality with good keywords can have a lower cost oer click for good traffic. Google’s cost per click tends to be higher than Bing because Google is more competitive with a lot more dealers and businesses trying to pay for representation and clicks.

Types of Ads

While we will dive into more detail in later articles, Bing and Google have different types of ads – though really, they do tend to copy each other a little bit. Google offers a Vehicle Listing Ads system that takes a product feed, in addition to offering display networks and “Performance Max” ads. Bing has similar offerings in many ways, with “Performance Max” coming soon.

Shifts in Traffic

Later last year and earlier this year, a small amount of Google’s fairly large market share was eroded when Bing launched an artificial intelligence and AI-enabled search. Google has been working hard on a similar program called Bard. Expect both Google and Bing to make continuous improvements to artificial intelligence, including within their advertisements, in order to attract advertisers

AI has the potential to help people shop for cars – and we’ll see which one is better in the long run!

Demographics

Google and Bing don’t tend to offer the same audience. Why? Because Bing is integrated into some devices and the software in some machines, including Microsoft’s browsers and the search within their operating systems.

The average Bing user is a little older – and potentially has a bit more education and disposable income. This is not to say that Bing is used by old people – but with a more limited user base and people who are more “mature,” your dealership might benefit from providing search results to those with the higher potential for getting the credit to buy a vehicle.

Conclusion

Google and Bing have unique strengths. Our unbiased comparison is intended to help you decide how to use each one. In our honest opinion, you should probably put your dealership ads on at least a little bit of both.

The post Bing ads vs Google ads: choosing the right platform for your dealership appeared first on CBT News.

Speaking to the eco-conscious consumer

More and more consumers think about environmental impact in their purchase decisions. This is especially the case with car buyers. According to the Pew Research Center, 72% of shoppers considering an EV say helping the environment is a key motivator. Meanwhile, 70% see saving money on fuel as another advantage, and 12% like keeping up with the latest vehicle trends.

These preferences work well with clearly identifiable EV benefits, including:

• Environmental friendliness
• Long-term cost savings
• Innovative technology

There are also several eco-friendly EV features that can be promoted in marketing. These are ‘green’ attributes that demonstrate a dealer’s environmental consciousness and build trust about a commitment to sustainability.

• Zero tailpipe emissions
• High energy efficiency 
• Recyclability of EV batteries

Along with being eco-conscious, EV buyers tend to be tech-oriented, and drawn to innovation. Savvy dealer marketers will build off these interests by accentuating the high-tech features integral to all-electric cars. Examples include:

• Access to instantaneous torque
• Autonomous/semi-autonomous driving systems
• Energy use displays/control screens
• Smartphone integration
• Charging capabilities

Be sure that your messaging isn’t just about environmental benefits and technical specs. EV buying still involves emotions, so marketing should reflect this. Here’s an opportunity to get creative as cleverly worded campaigns capture the excitement of car buying while citing EVs’ underlying benefits.

Getting the word out about electric vehicles

We’ve covered what to say to EV-minded shoppers. Here’s how to say it. 

1. Create a theme

Creating a simple and memorable phrase will anchor the related marketing efforts, whether you’re thinking of a long-term tagline or a short-term slogan. If your creative juices aren’t flowing, give artificial intelligence a try. Head over to ChatGPT (you’ll need to set up a free account) and ask, “What are some taglines that can be used for a car dealer wanting to promote electric vehicles?

You’ll get many responses, like “Driving Green Has Never Been Easier” and “Take Charge of Your Commute.” Searching Google and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database should confirm if you’re treading on someone else’s efforts. 

2. Produce engaging content

Creativity will also have to prevail in the content your dealership produces to market its EVs. Not only will these videos, social media posts, and emails have to be visually engaging, they’ll need to educate and inform. Use infographics to break down complex data into more digestible information. Show real-world scenarios to demystify unfamiliar EV activities (like vehicle charging or one-pedal driving). 

3. Take advantage of strategic partnerships

Identify environmental organizations that can lend credibility when marketing an EV’s sustainability benefits. Look for branches of national operations or local green nonprofits. These tie-ups can promote an eco-friendly brand image and help forge connections with environmental advocates who might not otherwise step foot into your showroom. 

4. Revise digital operations

Ensure that your digital outreach is crafted to target eco-conscious consumers. This starts with dedicated landing pages highlighting the environmental advantages of your dealership’s EV offerings. A revamped SEO strategy and focused social media and email campaigns must also come into play.  

5. Leverage test drives

Test drive events enable dealers to get eco-conscious and EV-curious shoppers behind the wheel. These hands-on experiences build engagement by demonstrating the real-world practicality of EVs. While activities associated with Earth Day are natural, look for other venues, like farmers’ markets, that also have a green values connection. 

6. Become an EV resource

Your dealership is or will become an expert on electric vehicles. Take advantage of this mastery by promoting what you know. 

• Provide an information clearinghouse for rebates, tax credits, and other incentives available to EV buyers
• Work with utility companies to highlight available programs that foster EV adoption
• Create a list of recommended installers for EV chargers
• Designate one or more staff as EV ambassadors to serve as point persons 
• Host EV workshops for owners and would-be owners

The post 6 tips for marketing the benefits of electric vehicles and other eco-friendly cars appeared first on CBT News.

Note that we are more specifically discussing changes that you, as the dealer, don’t have to pay for, unless you employ a third party to set them up. 

Used Car Searches on Bing

Earlier this year, Bing launched a program in which dealers can have a feed of vehicle data pushed to Bing to display used cars and their pricing. You’ll notice a couple of cool things in our screenshot below:

I don’t know about you, but I like this! The person searching is given the opportunity to adjust some filters and there are some labels over top. 

Bing also started offering vehicle information instantly for general searches a bit before Google. Check out the right side of the below screenshot for Google’s inclusion of information on new vehicles:

Bing offers something somewhat similar, though it gives the information lower on the page:

And provides more varied information about recent changes:

So, what does this have to do with Google vs Bing and car dealers?

I will say that both Google and Bing are great places to focus your search engine efforts. Bing offers some new and upcoming elements from their artificial intelligence-based systems, which come with varied information that is often specific and recent. Google offers some general info instantly.

Both engines are hard at work developing ways to connect customers to dealers. Google does offer some inventory info like in the next screenshot:

But this is buried on the right side. Of course, you might suspect that these listings are free – and certainly not the first thing you’ll see.

With all of this said, if you are actively doing SEO, optimized your website for both Google and Bing. Have business profiles edited, owned, in place, and accurate so that customers who try to reach you via both platforms get the best of what your dealership has to offer.

Sign in to both Google and Bing so that you can maintain ownership of your account and get alerted to various warnings and problems your site might have communicating with search engines. All of the cool looking things people like to click on are powered by something – and that more often than not comes from your profile and website.

Other resources

Note that aside from the potential to pay a vendor to get your feed to Google or Bing for free placements, this article was primarily about how Google and Bing have recently changed in terms of being search engines. Check out our other articles about the search engine marketing – which is the advertising method of paying to have placed ads within the auction systems on both sites.

Conclusion

Google and Bing both have unique automotive products on the search market. We’ll keep an eye out for what’s coming next!

The post Google vs Bing search: mapping out the differences appeared first on CBT News.

From the initial greeting to the in-depth discussions about features and the thoughtful post-purchase follow-up, every interaction was designed to ensure her complete satisfaction.

Customers like Sarah aren’t just one-time customers; she’s now a vocal advocate for the dealership on every platform she frequents. And this experience will attract others with higher expectations regarding personalized customer service, proactive pricing, and successful omnichannel experiences.

Welcome to the transformative power of prioritizing customer experience.

The Significance of Customer Experience in the Dealership

We’re long past the days when a flashy advertisement or a one-off discount could guarantee customer loyalty. A recent study by Accenture said 92% of dealers believe that customer experience will play an integral role in future growth, although they may not follow through. Additionally, 46% of customers said they’d switch to a different OEM if it delivered better customer experiences.

Today, customers yearn for genuine connections and memorable experiences. When dealerships shift their focus from mere sales targets to curating unforgettable customer journeys, they aren’t just selling cars but building long-lasting relationships.

Even simple personalized interactions, like remembering a customer’s preferences or inquiring about their specific needs, can make all the difference. When customers feel truly understood and catered to, their trust in the brand solidifies. This trust isn’t just for the present—it’s an investment in the dealership’s future.

Building Brand Loyalty: It’s More Than Just a Sale

Think about your own purchasing habits. Brands that try to know you, value your patronage, and continue the relationship even after the sale are the ones you’re likely to return to.

To your customers, your dealership is no different. Post-purchase follow-ups, such as checking in on how a customer is enjoying their new vehicle or offering maintenance tips, showcase a level of care that goes beyond the initial transaction.

These check-ins are invaluable in fostering brand loyalty. Why? As a recent PwC report suggested, 76% of consumers expect companies to understand their needs and expectations. And 16% of those customers are willing to pay a premium for a great customer experience.

The benefit for dealerships is that customers like Sarah will become an advocate because her dealership didn’t stop caring after the sale. A successful dealership continues to nurture that relationship, ensuring the customer is happy and satisfied with her purchase.

Attracting New Customers Through Exceptional Experiences

Word-of-mouth marketing, which we’ve covered here, remains one of the most powerful marketing tools available. When customers share their positive experiences, they not only endorse the brand but also inspire others to seek out similar experiences.

Imagine a scenario: A potential customer reads a glowing review detailing the unparalleled customer service and personal touch offered by a dealership. How critical is that positive review? In an article about the importance of customer reviews, Qualtrics said 92% of buyers are likelier to purchase after reading a trusted review over another with generic, less enthusiastic reviews.

Optimizing the Customer Journey

Dealerships must be strategic in their approach. It’s not about grand gestures but consistent, thoughtful interactions at every touchpoint. For instance, many dealerships offer personalized video tours of cars, where salespeople address customers by name and cater the tour to their stated preferences. This simple yet effective strategy will bring a remarkable increase in both showroom visits and sales.

Prioritizing Customer Experience: The Path Forward

In an industry as competitive as automotive sales, dealerships must constantly evolve to stand out. By prioritizing customer experience, they can cultivate a community of brand advocates like Sarah, who not only return for repeat business but also become enthusiastic ambassadors for the brand.

Embracing the power of exceptional customer experiences isn’t just a marketing strategy—it’s a commitment to excellence that promises unparalleled growth and success.

As dealerships navigate the rapidly changing retail environment, one truth remains constant: Happy customers always drive the business forward. So, gear up and shift your focus to what truly matters—the customer.

The post Why customer experience is your dealership’s ultimate marketing tool appeared first on CBT News.

It can be exciting when a sales representative gets a call from a lead or potential customer, but what happens during that call, can make or break the sale. Today on CBT Now, we’re joined by Matt Easton, sales coach, consultant, and the founder of Easton University, to walk us through how to answer an inbound lead from a customer without jeopardizing the sale.

The expression, it’s not how you start, but how you finish is the wrong mindset to have according to Easton. Yet, most sales coaches will embed that saying in training as the essential sales foundation.

“Due to the lack of skills, those coaches will spend lengthy periods of time on how to close,” says Easton. “Start right, slow down, and the finish will come easier.”

It’s important to note that when salespeople get frustrated, it’s because they start with the end in mind. But according to Easton, “Nobody is born to be a salesperson; it has to be taught.”

How to start

Knock off with the phrase: How can I help you?

The phrase diminishes your credibility and authority. Therefore, instead, Easton encourages salespeople to answer the phone with, What can I get you information on? He further explains, “If you’re answering your business phone, you want to start with something like, ‘It’s a great day.’ This is a verbal way to smile and grab the information they’re calling for.”

Utilizing your skills in every part of the conversation and slowing down in the beginning, will speed up the results in the end. For example, after the greeting or when you call a potential customer back, ask what research they have done.

Easton explains, “Gone are the days of the bad words, like ‘follow up’ and ‘checking back in.’ We discussed at the beginning of the segment that we are raising our credibility. So, don’t lie. Don’t say you’re the CEO, co-founder, manager, or any other higher position. Instead, say, “I wanted to contact you personally.” This will help your credibility and let clients know they are being cared for by someone in a position of authority.

The post How to effectively follow up without endangering the sale – Matt Easton | Easton University appeared first on CBT News.

The Power of Peer Reviews and Recommendations

Traditionally, car buyers would often turn to experts, magazines, or direct dealership interactions for advice and recommendations. Today, platforms like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram offer potential buyers firsthand user experiences.

Reviews and feedback from peers and influencers on these platforms can instantly influence a potential buyer’s perception. But are social media reviews that important?

Yes, they are. Fera.ai suggests that “93% of customers read online product reviews before buying a product, and 91% of consumers in the 18–34 age range trust online reviews as much as they trust personal recommendations.” And studies show that 90% of consumers gather information online before purchasing from your inventory they’ve already viewed.

Driving Engagement through Visual Stories

The visual allure of cars cannot be understated. Instagram and Pinterest are primed for showcasing the aesthetics, design, and features of vehicles. Dealerships can utilize these platforms to craft compelling visual narratives, often drawing increased foot traffic to their showrooms. These visual-centric platforms also serve as launchpads for new models or special offers, engaging potential buyers through captivating imagery and videos.

Influencers: The New Salespeople

The power influencers command in the digital sphere parallels that of traditional salespeople. Automotive brands collaborate with these digital personalities to present their vehicles in relatable, real-world settings.

For dealerships, partnering with local influencers can be a strategy to drive sales by connecting with a vast and engaged audience. And, as with any spokesperson or employee, make sure their brand image and activities accurately reflect your brand image. You can find some legal recommendations here.

Targeted Advertising for Precise Reach

The precision targeting capabilities of social media advertising stand out as one of its strongest advantages. Dealers can customize their advertisements to target specific demographics—age, interests, location, type of car, driving style, and more. Such tailored promotions ensure they reach individuals most likely to become buyers, optimizing advertising spend and boosting ROI.

Integrating Social Insights for Better Sales Strategies

Beyond mere promotion, social media offers dealerships rich insights into customer preferences and trends. Interactive polls, Q&A sessions, or regular posts can provide:

• Valuable data.
• Enabling dealers to refine their sales strategies.
• Special offers.
• Real-time customer interaction techniques.

Shaping Tomorrow’s Auto Sales

Social media’s profound influence on auto sales is both undeniable and continually evolving. As platforms unveil novel features and expand their user base, dealers must remain adaptive, tailoring their strategies to tap into the immense potential of social media.

By carefully embracing influencers, leveraging targeted ads, and integrating actionable social insights, there’s the potential for a brighter, interconnected sales future.

The post Exploring the impact that social media has on automotive sales appeared first on CBT News.

Are you using Google the right way? We know there has been a lot of transformation and competition in retail automotive, but nearly all vehicle shoppers go online to find information. On today’s Inside Automotive, we’re joined by Lissette Gole, the Head of Automotive Retail at Google, to elaborate more on Google’s 2023 Dealer Guidebook and how you can best use it to beat the competition.

Overview:

The Guidebook aims to answer dealerships’ most frequently asked question: How can Google help dealerships sell more vehicles, drive more fixed operations, and make more money? According to Gole, those questions are why Google developed the guidebook, to provide the auto retail advertisers with strategies that help increase profitability today while preparing them for the future. “When we first made a big splash with Google’s Dealer Guidebook, it was at NADA in 2020. Then the following month, COVID happened. So, we had to refresh it again in 2021 after COVID due to the rapidly changing industry,” asserts Gole. The Google Automotive Retail team recently refreshed the Guidebook to ensure that what they created aligned with dealers as they navigate the ever-evolving industry. 

“Now, in 2023, the industry is at another shift, so we need to ensure that our Guidebook is more durable and withstand the long-term trends,” says Gole. As Google is an AI industry and has been since 2016, it’s imperative that they are anchoring all of their solutions through the power of AI to assist dealers with being in front of the customers and making profitability easy. 

Key pillars:

The 2023 Google Dealer Guidebook is simplified into a few key pillars. Gole notes these are the industry trends that have taken hold across the entire sector, including:

• Customer loyalty
• Shortened research time to buy 
• Ev options
• Fixed operations 
• Parts and services

“I found customer loyalty to be the most interesting because it’s at an all-time low,” said Gole. This suggests that there is no allegiance to OEMs, dealers, or the traditional make-and-model segment. In addition, economic challenges like COVID, limited inventory, supply shortages, or the rise of EVs could all be contributing factors to the low loyalty rate.

For a copy of Google’s Dealer Guidebook, Gole recommends contacting your Google account representative.  

The post Insights from the new 2023 edition of Google’s Dealer Guidebook with Lissette Gole, Head of Automotive Retail appeared first on CBT News.

Chatbots – Enhancing Customer Interaction

Like it or not, we’re currently in a world where instant communication is prized. Chatbots provide real-time support to potential buyers. While we may not be on board with only using ChatGPT, with the correct algorithm and data, these AI-powered conversational agents can answer inquiries, provide product information, and even guide customers through the purchase process, all at the click of a button.

No longer limited to simple Q&A, today’s chatbots that offer interactive and personalized experiences are becoming an essential tool for auto dealers to engage prospects 24/7.

But is there data that they work? Research shown from IBM would say yes. On IBM’s Watson Assistant site, they say, “Consumers are 40% more likely to spend more than they originally planned (link resides outside IBM) when their retail experience is highly personalized to their needs.”

The truth is that personalization ALWAYS works. And right now, a Google search shows many highly proficient businesses and agencies willing to guide you on chatbots. Test them out to see what works for you.

Predictive Analytics – Forecasting Success

Your dealership most likely has more than enough data. If you have your sales, marketing, service, and F&I using a CDP, it’s most likely that you’re swimming, or rather, drowning in data.

Predictive analytics has been taking the guesswork out of sales and marketing strategies. By analyzing historical data and identifying trends, AI algorithms can forecast future sales, optimize inventory, and even predict which customers and zip codes are most likely to purchase a particular vehicle.

This ability to anticipate market shifts enables dealers and OEMs to make more informed decisions, reduce costs, and tailor their approach to meet the needs of specific customer segments.

Personalized Marketing – Connecting with Customers

Personalized marketing isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a reality, thanks to AI. Auto dealers leverage AI-driven analytics to create highly targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with individual consumers. And better yet, there is enormous potential to lower CPA.

By analyzing customer preferences, behaviors, and online interactions, AI helps dealerships craft messages that appeal to customers’ unique interests and needs. Whether offering special discounts on a preferred model or suggesting related accessories, personalized marketing fosters a deeper connection between dealerships and buyers. To learn more about AI’s effect on customized marketing, check out companies like INVOCA.

Customer Behavior Forecasting – Understanding Tomorrow’s Buyers

Understanding customer behavior is paramount in any business, but AI is taking this understanding to new levels in the auto industry. By mining vast amounts of data and employing sophisticated algorithms, AI provides insights into customer motivations, desires, and future actions. Such forecasting allows dealerships and OEMs to adapt their sales strategies and products, ensuring they remain ahead of consumer trends.

OEM AI Marketing – Driving Innovation

The innovation doesn’t stop at the dealership level. OEMs are also employing AI to enhance their marketing efforts. Whether utilizing supervised machine learning models to optimize advertising campaigns or using AI-powered design tools to create more appealing vehicles, OEMs are embracing the possibilities of AI. The collaboration between dealerships and OEMs in leveraging AI tools can create a cohesive and powerful marketing strategy with aligned goals and shared insights.

The Road Ahead

The integration of AI into auto sales and marketing is not a distant future but a present reality. From chatbots engaging potential buyers to predictive analytics shaping business strategies, AI is opening new avenues for growth and connection within the industry.

As the technology continues to evolve, dealerships, marketers, and OEMs must seize the opportunities presented by AI to drive innovation, enhance customer relationships, and lead the way in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The automotive industry’s adoption of AI is truly a revolution with implications that reach far and wide. If it’s done well, the fusion of technology and marketing can create a new era of connectivity, efficiency, and innovation. It’s an exciting time to be in auto sales and marketing, and the journey has just begun.

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A brief intro to QR codes

QR codes have significantly risen in popularity in the last decade. QR literally stands for Quick Response and is presented as a black-and-white grid with many pixels within. A person can scan the QR code with a phone, tablet, or laptop camera and be sent to an app or URL with a landing page. 

While we described some of the technical aspects of a QR code, the reality is that a QR code is meant to connect the user to more information digitally. Most open a website with additional content that wouldn’t fit in the ad.

Examples of QR code use

To be fair, there are many, many uses for QR codes, this is just a few examples of how I’ve seen them implemented or would suggest implementing:

1. On ‘for sale’ vehicles

This requires a bit of work, but seeing how it plays out can be interesting. Have your detail or recon department print a QR code for every vehicle for sale on your lot. Visitors who are on your lot after hours or before a salesperson approaches can scan the QR code and be directed to the page for that vehicle. They might learn a lot about the car and potentially produce a lead on the spot.

2. On business cards

In addition to including the company website, QR codes can be used to send people to your page – or even a staff member’s page on your website. Having a QR code might also help prevent customers from throwing away your cards right away.

3. Signs

Whether it’s a sign in the front of your dealership or service department indicating your hours or a placard on a service waiting area or counter, you can add a QR code that delivers some content about your dealership. For example, a QR code in service could lead to a page that discusses the service process at your dealer or explores new and used vehicles.

4. Newspaper ads

Most dealerships are still running some form of newspaper ad in 2023, and that’s not a bad thing! You can connect to some of your less digital readers in a space that is comfortable for them. Placing a QR code within a newspaper ad can help some of your more savvy newspaper readers connect to your website without typing it in.

What should I link the QR code to?

If your ad is very general, we suggest linking it to the homepage, so long as the homepage has general contact info, chat, and phone opportunities.

If your ad has a specific theme and is related to service or something unique about a vehicle, we suggest having it land on a page more closely associated with the theme of the ad. This might require building a particular landing page for a product.

How to track QR codes

Most marketing methods involving QR codes also offer the ability to know which QR code is scanned. While you won’t have the customer’s name unless they fill out a lead form, it is good to know when people are interacting with your QR.

Retention and QR codes

Let’s assume you have remarketing set up on your website. Remarketing, by the way, is the process of having Google, Bing, and other networks collect some website visitor data and follow up with them through display ads as they use the Internet and apps.

QR codes mean that most users who visit your website after using a code will have ads shown to them as they continue regular phone or Internet usage.

Conclusion

QR codes can be a great way to follow up on the use of your existing ads to see which ones your visitors and customers want to interact with the most. You can also build some website content related to the services and products you make QR codes for to give the customer more information and a better experience.

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Why do I need to do for advertising electric vehicles?

To be fair here, if your dealership is very active on the electric vehicles scene and you have sold all your electric vehicles and have a long waitlist of people waiting for an electric car, you might not need help selling another electric car in the next few months. 

For you, we want to help you know what to do once electric vehicles become even more mainstream, and what to do for service to create lifelong customers.

A huge reason to advertise for electric vehicles is that people simply don’t know much about them yet and people can readily be skeptical toward a vehicle not powered by a gasoline engine.

Another big reason to start advertising electric vehicles is that the market is becoming more competitive. There are more electric vehicles on the market and more dealerships that are beginning to advertise more actively for them. Not marketing your electric vehicles will make it take longer for you to catch up.

Advertising Platforms and Methods, and their uses

Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization has outstanding long-term benefits for electric vehicles. The most important part of SEO is the need to build usable, reliable content which will in turn help it rank higher on Google and make your dealership a source of information for local customers. While there are many examples of things you could discuss on a webpage for SEO purposes, you could start by explaining how to charge an EV and go into more detail. Part of the idea here is to research concerns people have about electric vehicles and explain how your dealership can help.

Since some of the SEO content present on your website will likely be written by someone, ensuring your staff knows the answers to questions too.

Search Engine Marketing

Search engine marketing is the long way of saying Google Ads or Microsoft Ads. These are great short and long-term strategies to use people’s search queries like “IONIQ 5 near me” to get your dealership into a higher spot with a unique message that makes them want to click. 

You can also use SEM to conquest. Find out which electric vehicles compete with ours and use those search queries to drive traffic to your site instead. You’ll pay for this month to month, and it’s a great way to jump-start your electric vehicle sales.

SEM and SEO are two great strategies. While I personally work in SEM a lot more than SEO, I find SEO to be a good long-term strategy that helps built trust while adding permanent high-quality content to your website.

Social Media

Social media blends the posting of free content to people who follow you and paid campaigns that can be targeted toward people who are generally interested in electric vehicles. Much like SEO, a good social media post is known for being helpful and potentially entertaining for the purpose of EVs. 

You can also make ads that target certain demographics in your area in regard to electric vehicles.

Conclusion

Digital advertising is an excellent way to help people in your area know that electric cars are available. While the specific recommendation about which methods to use depends on your specific scenario, a blend of SEO, SEM, and social media marketing creates the well-rounded support and messaging that most car dealerships will need.

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